Number Plates - which type?

#1

I have a 1965 Jaguar S type - what type of number plate would have been
fitted to it originally?

Would it have had pressed aluminium or would a higher end car of that era
more likely had riveted letters, silver or white on black?

I always associated pressed aluminium with cheap cars and commercial
vehicles.

Whilst I'm on the subject I always think black number plates look very
odd on cars of the late sixties and early 70s.

Most bikes and cars post '68 had yellow and white. Certainly the ones I
had did (they weren't new when I got them!) - which makes the black look
out of place, more so on '70-'72

Contemporary film clips show the newer cars with reflective plates:

Villain (great film)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtscBjNxHGw

Sweeny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFeJAe4f9g0

Even if it doesn't answer the number plate question it shows the bad guys
had S types!

--
Simon

#2

In article <xn0ggqmeljvkw0009 (AT) news (DOT) individual.net>,
sweller <sweller (AT) mztech (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Quote:

I have a 1965 Jaguar S type - what type of number plate would have been
fitted to it originally?

Would it have had pressed aluminium or would a higher end car of that era
more likely had riveted letters, silver or white on black?

I always associated pressed aluminium with cheap cars and commercial
vehicles.

When the pressed type first arrived, they were the expensive option. If
you think about it they require specialist equipment to make up unlike the
riveted on type. So to me they still look more classy.
Of course the equipment prices probably came down and labour rates went
up so it's possible the pressed type became cheaper eventually.

--
*Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses*

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

#3

"sweller" <sweller (AT) mztech (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote

Quote:

I have a 1965 Jaguar S type - what type of number plate would have been
fitted to it originally?

Would it have had pressed aluminium or would a higher end car of that era
more likely had riveted letters, silver or white on black?

I always associated pressed aluminium with cheap cars and commercial
vehicles.

Whilst I'm on the subject I always think black number plates look very
odd on cars of the late sixties and early 70s.

Most bikes and cars post '68 had yellow and white. Certainly the ones I
had did (they weren't new when I got them!) - which makes the black look
out of place, more so on '70-'72

Contemporary film clips show the newer cars with reflective plates:

Villain (great film)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtscBjNxHGw

Sweeny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFeJAe4f9g0

Even if it doesn't answer the number plate question it shows the bad guys
had S types!

--
Simon

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

Geoff MacK

#4

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:51 +0100, "Geoff Mackenzie"
<gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

Quote:

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

My 1961 A40 Farina was still wearing its original plates with white
plastic letters (and dealer tag!) when I sold it three years ago. Aside
from some discolouration, the letters were in perfect condition. At the
time, the dealer was still in business too, though they have since
closed down.
--
Regards, Chris (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

#5

In article <i8m3e5hs61qjd79qm6457pejjsuu32h3nk (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
chrisB (AT) RILEYELFb0lus (DOT) com says...

Quote:

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:51 +0100, "Geoff Mackenzie"
gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

My 1961 A40 Farina was still wearing its original plates with white
plastic letters (and dealer tag!) when I sold it three years ago. Aside
from some discolouration, the letters were in perfect condition. At the
time, the dealer was still in business too, though they have since
closed down.

No wonder they closed down if you hang on to your cars that long.

--
Halmyre

This is the most powerful sigfile in the world and will probably blow your
head clean off.

#6

I still have the original plates for my 1948 Vauxhall, plastic letter are
looking a bit sad and I think the last guy took them off with a crowbar but
they are still serviceable.
"Halmyre" <no.spam (AT) this (DOT) address> wrote

Quote:

In article <i8m3e5hs61qjd79qm6457pejjsuu32h3nk (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
chrisB (AT) RILEYELFb0lus (DOT) com says...
On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:51 +0100, "Geoff Mackenzie"
gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on
white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

My 1961 A40 Farina was still wearing its original plates with white
plastic letters (and dealer tag!) when I sold it three years ago. Aside
from some discolouration, the letters were in perfect condition. At the
time, the dealer was still in business too, though they have since
closed down.

No wonder they closed down if you hang on to your cars that long.

--
Halmyre

This is the most powerful sigfile in the world and will probably blow your
head clean off.

