Personal Plates Make Their Mark in Australian Auction

Personal number plates featured high on the list of best-selling items offered at a vehicle and memorabilia auction in New South Wales, Australia.

The first of such events to be organised by agents, Shannons, on Sunday 12 July, created enormous interest with nearly 70% of the lots reaching or exceeding their reserves. Total sales exceeded the equivalent of £360,000

Many fine examples of rare and vintage vehicles changed hands at the Sydney Showground sale. The top price paid was nearly £40,000 for a restored 1970 Chevrolet Corvette convertible. Other prize vehicles such as a poppy red left- hand drive 1965 Mustang Fastback and a 1990 Holden VN Group Sedan also achieved respectable closing prices around the £25,000 mark.

However, it was the personal number plates which caused the biggest upset. The distinctive black and white numeric New South Wales registrations stole the show when '8686' raised only slightly under £25,000 alone. Similar marks, '2360' and '48343' fetched the best parts of £18,000 and £9000 respectively.

These results were well in line with the experiences Shannons had at an earlier dedicated number plate auction last month. These latest Australian results clearly indicate the global appeal of personal plates, with the market in the southern hemisphere every bit as buoyant as those of the USA, Middle East and the UK - where latest estimates put the number of personalised registrations as high a one in eight.

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