Number plates gold-plated history

Matt Doran
June 01, 2007
(Herald Sun)

WHAT do you get when you combine 20cm of tin, a few licks of enamel and a couple of embossed, white numbers?

About $300,000, according to national car auction group Shannons.

The company is quoting $260,000-$320,000 for a rare set of two-digit Victorian number plates.

Shannons' national auction manager Chris Boribon said the "47" plates would attract plenty of bids.

"Numerical number plates have experienced phenomenal appreciation," he said.

Some plates had appreciated by more than 1000 per cent since the first auction in 1984, he said.

Earlier this year a single-digit plate "5" was auctioned for more than $8.2 million in the United Arab Emirates -- smashing the previous world record of $800,000.

The "47" plate will be auctioned next Monday, along with some other vintage items. The plate is believed to belong to former Coles Myer CEO Peter Bartels.

This story can be found at: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21829226-2862,00.html

 

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