Shortest UK car number plate you've seen

[GusB]

I thought this was probably worth a separate thread.

Less exotic but in Oban, Scotland in summer 1974 "S1". Explained to me as the first vehicle registration number registered in Scotland. Very soon after that I got absorbed by railways.

"S1" is probably quite a rare sighting, and I'd be interested to see if that registration mark is still on the go.

When I was younger, I used to see "AS2" - an Inverness allocation, going around. One would expect such a plate to be on a high-end vehicle such as a Rolls, Bentley or perhaps even a "supercar", but no; it adorned an Austin Maestro! I can only assume that it was inherited by someone who realised the value of retaining such a plate!

Another one that puzzled me was "RG0". When I lived in Aberdeen it was on a Daimler DS420 limousine that was used by the Lord Provost of the city - I didn't think that it was possible to have a zero in a number plate until then (any explanation for this would be welcome).

 

[Killingworth]

X1 was issued in Northumberland and sold for over £500k about 10 years ago.

Somebody has S1 and it could be worth £1m today.

 

[Taunton]

I thought this was probably worth a separate thread.


"S1" is probably quite a rare sighting, and I'd be interested to see if that registration mark is still on the go.

When I was younger, I used to see "AS2" - an Inverness allocation, going around. One would expect such a plate to be on a high-end vehicle such as a Rolls, Bentley or perhaps even a "supercar", but no; it adorned an Austin Maestro! I can only assume that it was inherited by someone who realised the value of retaining such a plate!

Another one that puzzled me was "RG0". When I lived in Aberdeen it was on a Daimler DS420 limousine that was used by the Lord Provost of the city - I didn't think that it was possible to have a zero in a number plate until then (any explanation for this would be welcome).

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh's official car, also a Daimler limo, used to have "S0" as well, and was regularly seen around. Just trumps your "S1".

"A2" in Central London some years ago, a Bentley of that era, but has apparently been off MOT for seven years now.

 

[Buzby]

‘G0’
Used by Glasgow Corporation for the Lord Provost’s official car. It transpired that GC created it for themselves when they used to have that responsibility (before councils lost the right to issue tax/licences around ‘68 or so). No idea what happened to it.

Lord Provost accepts gift of car on behalf of Glasgow City Council - Glasgow City Council

Glasgow's Lord Provost with the council's latest car gifted to the city by an anonymous donor today Tuesday 5 June 2018.

www.glasgow.gov.uk

 

[birchesgreen]

I saw Deadly Doug's limo with AV1 on it once.

 

[GusB]

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh's official car, also a Daimler limo, used to have "S0" as well, and was regularly seen around. Just trumps your "S1".

‘G0’
Used by Glasgow Corporation for the Lord Provost’s official car. It transpired that GC created it for themselves when they used to have that responsibility (before councils lost the right to issue tax/licences around ‘68 or so). No idea what happened to it.

Interesting. So we have S0, G0 and RG0 - was there one for Dundee, I wonder?

Did the "zero" plates happen anywhere else in the UK, or is it peculiarly a Scottish thing?

 

[thejuggler]

Leeds mayor car is U1.

I also think Rotherham Mayor car is ET1!

Daughter's friend dad has a single letter two number reg on his Range Rover.

This site may be of interest for this thread.

Home - UK Single-Single Number Plate Registry

UK Single-Single Number Plate's

singlesingle.co.uk

 

[AlterEgo]

I’ve seen a two character plate before, although I forget which one! Quite a few three character ones near where I live though.

 

[RailWonderer]

I see X3 in my area sometimes, it's a Rolls.

 

[Bald Rick]

Seen outside the greasy spoon next to Euston that the RMT leadership often have breakfast in. I did wonder if it stood for “Industrial Relations”. (owned by the Qatari Royals, apparently).

Won’t be many RR Phantoms with plates worth more than the car.

 

[Buzby]

Interesting. So we have S0, G0 and RG0 - was there one for Dundee, I wonder?

