"British" number plates

[Louis Monnier]

Hello all,
I just bought a Series 1 OTS, my first formality is to register the car to the french administration.
My wish is to use period british number plates, can you give me your recommendation...nowhere to be found in France.
For my point of view, somme good exemples here :

Front



Rear



Many thanks
Louis

[paydase]

Hi Louis,

I think it's just not permitted in France.
Unless you want to fill in the coffers of the State...

Serge

[Louis Monnier]

Thank you Serge,

Well...you are right but as far as I know, regulation is "flexible" for vintage cars. Black number plates are definitely authorized for such cars.

[Heuer]

You can buy the old style front and rear plates from here: http://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/ or here: http://www.pl8s.co.uk/ or here: http://www.autojumbler.ie/Ace%20Peak%20 ... lates.html I would start with Paul Macnoughton at Autojumbler because he is going to be the most 'flexible' when it comes to creating the plate without documentation

The plates for the rear of the car are 'Ace' silvercast alloy peaked digits which are available in 3 1/2" and 3 1/8" sizes. Not sure how many characters you need on the plate but the large ones are for cars with six characters, the small ones for cars with seven characters. Be aware the rear plate is very expensive - about ?145. The front stick on plate uses the same character sizes and is either cut using a modern font (Frampton's) or hand cut in traditional font (Tippers).

More information:
viewtopic.php?t=4601&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
viewtopic.php?p=41625&highlight=ace#41625
viewtopic.php?t=4526&highlight=registration+plates

[rfs1957]

Louis, fais moi un PM si tu veux en parler off-line.

My $0.02 worth.

Don't register it in France, leave it on the UK log-book using a friend's address, and do the SORN. Far easier than any CG formalities, piece of cake.

Insure it with a French insurer like Bailly or w.h.y. stating you intend to do the French immatriculation / FFVE stuff, and they'll give you a year's insurance - beyond that they get their fingers rapped so they won't renew it.

Next year you go to another insurance company .......... et basta.

Solves all number-plate issues at the same time.

[Louis Monnier]

Hello,

Regarding the rear plate, filling all the place would be better than a classic 21,5 inches x 5 inches number plate... I had a look at my car (#875725), I found 56 x 19 cms...looks square. It's going to be a real challenge with 7 characters Ace digits...plus two mandatory dashes.

Regards
Louis

[38E]

When my '62 was registered in England, it wore a rear plate that was cut to shape filled the whole space between the plate lights. The numbers were stamped into the plate. I don't know where you could get that done these days, but it's an idea.

[Heuer]

Tippers make the pressed plates but whilst period correct they were usually only used on vans and trucks because they were regarded as 'cheap'. Certainly Jaguar would not have fitted them; they offered Blumels plates as standard or Ace if you could afford them: viewtopic.php?p=41625&highlight=bluemels#41625

On both my cars I measured the gap and had them make up the plate to fit exactly.

[PeterCrespin]

Ace plates are being made in Dublin nowadays using the original casting moulds for the peaked letters/numbers.

I think you search for Ace Peak Plates on eBay.co.uk and they have a web site under development. I don't have their email on this iPhone.

Pete

[Heuer]

Ace plates are being made in Dublin nowadays using the original casting moulds for the peaked letters/numbers. I think you search for Ace Peak Plates on eBay.co.uk and they have a web site under development. I don't have their email on this iPhone.

http://www.autojumbler.ie/Ace%20Peak%20 ... lates.html
http://www.nowplates.com/vintage-ace-pe ... eak-plates
http://www.radiatorservice.ie/#!__vinta ... eak-plates

Or if you want to buy in the UK: http://www.pl8s.co.uk/AcePlates.html

[paydase]

When my '62 was registered in England, it wore a rear plate that was cut to shape filled the whole space between the plate lights. The numbers were stamped into the plate. I don't know where you could get that done these days, but it's an idea.

That would be impossible in Belgium: the rear plate is delivered by the fiscal authorities at a given format and are stamped with an official stamp.
That holds for all cars, including oldies, with no exception.
Btw, the front plate does not have a stamp but you are supposed to have it with the same imposed format.
Departing from the regulatory plate means risking a heavy fine...

[Louis Monnier]

Thank you all,

We are trying to fix it filling the whole space with Paul Macnoughton at Autojumbler...I let you know.

Have a look at the plates of this french E Type for sale in Paris : http://pros.lacentrale.fr/C020930/detai ... om=galerie

[Louis Monnier]

Hello,

Can OTS owners check their rear plate if filling all the place ?
My measurement is 56,5 cm X 19,5 cm
May be 56 cm X 18 cm would be enough...

[Stuart Exelby]

Just wanted to say that I took delivery of a new rear plate from Ace yesterday, Aidan has been extremely helpful during the process, so if you are thinking of a fresh plate, I'd recommend him.

Old plate (which was perfectly acceptable of course...)


and new one..... Not the best of photo's, but the garage isn't the best of places to photograph it!

[Stuart Exelby]

And a couple of slightly better images outside in the (ahem!) summer sun....





http://www.acepeakplates.com/