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A century-old NSW numberplate expected to sell for $1m

Numberplate trading is at times even more lucrative than cars, and the scene isn’t slowing down

What does the man (or woman) who has everything, buy next?

Well – if they’ve got deep enough pockets, and get that far down the list – often it’s a super exclusive and super expensive numberplate to compliment the already-purchased super exclusive and super expensive car!

OVER $8 MILLION DOLLARS IN BUGATTIS FOR SALE AT MECUM’S MONTEREY AUCTION

This week, reports broke that the NSW “1” motorcycle numberplate had come on to the market for the first time in 80 years – with an expected sale price of up to $1 million.

For the unaware, the amount of money that changes hands – often behind closed doors – for the humble numberplate is absolutely dizzying.

Steven Hantos, Director of the Australian online buying/selling platform numberplates.com.au, said the NSW plate is “without a doubt the most valuable, impressive and sought-after motorcycle plate in Australia”.

SHANNONS SYDNEY WINTER CLASSIC AUCTION RESULTS

The plate has changed hands only a few times, and was offered to the public even fewer. The plate’s history goes back to 1918, when it was owned by Bennett and Wood, who originally sold Penny-Farthing bicycles but later imported Honda Motorcycles. In 1935, it was sold to Honda’s General Manager.

In 1978, it was transferred to a family in NSW, gracing the rear of an MV Agusta – before it was sold to its current, and private, owner.

Numberplates are a completely different market to classic cars, but generally speaking – motorcycle plates are in less demand than their car counterparts.

Numberplates-NSW-4.jpg

The 2017 Shannons Sydney Winter auction saw the NSW “4” numberplate sell for $2.45 million. It shattered records, and was the most expensive lot of the night – selling for more than any car present, and for over a million dollars above the top-end guiding range.

At the most recent Shannons Auction in Sydney this week, the most expensive plate sold was NSW registration “138” – for $310,000.

It may seem absurd to some, us in the office included; but numberplates can be rare and certainly can be commodities – and demand for them only seems to be increasing!

 

View our number plate listings here

Japanese Classic Car Value Guide home page

Muscle Car Value Guide home page

 

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