What sort of number plate for a Yank?
Discussion
I've recently bought a 55 Bel Air which has a perspex number plate with 2 inch digits with a fancy surround and tbh I dont like the look of them so was looking for a more legal looking replacement. I believe I can go for 2 1/2 inch digits on a 12" long X 6" high plate but the ones I've seen online are on two rows and I'd prefer one line. I've also seen American style plates and I can get silver on black but the font isn't legal in the UK so am wary of attracting too much attention from the BiB. What do you have or could recommend as I don't want a full 21" long plate on it.
The relevant plate is governed by the year so a 55 is as follows:
Vehicles Manufactured before 1 January 1973 ◦The number plates may be the traditional "black and white" style plates, i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.
◦Lettering must be of a set size. Vehicles(except motorcycles) must conform to group 1 or 2 below.
Characters Group 1 Group 2 Motorcycles
Height 89mm 79mm 64mm
Width (except the number 1) 64mm 57mm 44mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm 10mm
Side margin 25mm 11mm 10mm
Top & bottom margin 13mm 11mm 10mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm 10mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm 30mm
Interestingly, the exception that arose under S14A, which permitted certain imports to use a motorcycle font only applies to vehicles that lack whole vehicle type approval (yours would never have had it AND which lack an aperture for a UK size plate. Accordingly, Yank cars with 12 x 6 insets couldn't fit a UK plate so could use the motorcycle font. in your case, I imagine there would be loads of room so you couldn't rely on it.
In practice, most older cars generally don't get a second look because they're never quite sure...
Vehicles Manufactured before 1 January 1973 ◦The number plates may be the traditional "black and white" style plates, i.e. white, silver or grey characters on a black plate.
◦Lettering must be of a set size. Vehicles(except motorcycles) must conform to group 1 or 2 below.
Characters Group 1 Group 2 Motorcycles
Height 89mm 79mm 64mm
Width (except the number 1) 64mm 57mm 44mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm 10mm
Side margin 25mm 11mm 10mm
Top & bottom margin 13mm 11mm 10mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm 10mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm 30mm
Interestingly, the exception that arose under S14A, which permitted certain imports to use a motorcycle font only applies to vehicles that lack whole vehicle type approval (yours would never have had it AND which lack an aperture for a UK size plate. Accordingly, Yank cars with 12 x 6 insets couldn't fit a UK plate so could use the motorcycle font. in your case, I imagine there would be loads of room so you couldn't rely on it.
In practice, most older cars generally don't get a second look because they're never quite sure...
LuS1fer said:
Interestingly, the exception that arose under S14A, which permitted certain imports to use a motorcycle font only applies to vehicles that lack whole vehicle type approval (yours would never have had it AND which lack an aperture for a UK size plate. Accordingly, Yank cars with 12 x 6 insets couldn't fit a UK plate so could use the motorcycle font. in your case, I imagine there would be loads of room so you couldn't rely on it.
In practice, most older cars generally don't get a second look because they're never quite sure...
Yes strictly speaking I wouldn't have aleg to stand on as there's more than enough room for a full size plate. As for them not being sure, I got pulled for no MOT last year but no mention about the 2" digit on the plates fitted at the moment, btw their anpr managed to pick up on the fact it had no MOT, also took an age to convince the officers and their control room it doesn't need one.In practice, most older cars generally don't get a second look because they're never quite sure...
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