Black and White Number Plates

[johnymd]

I'm not worried about it fully complying with the letter of the law. Just don't want it so bad I get pulled all the time. I really like the black, Jap/us size with no border and pressed Ali. I'll get a pick with it on the car but when we held it against Terry's orange car today it look just right IMO.

 

[Jake RAH]

The top one and the all black one aren't compliant AFAIK..the spacing between the letters is not per DVLA guidance..the M reg plate refers..

I would still install them and worry about my defence in case old bill pulls me over.

Couldn't you just ask for a wider spacing of the letters on that top plate? On that all black rear style plate I reckon the correct letter size & spacing could be used if your reg is 6 or less characters long.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

John the letter sizing and style are different for B/W and Reflective. See Gov doc INF104

Guys what is concerning me is blatant non-adherence to the regulations and therefore 'taking the mick'.

We have a situation where there appears to be a loophole that we can use to our advantage to fit what most people consider 'appropriate' plates for our S30s. One numberplate manufacturer thought it acceptable to fit B/W plates to my 73 car especially as I had them on my 71 car and to most people they are the same cars.

If we now go fitting plates that don't even comply to the B/W regs then it's going to draw attention to the whole issue of compliance and it may backfire on us. Secondly why draw police attention to your car in this way John. A savvy 'road traffic' copper may then start looking at your engine and asking all kinds of questions re 'Historic' status. See this article and especially the bottom half of the middle column.

 

[johnymd]

I understand where your coming from Rob but the cars are all perfectly legal LHD ex US Cars with standard l series engines and fully comply with the historic vehicle criteria. The one the black and silver plate is for even has a manufacturers plate stamped with a date of 10/72. The front bumper has the offset mounting points for a 12" wide plates. People have been using Jap/US size plates for years and putting black and silver plates on cars that shouldn't have them. I really don't think me putting a non compliant plate on one of my '72 imports is going to upset the apple cart.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Ok John.

Another interesting situation was discussed 'in the pub' on Friday. A guy in the village is building a Jag D Type Replica. It's got a 'spaceframe' type chassis, fibreglass body and mechanicals of a 4.2 XJ6. He doesn't like it being called a kit car.

Anyway I asked him if it would be registered on a Q Plate and he nearly choked on his beer. He reckons it will be SVA/IVA tested as a new vehicle, get a new reg and then be transferred onto a personal plate. I assume the personal plate will be Black and White . A Q plate would greatly devalue the car he reckons.

 

[SKiddell]

From the horses mouth....the DVLA guidelines

If a new monocoque bodyshell or chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer (or an altered chassis or bodyshell from an existing vehicle) is used with two original major components from the donor vehicle, a replacement registration number will be issued based on the age of the donor vehicle. The vehicle must have IVA, SVA or MSVA. The date of manufacture for the vehicle will be taken from the IVA, SVA or MSVA certificate.
Where insufficient parts from a donor vehicle are used or in cases where the original registration is unknown IVA/SVA/MSVA will be required to register the vehicle and a 'Q' prefix registration number will be allocated.

 

[johnymd]

I'm not up on how kit cars are registered and if they get a q plate or not. There's no way a new kit car is going to be legally on historic style plates though. Just because he has put a jag engine in his kit car doesn't mean it's a jag. Just like me putting a Soarer engine in my car doesn't make it a Soarer.

 

[johnymd]

Interesting Steve.

 

[SKiddell]

Interesting Steve.

Thats odd, most people call me "boring Steve"

I'll get my coat

 

[johnymd]

So, whats the answer then Robert? We all know that a totally legal UK plate does not fit on the rear of a 240z as it was never designed to go on it. It was always designed for the Jap/US size. You could trim the top and bottom of the plate so it fits in the lower clips and tucks under the number plate light but then its not legal and the top of the lettering is partially obscured. You could not use the lower clips and have it hanging down to the bumper but that really detracts from the lines of the rear. You could get a plate maker to squeeze the lettering a bit but then, as you say, it wont comply to the regulations. I'd be interested to see how you get over these problems on your cars as I'm guessing by your responses that you fully comply with the letter of the law. Any pics?

Also be interested to see others plates or is this the wrong thread for that.

 

[SeanDezart]

If you fit a bigger rear plate to cover the gaps with the minimum lettering size (or bigger) that is surely inside the law ?

What they legislate against are hard to read or illegible plates of which a bigger one can't be accused !

As stated earlier, I have plates made up here that fit perfectly 320x180 !

 

[johnymd]

Do you use a single row of letter? 180mm is not deep enough to fit 2 row and have the correct line spacing with the correct minimum distance from the letters to the outside of the plate.

 

[SeanDezart]

It works here....

 

[red baron]

just to set the record in 2002 and was passed so us and outside the eu car do not have to have uk plates motor cycle letters are legal back and front i do have the said act on paper

 

[red baron]

my plate size is340x165 made by best plate in blackpool who i gave a copy of the said act and is legal also have one in my cars to shut plod up as they do not cliam it exist but it does help a friend with us car court haering one to me loss to them

 

[Rob Gaskin]

So, whats the answer then Robert? .............. I'd be interested to see how you get over these problems on your cars as I'm guessing by your responses that you fully comply with the letter of the law. Any pics?

John, here you go. No I don't fully comply for the reasons you have stated however the fonts and general sizes are close enough not to cause a 'pulling over' I THINK.

 

[SeanDezart]

my plate size is340x165 made by best plate in blackpool who i gave a copy of the said act and is legal also have one in my cars to shut plod up as they do not cliam it exist but it does help a friend with us car court haering one to me loss to them

Can you pass that by me again in plain English please.

Rob - the visibility of the tops of your letters are blocked - a 'T' could be an 'I' for example !

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Can you pass that by me again in plain English please.

Rob - the visibility of the tops of your letters are blocked - a 'T' could be an 'I' for example !

Sean - yes I know but it's not as bad from a lower level. I didn't fit it by the way.

 

[johnymd]

Thanks Rob. It's the top of the letters covered by the light that could cause an issue. I like things to look right and the problem I have is it just looks wrong.

 

[johnymd]

I guess you could go custom size wider to fit standard font on one line in Perspex.