Thursday 7th March 2024

Ferrari press car registrations go up for auction

Some very choice combinations of Ferrari-specific numbers and letters are due to go under the hammer in May...

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Ferrari has a long tradition of using personalised numberplates to identify its press cars in the UK. Accordingly, it has amassed quite a collection of Ferrari-specific registrations over the years, and while PH certainly doesn’t claim to be an expert on the subject, some of them are likely to be worth a pretty penny. Kudos to it, then, for choosing to auction 25 examples this coming May, with all proceeds from the sale being donated to charity. 

Because it’s for a very good cause - specifically Ben, the organisation established to provide care and support for anyone who has worked in the automotive industry - we’ve opted to publish the full list below for your perusal, along with Ferrari’s helpful hints as to why they were relevant at the time. 

	458 FNE		458 Italia / Ferrari North Europe
	C1 FWE		Convertible / Ferrari West Europe (car registered in France)
	C8 EDF		Convertible / 8 cylinder / Electronic Differential (EDF)
	F1 CAL		F1 / California
	F1 FWE		F1 / Ferrari West Europe (car registered in France)
	F11 TAL		F1 / Italy
	F12 ALU		Ferrari F12berlinetta / Aluminium construction
	F12 HYK		Ferrari 12 cylinder / Hybrid KERS
	F12 SFT		Ferrari F12berlinetta / Superfast (bodystyle and transmission)
	F8 SFT		F8 Tributo / Superfast (transmission)
	F8 TRB		F8 Tributo
	FF12 BER		Ferrari F12berlinetta
	FF12 FNE		Ferrari F12berlinetta / Ferrari North Europe
	HY12 KER		Hybrid 12 cylinder / KERS
	SF69 HYB		Scuderia Ferrari / Hybrid
	V12 HGT		V12 / Handling GT
	V12 HYK		V12 / Hybrid KERS
	V12 OTO		V12 / One to One (prior to Atelier Personalisation)
	V12 SFT		V12 / Superfast (bodystyle and transmission)
	V6 FDE		V6 / Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer
	V6 YAW		V6 / Yaw Control
	V70 LAF		70th Anniversary / LaFerrari
	V8 EDF		V8 / Electronic Differential (EDF)
	V8 PFN		V8 / Portofino
	V8 SCU		V8 / Scuderia

As you can see, some are likely to be more highly prized than others. For our money, using the standard rule of thumb for such things (i.e. brevity and easy-to-understand evocativeness), we're inclined to think F1 CAL and F8 TRB and definitely V8 SCU are likely to feature high on some owners' shopping lists. V6 YAW is a personal favourite. And HY12 KER and V12 HGT scan nicely, too. Also, as Ferrari points out, some registrations have been made famous by repeated appearances in the nation's TV and media outlets - 458 FNE is particularly notable as it appeared on four separate 458s between 2011 and 2014, and therefore graced more than a few Car of the Year awards. 

So it's a chance to grab a little yellow slice of history, as well as doing your bit for a very fine charity. Win-win, as they say. You've got plenty of time to make your choice, too, as the auction is scheduled to be held at SupercarFest at Sywell Park on May 18th. Bids can be placed in person, online or via telephone on the day of the event. Best of luck if you've already pinned your hopes on something. 

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• Ferrari 458 Italia | PH Used Buying Guide
• Ferrari F12 | PH Used Buying Guide

[Twinair]

I think you might want one of these numbers, I have 7 cherished numbers - all for different reasons.

My favourite is FA22 CAR (that I have) FA57 CAR - was / is taken.

I think on a Ferrari you need to be a bit aware that it could look a bit ‘gauche’ - each to their own though, of course!

[jimmymidnight]

Twinair said:

I think you might want one of these numbers, I have 7 cherished numbers - all for different reasons.

My favourite is FA22 CAR (that I have) FA57 CAR - was / is taken.

I think on a Ferrari you need to be a bit aware that it could look a bit ‘gauche’ - each to their own though, of course!

"We" - as in the family, had FA52 CAR on an F430 Spider. Always hated how it looked.

I got a cherished number plate for my 21st and have kept it on every car since - cost me sodding fortune in transfer fees, but I now feel I've invested so heavily in it I need to keep it forever

There are some interesting ones in that list that will no doubt fetch big money for owners!

[phil_cardiff]

I might buy V70 LAF for my Volvo.

[Cold]

What a cheap looking selection. Hopefully despite that, punters will be generous and bid strongly to raise some cash for ben.org.uk

[JonnyVTEC]

phil_cardiff said:

I might buy V70 LAF for my Volvo.

Just for a... laugh. Yeah?

[JoshSm]

None of them look particularly special combos from where I'm standing, though I guess someone might want them.

Even as model specifics they mostly aren't great.

[Slowlygettingit]

Glad they were explained - none are particularly ‘wow’.

I do remember having to have 458 FNE explained to me at Goodwood one year when it was on a yellow 458.

Pretty sure some Ferrari fans will be hard at the chance to own some of these though.

[MattsCar]

If you have to explain a numberplate...it belongs in a certain thread on here.

[Monty1502]

I think they're 10 TA TVE to say the least !

I've got a few Ferrari related plates that I'm likely to get rid of as I've sold the cars ........ E1 NSO. - EN70 RED - EN20 RED , maybe Ferrari want to buy them to replace the ones they're selling ! ?

[Twoshoe]

Monty1502 said:

I think they're 10 TA TVE to say the least !

Indeed. Surely the coolest Ferrari plate ever must be 250 GTO on Nick Mason's ...er... 250 GTO

[CLK-GTR]

Funnily enough i can't recall ever seeing any of these, unlike the plates on the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin. I can only think of Ferrari press cars with Italian plates on.

[mwstewart]

HY12 KER and V8 SCU for me.

[WPA]

CLK-GTR said:

Funnily enough i can't recall ever seeing any of these, unlike the plates on the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin. I can only think of Ferrari press cars with Italian plates on.

458 FNE I have seen on a few different 458's

[NGK210]

I do like people who don’t take their cars nor themselves too seriously, which is why the best plate for a Ferrari is on a local’s F12 TdF:
V12 APE

[David87]

Good job they explained each one. Majority are £250 DVLA specials.

[Parkin46]

That’s a very poor selection, luckily plenty of people with money and no taste so the charities should be fine.

[turboman786]

Properly crap plates really! If you saw them on ebay you would quickly skip past them

[Benzinaio]

OK if you've got more money than sense and are a complete BE11 END I suppose.
I'll get me coat..........

[Ray_Aber]

W4 NKR?

[Rsx Boy]

F1 RED is on a white f31 in the village next to me.
Made me double take the first time I saw it.