UK vehicle statistics / Datsun

How many Datsun 280 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 94 licensed and 131 SORN vehicles in the UK within the Datsun 280 generic-model group.

Looking at a 280?

Population figures cannot tell you whether one particular car is taxed, MOT-valid or safe to buy.

Check its registration free for the official tax, MOT and mileage record. If the car is still worth pursuing, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.

Wondering whether one particular 280 is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the 280 disappearing?

94 are licensed as of 2026 Q1 — the highest count in the published series, so the 280 is still arriving on UK roads rather than leaving them. That is up 88% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 131 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 225 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

A falling population is worth knowing before you buy: it usually means fewer donor cars, fewer specialists and slower parts supply, and it is why a good example of a scarce model can hold its price while a neglected one is hard to sell at any price.

Fuel

DfT codes every vehicle in the Datsun 280 generic-model group as petrol.

Before you buy

  • Ask why it was off the road — Of the 225 280 vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (131 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
  • Check the actual 280 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.

Quarterly licensed and SORN counts

Every quarter DfT has published for this model group, newest first.

QuarterLicensedSORN
2026 Q194131
2025 Q492132
2025 Q393130
2025 Q289131
2025 Q185135
2024 Q487134
2024 Q388134
2024 Q286141
2024 Q179147
2023 Q478149
2023 Q373148
2023 Q272145
2023 Q160148
2022 Q464151
2022 Q368148
2022 Q265146
2022 Q149152
2021 Q452159
2021 Q360149
2021 Q254151
2021 Q150161
2020 Q450159
2020 Q358151
2020 Q255150
2020 Q144164
2019 Q450159
2019 Q363139
2019 Q253142
2019 Q140147
2018 Q441157
2018 Q355142
2018 Q249141
2018 Q137153
2017 Q436160
2017 Q348146
2017 Q249142
2017 Q129149
2016 Q434151
2016 Q354130
2016 Q255125
2016 Q141136
2015 Q440142
2015 Q355125
2015 Q257122
2015 Q139130
2014 Q435140
2014 Q356121

Other Datsun models

  • 240 — 315 licensed
  • 260 — 145 licensed
  • 120 — 56 licensed
  • Sunny — 32 licensed
  • 100 — 34 licensed

See how many of every Datsun model are left

Common questions

How many Datsun 280 cars are left in the UK?

94 were licensed and 131 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many Datsun 280 cars are SORN?

131 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 225 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 280 disappearing?

94 are licensed as of 2026 Q1 — the highest count in the published series, so the 280 is still arriving on UK roads rather than leaving them. That is up 88% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 131 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 225 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

What fuel is the 280 coded as?

DfT codes every vehicle in the Datsun 280 generic-model group as petrol.

Does this say whether one 280 is a good buy?

No. These are population figures for the model group. Enter that vehicle's registration for its own free MOT, tax and mileage record.

Source and limitations

Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, df_VEH0120_UK. Released 2026-07-15 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

DVLA make and model fields are administrative data and can contain omissions or inconsistencies. These statistics describe model groups, not an individual registration.

Confidential cells marked [c] represent between 1 and 4 vehicles and are treated as zero in aggregates, so totals can be slightly understated.