Number plates worth more than cars?!

[RenesisEvo]

Forgot to add, when in Mons, Belgium earlier this year, I saw an early Mini Cooper (R53) with the plate R2 D2.

[hufggfg]

Something I saw recently that I found rather odd (unfortunately didn't take a picture), was an E92 3 series coupe (no idea of engine, but it certainly wasn't an M3 or 335i) with a liberal spattering of M badges all over it (wonky mostly), and then a double double number plate...

So this is someone who clearly wishes they had a better car than they do... but also has money tied up in a number plate which would be able to afford that better car.

Bit sad really, but made me laugh.

[sparehead3]

Around 30 years ago a colleague who's Dad serviced Porsches/BMW had the plate "THE 911" on an old mini. The plate must survive as it was worth a lot then - I guess the mini would be worth something too now.

[B3ALP]

Must be worth more than the old Passat

[m444ttb]

A neighbour has something like 3 AC (I'll see if I can check later) on an early 2000's 1.2 Clio that has seen better days. I'm sure the plate itself had the logo of a dealer that definitely didn't sell them a Clio on too. Perhaps they were once much more wealthy.

[pandaruk]

Slightly off topic...

A good friend has

S10 WLY on his V8 Vantage

[Vroom101]

I've seen a Merc B Class near me a few times with the plate 'V12 JOY' driven by an old lady (whose name I'm guessing is Joy).

Similar cars on Autotrader are up for about six grand. I reckon the plate would go for much more than that.

[buellboy]

I have been hoarding this pic since I took it in Ealing (West London) in 2009....waiting for the right audience to appreciate the plate.

Geeks of the world unite....

[Raven Flyer]

Not an especially valuable plate, but probably qualifies and one that made me smile.

[Nobbyuk]

I have a friend who last time I saw her had 20 E on her Vauxhall Corsa, the plate was a present some years ago.

[cuda]

RenesisEvo said:

masseyis said:

Over years of driving through London, I've often noticed a pair of cars on Victoria Embankment outside what must be a ridiculously expensive house. They have Reg's 2BE and NOT 2B. If I remember right, one is on something quite mundane like a Mini. The other was an old Roller. As a pair, must be worth more than the cars. I like to imagine it's Ian McKellan's London pad or something like that.

I remembered seeing a photo that you reminded me of, so I started digging through the folders on my drive, and found this:



A Vanquish and an S63, not really in keeping with the thread at the time.

These are now on a modern Vanquish and a very nasty Revere Range Rover. The house and cars are owned by owners of a theatre in the West End.

[cuda]

A bit off or opposite topic but at the other end of the spectrum, I think its even cooler when top end cars don't have a personal plate - like this fella we see in London a lot...:

[Twitch16]

[Pat H]

cuda said:

A bit off or opposite topic but at the other end of the spectrum, I think its even cooler when top end cars don't have a personal plate - like this fella we see in London a lot...:

Far, far better not to have a private plate than to have a crap one.

And on the same sort of subject, I think the same applies to classic cars.

I would rather see them on their original age related plate.

[jdwoodbury]

I have seen A1 on a new Mini in London...probably worth about 50x the car's value.

[Davey S2]

jdwoodbury said:

I have seen A1 on a new Mini in London...probably worth about 50x the car's value.

A1 was owned by the Sultan of Brunei's brother. Don't know if its still in the royal family though.

[WCZ]

Twitch16 said:

[Sir Bagalot]

michaelg1001 said:

I keep seeing 3C knocking about near me, its on a cream R56 Mini Cooper

A photo would be nice as it's a missing plate

[M3DGE]

BlueHave said:

I regularly see a VW Fox I believe it's an Urban but it can't be worth more than £3-4k.

Has a two number and one letter plate, DVLA have a similar plate for £40k. Something like 11J or similar.

Must be a hand me down plate as I can't imagine buying a £3k car and then buying a £40k plate to stick on it.

Not if it's a 'reverse J' - never issued originally. All sold by DVLA.

[M3DGE]

Gecko1978 said:

nicholasm said:

steveb8189 said:

The ones I always like are the people that have clearly given into their family life and changed cars but kept their plate (usually because the letters are their initials I presume)

e.g. S3 XYZ numberplate on an audi A4 TDI
M5 XYZ plate on a 320d touring

etc

I also see a lot of "X5 XYZ" plates that have been transferred to Range Rovers.

I've seen a couple of "V6 XYZ" plates on BMW 3 Series. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they've been transferred from something like a 350Z

My wife an I have matching plates her's actually says her name the last four digits being 1SLA or Isla so I have same first 4 characters then CCT. Its pointless but sentimental it also marks out her an my car...mine being the Zafira lol.

When I get a new bike I will buy a new plate with my Daughters initials on it with same 4 characters at the start again just bit of fun an not going to be worth alot but hey does not harm an makes the DVLA some pennies.
Oddly My initials CCT or CT tends to be hard to find as a Number then letter combo.

That's because neither were originally issued in number - letter format. CT was issued by Hull in 1903, who also issued CCT in 1947. Neither were 'reversed', so any out there have been sold by DVLA.