Odd registration plate

[GTBob]

I have a photo which was taken in 1965 in Darlington. In it we can see a Citroen DS with the registration number starting with four numerals - 4494. It looks like a UK registration - silver on black with the numbers large, not like some smaller European numbers, and the car is right hand drive. We cannot make out what letters or numbers might come after these but very possibly something like PBC.
Why might a car have a number like this?
Thanks
Bob

[Louis Balfour]

GTBob said:

I have a photo which was taken in 1965 in Darlington. In it we can see a Citroen DS with the registration number starting with four numerals - 4494. It looks like a UK registration - silver on black with the numbers large, not like some smaller European numbers, and the car is right hand drive. We cannot make out what letters or numbers might come after these but very possibly something like PBC.
Why might a car have a number like this?
Thanks
Bob

I think 1234 AB numbers were issued. I have an acquaintance who has one.

[anonymous-user]

Louis Balfour said:

GTBob said:

I have a photo which was taken in 1965 in Darlington. In it we can see a Citroen DS with the registration number starting with four numerals - 4494. It looks like a UK registration - silver on black with the numbers large, not like some smaller European numbers, and the car is right hand drive. We cannot make out what letters or numbers might come after these but very possibly something like PBC.
Why might a car have a number like this?
Thanks
Bob

I think 1234 AB numbers were issued. I have an acquaintance who has one.

Yep a friend has one in that format on his E-type.

[Rob Dicky]

1962 registration on my father's TR4

[cologne2792]

I remember a few 4 numbers 2 letters in Kent a long time ago. Usually 1234 KO.

[john2443]

1234 AB format were issued by councils who had used up ABC 123 and 123 ABC in 50s/early 60s. Next they went on to ABC 123A

Not all councils used 1234 AB because they hadn't run out.

Some had 1234 D (Derbyshire) 1234 R (can't remember where that was!)

[richardracer]

My father had a Hillman iMp registered 2222 TU, Cheshire plate.

[moffspeed]

One of the more famous examples - one of the 2 Geneva show E Types from 1961.

[giantdefy]

I had a Mk1 Cortina 5699PH

[V41LEY]

giantdefy said:

I had a Mk1 Cortina 5699PH

Early PH company car - impressive !

[RS2KOHC]

And my 1960 Ford Popular 100E circa 1965/66.

[OLDBENZ]

richardracer said:

My father had a Hillman iMp registered 2222 TU, Cheshire plate.

Rolls/Bentley had a series of **00 TU plates for their press vehicles - 1200TU
1800TU, 3500TU if memory serves plus others.

[boombang]

I've a plate with 3 numbers 2 letters.

Causes havoc with ANPR at some car parks!

[TarquinMX5]

OLDBENZ said:

richardracer said:

My father had a Hillman iMp registered 2222 TU, Cheshire plate.

Rolls/Bentley had a series of **00 TU plates for their press vehicles - 1200TU
1800TU, 3500TU if memory serves plus others.

Correct, plus 1850TU, 1900TU, 2000TU (and 20TU) and possibly others (not sure which ones are now RR or Bentley-owned)

I still have a 2***TU plate.

[Pat H]

We've had a couple of these sorts of plates in the family since the early 1970s

[GTBob]

Thank you all for your responses. It's interesting that your examples are nearly always to the format 1111AA whereas My car seems to have 1111AAA. Here is the picture - the best resolution I can manage I'm afraid.

[TarquinMX5]

As far as I'm aware, 4 numbers weren't issued with 3 letters; could the letters be something like M, N or W etc which, as the photo is blurred, make it look like there are 3 letters?

Edited by TarquinMX5 on Monday 7th February 08:50

[john2443]

UK didn't issues 1234 AAA.

Is it French - 1234 AA 01?

[Allan L]

john2443 said:

UK didn't issue 1234 AAA.

The Northern Ireland bit of the UK issued plates of the format AOI 1234 as did the Republic of Ireland. I suppose somewhere with a busy registration office (such as Belfast) would run out of those numbers and reverse the letters/digits.

[moffspeed]

john2443 said:

UK didn't issues 1234 AAA.

Is it French - 1234 AA 01?

Agree, French. Those numerals look more “spindly” then standard U.K. numbers - and people weren’t going on eBay buying dodgy-font custom plates in those days…