I remember looking into this years ago - they were late to the party, as I understood Edinburgh administered the plates all the way up the east coast. Inverness was the next, doing everything northwards. The use of 0 should never have been countenanced under any circumstance and you’ll note that two adjoining main registration areas seemingly wanted a ‘1’ registration and BOTH could not retrieve the number previously issued And came to the same result. Doesn’t show them in a very good light! What would have been next…. 00 plates?

 

[Western Sunset]

I assume Santa has H0 on his sleigh?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Surely His Majesty The King would win this as his plate has precisely zero characters...?

 

[Rescars]

Great opportunity to spot these plates is to stand at the side of the A23 on the first Sunday in November. Lots of much loved veterans on their way to Brighton. No red flags, but many original registrations!

 

[Shimbleshanks]

The Bailiff of Guernsey's car registration is '1' apparently. (Guernsey registrations are just numbers, no letters.)

 

[Grumpy Git]

30 years ago I used to regularly see a fairly run-of-the-mill small car on the road between Woodford and Alderley Edge with (I think) A9 on the plate.

It was definitely two digits and began with A at least!

 

[renegademaster]

A1 belongs to a 2007 mini

 

[Busaholic]

Great opportunity to spot these plates is to stand at the side of the A23 on the first Sunday in November. Lots of much loved veterans on their way to Brighton. No red flags, but many original registrations!

I several times saw car reg. A20 when I used that road daily in the early 1980s, also SE9 in the town of Eltham bearing that London postcode. The lowest number I ever remember seeing was A6, perhaps fifty years ago now.

 

[Mawkie]

"S1" is probably quite a rare sighting, and I'd be interested to see if that registration mark is still on the go.

Just checked - it's on a red Vauxhall apparently.

 

[MotCO]

I remember seeing A3 many years ago.

I assume Santa has H0 on his sleigh?

No, I think it is HOH OHO.

I also know someone who had DEX2. However, Index (the old catalogue shop) used DEX 1 and DEX 2 in their advertising campaigns, presumably without permission.

 

[Western Sunset]

When we lived in Beckenham, we used to see a red sportscar around with the reg JOE 90...

 

[NORMAN471]

L50 used to be the Mayoral Car of Lancaster and EM1 belonged to Eric Morecambe.

 

[MotCO]

L50 used to be the Mayoral Car of Lancaster and EM1 belonged to Eric Morecambe.

COM1C used to be owned b Jimmy Tarbuck.

 

[AdamWW]

No, I think it is HOH OHO.

That's Father Christmas's postcode in Canada.

The shortest number plate I've seen is U1 (Leeds Lord Mayor, as mentioned above) unless you count the Queen's car.

 

[Howardh]

WH1 - which used to be - maybe still is - Bolton mayor's car.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

S0 is still alive, it's a 9 year old BMW 730 with a current mot. Can't see anything for G0 though

 

[Rescars]

S0 is still alive, it's a 9 year old BMW 730 with a current mot. Can't see anything for G0 though

S0, has G0 gone then?

Sorry!

 

[Buzby]

S0, has G0 gone then?

No, it’s on a 2 year old Rolls Royce Silver Ghost (a bit of it is seen here)
Provost’s New Car

 

[Trackman]

WH1 - which used to be - maybe still is - Bolton mayor's car.

It's still going.
I think William Hill's tried buying this for £1M off Bolton council.
Going back to council number plates, the F1 plate was bought from a local council for around £400,000 about 5 years ago, think they are trying to flog it for £15m now.

 

[Howardh]

It's still going.
I think William Hill's tried buying this for £1M off Bolton council.
Going back to council number plates, the F1 plate was bought from a local council for around £400,000 about 5 years ago, think they are trying to flog it for £15m now.

A lot might ask why WH1 and not BN1; the answer my folks gave me was during the war that was Bolton's registration to confuse any invaders!! How true that is I don't know!