Cherished Number Plates News

Historic car registration fetches £400,000

23 September 2008

Edinburgh's first car number plate has fetched almost £400,000 at auction. The registration "S1" was originally bought in 1903, the year registration numbers were introduced in the UK.

The number plate was first owned by Sir John H A MacDonald, a former Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland and motoring pioneer in the area.

The winner who shelled out nearly £400,000 said the plate will be put on an old red Skoda and will be seen driving around the Midlands.

The historic "S1" plate, which had not been offered for sale since 1903, was expected to fetch between £200,000 and £250,000 and has well surpassed this after a bidding war began to unfold, surprising the auctioneers and pretty much everyone who has been following the S1 story so far.

Josephine Olley, from auctioneers Bonhams, said: "There was a bidding battle between several people on the telephone and a bidder in the room.

"The bidder who was present eventually secured the lot to a round of applause."

The winning bidder who declined to be named, agreed to pay £397,500, inclusive of buyer's premium.

He said: "I believe that number plates in general are a good investment, even at this price.

The sale comes as number plates are due for sale later this month at various auctions around the country. The subject of these cherished number plates has been in the news now for quite some time and continues to stun everyone involved.