#7

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:36:14 +0100, Halmyre <no.spam (AT) this (DOT) address>
wrote:

Quote:

In article <i8m3e5hs61qjd79qm6457pejjsuu32h3nk (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
chrisB (AT) RILEYELFb0lus (DOT) com says...
On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:51 +0100, "Geoff Mackenzie"
gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

My 1961 A40 Farina was still wearing its original plates with white
plastic letters (and dealer tag!) when I sold it three years ago. Aside
from some discolouration, the letters were in perfect condition. At the
time, the dealer was still in business too, though they have since
closed down.

No wonder they closed down if you hang on to your cars that long.

Now that's just a stupid response - I'm the same age as that car.

I bought my Austin as a barn find, restored it to show condition and in
the process realised who the main dealer was. Until then I had no idea
that they were ever an Austin dealer, as I'd known them first as Toyota
agents, then Subaru/Proton/Isuzu. I'm pretty sure it was a retirement
shutdown (family firm) rather than going bust.
--
Regards, Chris (Please take out my car to reply by plain text email)
------1967 Riley Elf------1978 Mini 1000------1971 Mini Clubman------
--1972 Mini Clubman estate--1979 Ford Capri--1984 VW Type 25 camper--

#8

In article <if2be55v4v4gb0naqh8akr095p0ra5qg0f (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
chrisB (AT) RILEYELFb0lus (DOT) com says...

Quote:

On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:36:14 +0100, Halmyre <no.spam (AT) this (DOT) address
wrote:

In article <i8m3e5hs61qjd79qm6457pejjsuu32h3nk (AT) 4ax (DOT) com>,
chrisB (AT) RILEYELFb0lus (DOT) com says...
On Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:51 +0100, "Geoff Mackenzie"
gmac (AT) chapterfive (DOT) org.uk> wrote:

The Mk 2 I had about that time had pressed aluminium. The screw-on white
numbers always seemed to distort and crack after a year or so.

My 1961 A40 Farina was still wearing its original plates with white
plastic letters (and dealer tag!) when I sold it three years ago. Aside
from some discolouration, the letters were in perfect condition. At the
time, the dealer was still in business too, though they have since
closed down.

No wonder they closed down if you hang on to your cars that long.

Now that's just a stupid response - I'm the same age as that car.

I bought my Austin as a barn find, restored it to show condition and in
the process realised who the main dealer was. Until then I had no idea
that they were ever an Austin dealer, as I'd known them first as Toyota
agents, then Subaru/Proton/Isuzu. I'm pretty sure it was a retirement
shutdown (family firm) rather than going bust.

I'll get my coat...

--
Halmyre

This is the most powerful sigfile in the world and will probably blow your
head clean off.

#9

sweller wrote:

Quote:

I have a 1965 Jaguar S type - what type of number plate would have been
fitted to it originally?

Would it have had pressed aluminium or would a higher end car of that era
more likely had riveted letters, silver or white on black?

I always associated pressed aluminium with cheap cars and commercial
vehicles.

Whilst I'm on the subject I always think black number plates look very
odd on cars of the late sixties and early 70s.

Most bikes and cars post '68 had yellow and white. Certainly the ones I
had did (they weren't new when I got them!) - which makes the black look
out of place, more so on '70-'72

My '62 Rover has the original black plates with grey rivetted letters,
but I'm getting black pressed ones for my '61 as I think they look better.

Personally, I think nothing looks worse than an obviously pre-70 car on
white and yellow plates. Even in the clips you posted a few of the cars
look awful on them, the VdP especially. Then again, I've never been a
fan of the white/yellow reflective plate, I remember in the mid '70s
thinking they looked worse than the black and white / silver ones.

I've just had a googlefest and can't find when white / yellow plates
were first introduced - as opposed to being made compulsory, but I'd
always go for black and silver.

--
Pete M - OMF#9

'62 Rover P4 100
'61 Rover P5 3 litre
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 Audi A6 V6 Quattro Avant

"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."

#10

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:23 +0000, Pete M
<pete.murray (AT) SPAMFREEblueyonder (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

Quote:

I've just had a googlefest and can't find when white / yellow plates
were first introduced - as opposed to being made compulsory, but I'd
always go for black and silver.

1966/67 or thereabouts, I remember having a set made for my Austin Champ and
being asked if I wanted the new plates or not.

Peter
--
Peter A Forbes
Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK
peterforbes (AT) prepair (DOT) co.uk
http://www.prepair.co.uk
http://www.prepair.eu