1800: Number Plates

[VolvoFan]

I'm with the last two posts: my car is an L reg 1972 model.

[Underdrive]

It's confusing because the new reg numbers came out in April (I think) each year so each suffix letter will span two calendar years.

[cassell]

Originally Posted by Underdrive

It's confusing because the new reg numbers came out in April (I think) each year so each suffix letter will span two calendar years.

August 1st at that time, not April.

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by Triple-S

I think your age/reg suffix is wrong: my 164 is 'L' suffix, was registered in Dec 1972 but a '73 model and has been wearing pressed shiny alloy letters on a black background most of this century.
My 1800ES is also an 'L' suffix and dates from March 1973 and had similar style plates fitted by the previous owner who supplied a photographic restoration, from a decade ago.

P

Yes Triple-S the cars may be displaying them but I think you will find they are illegal. Having said that, I am sure there aren't too many present day traffic cops aware of this. I think he Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regs covers it. I no longer have a copy of this.

[Dibble]

I was correct inasmuch as white/yellow plates were compulsory from 1st January, 1973, however there is now a 40 year rolling exemption whereby vehicles manufactured before 1 January, 1975 can display the older style plates. You must: have applied to DVLA, and be registered within the 'historic vehicles'.
The 40 year exemption date rolls forward automatically each year on 1 April .
Google DVLA and read information sheet INF104 which can be downloaded and explains all.
This appears to beg the up-to-date.

[mike gilbert]

Originally Posted by VolvoFan

What is the correct style of number plate for the front of a 1972 car? Should it be a pressed aluminium plate with a black background with raised silver characters, or an aluminium plate white reflective background and black plastic (separate) characters?

Thanks.

If by the question as to what is 'correct' you mean what was on the car when it was new, that would have been a white aluminium plate with raised black plastic letters/numbers fitted to the plate with spiral clips on the rear. The same at the rear on a yellow plate. You can put black/silver plates on the car now but these were being phased out starting in 1968 and as the white/yellow plates were 'new' people wanted them and they were fitted on the majority of new cars from the late 60's on, so by 72 your car would not have had them when first registered.

[Groundes-Peace]

It is an interesting perspective. looking to what is strictly age specific or with historic nostalgic perspective.
I know that for me with this age of car I would move to the historic black background plates: not what would have happened for a new registration at the time but hey....

[mike gilbert]

Originally Posted by Groundes-Peace

It is an interesting perspective. looking to what is strictly age specific or with historic nostalgic perspective.
I know that for me with this age of car I would move to the historic black background plates: not what would have happened for a new registration at the time but hey....

I personally like the early reflective plates with raised plastic letters but for the same reason - nostalgia - to me they are redolent of the early 70's. By the mid to late 70's the pressed one piece plates had replaced them so they really werent around for long.

[Underdrive]

Were those first white/yellow plates with raised letters actually reflective? I seem to remember they weren't but could be wrong...

[mike gilbert]

Originally Posted by Underdrive

Were those first white/yellow plates with raised letters actually reflective? I seem to remember they weren't but could be wrong...

The rear ones definitely were - I still have an original pair for one of my cars - a J Reg. If you look at the 1968-9 colour pictures of the saint Volvo you can see their reflective ST1 plates.