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MG TD TF 1500 - 1955 British License Plate

Anyone have a picture of a 1955 British license plate? PJ
PJ Jennings

Up until 1973, all British number plates were of the same style, although after the first 2-letter 4-number sequences were exhausted, they went to three letters and 3 numbers. The 2nd and 3rd letters designated the place of registration.

The attached photo is of my own 1934 PA plate, which was still of the 2-letter, 3-number variety.

There is a lot of detail on number plates in the UK brochure here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533255/inf104-vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates.pdf

although much of it deals with the current modern format.


Lew Palmer

Thanks Lew, much appreciated. PJ
PJ Jennings

This photo appeared with a 1955 road test of an MGA.

R G Everitt

Thanks RG, can't get much better than that! PJ
PJ Jennings

I meant to say "The attached photo is of my own 1934 PA plate, which was still of the 2-letter, 4-number variety."

But I guess that was obvious.
Lew Palmer

Here's mine.
MV is a Middlesex (London) registration and by 1955 they had run out of 3 letter-3 number registrations and so were reversing the order.

David

David Wardell

As previously shown, some plates were pressings, others had 3D letters on a plain black plate.

I think the height of the letters was 3.5 inches until 1963.

R G Everitt

Thanks fellas, I would like to put a tag on the front that would be correct for the period. PJ
PJ Jennings

What would SWT-16 represent?
Sanders

Here is a plate that was on an MG TC in Ireland prior to being shipped to the states in 1961

L E D LaVerne

You can still get them made in the UK:

http://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/
Ian Bowers

SWT = West Riding of Yorkshire from June 1956 to March 1957.

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-letters.htm
Gives all the codes and their geographical and date translations.

David
David Wardell

Lan, Thanks for the link. When I get a chance I'll contact them. PJ
PJ Jennings

Interesting Irish plate LaVerne from Ireland. These were on mine in Ireland and I wondered how original they were.

Darryl Lamb

LaVerne,
This was my first TD purchased when I was stations at RAF Ballykelly in Northern Ireland. PZ 5174.
Had a great bonnet mascot that was later stolen. Never found another Eagle like it.


Rod Jones

This plate came with my TF. I have no idea if it's authentic.

Jack Long

The previous owner in Ireland found us and sent us a black and white photo when he owned the car and the plates are clearly on the TC. He was in the Belfast area. I can no longer find that photo on my pc.
L E D LaVerne

Jack, it looks a bit dubious.
'J' was a Durham registration letter but as far as I know there were never any 5 figure numbers.
The spacing could be wrong so it could be 'JO' - but that was an Oxford registration from the early 1930s.

David
David Wardell

Jack,
Your number is probably genuine, the space between J and the numbers would suggest this.
"J" with up to 6 numbers were issued by the State of Jersey.
Jersey is an island in a group of islands just off the French coast. They are Crown Dependencies (of the British Crown).
They were the only parts of the British Isles occupied by Germany during WW2.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

But would the number 02245 be used, as the initial '0' is meaningless - the number is 2245. The UK mainland registration authority would not issue such a number. Could it be a transferred plate, to obtain 'JO', with the licence plate maker putting the space in the wrong place. What does the rear number plate show?
R A WILSON

Should have said, I do realise Jersey is mentioned, but would Jersey have issued a five digit number with zero as the first digit.
R A WILSON

I should remember to engage brain before speaking.
Ray
Ray Lee

Likewise - as it is a TF the rear plate will almost certainly be the same as the front.
R A WILSON

Just found J002 on a Jersey auction site so it looks as if they used zero to increase the amount of numbers available.
You would wonder why they needed so many on an island only 120 sq kilometres in area. When I went there in the 60's the traffic was light but now very busy.
Ray
Ray Lee

I have only the front plate.
Jack Long

Well, you learn something every day.
In the UK 'J' was a Durham issue and would have been followed by up to 4 numbers.
But Jersey is not the UK and also uses the letter 'J' and according to to Wikipedia, can be followed by up to 6 numbers ... so Jack I may owe you an apology and your number plate may well be genuine.

David
David Wardell

This thread was discussed between 20/08/2017 and 22/08/2017

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