Practically Classics Forum

Spotted a while back, but forgotten about until now.



And coincidentally I was in a Volvo too! (my not as 'classic' V40)

Murray wrote:Is that Jag a copy?

I didn't have the impertinence to ask, however here's a clue from the DVLA:
All vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1973 must display number plates of reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear, with black characters.

The rules were recently changed, now any vehicle entitled to historic tax can display non-reflective plates

GHT wrote:

Murray wrote:Is that Jag a copy?

I didn't have the impertinence to ask, however here's a clue from the DVLA:
All vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1973 must display number plates of reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear, with black characters.

JPB wrote:Yes, it's a 2009 Nostalgia Cars tribute act, according to HPI. If you look at the left side of the thing, the very slight ripples in its gelcoat can be seen and there's a side repeater fitted, which wouldn't be required (other than in Italy) on a genuinely old one.

More info on the breed to be found here.

I rather like their SX1000 replica, much more like the real thing, IMHO.

suffolkpete wrote:The rules were recently changed, now any vehicle entitled to historic tax can display non-reflective plates

Really? The current MOT rule book says - in section 6 - the following, and was last updated on Friday:

Vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1973 may have registration plates displaying white, grey or silver characters on a black background.

Just checked this elsewhere to be sure, the rules are the same, but the bit about newer cars refers to date of registration and rather pointlessly states (only on the DVLA's own site and unaltered in the MOT and C&U regs) that cars registered more recently in the Historic VED class may display non-reflective plates if they can be proven to have been manufactured before January 1st, 1973, in other words exactly as it was and still an MOT failure point, but DVLA have simply clarified that it is build date that qualifies the vehicle for the non-reflective plates. This only really affects imported or ex-military cars that carried a then-current issue rather than today's "age related" plate up to 1982.

My source of the information is the FBHVC. The latest issue of their Newsletter states that they were told, in one of their regular meetings with DVLA, that non-reflective plates were now permitted on vehicles manufactured before January 1st 1975. An example of government departments not talking to each other or different interpretations of an ambiguously worded regulation?

Yes, yet another example of Government departments and/or appointed agencies not communicating with each other. Throw DVLA into the mix and chaos can be the only outcome.
I'm told that the local traffic cops are turning a blind eye to this nowadays, presumably because, if they did stop a car that was carrying non-reflective plates, they'd have so much paperwork to deal with that criminals could escape [the Police's] attention and not only that, but anyone who did find themselves being issued with a fixed penalty would have no problem in demonstrating to any court in the land that there exists reasonable doubt and walking away none the poorer. I say "reasonable"..

JPB wrote:and there's a side repeater fitted,

Judging by the way that little girl on the bike has her head hanging over the side, I would say that mum's rear keeps repeating too.

Is this an A95 countryman?
click here

sierra3dr wrote:Is this an A95 countryman?
click here

Nope, it's a Morris Oxford, a very rare car in its all-steel, four door form, though the two door ones with the wooden frame at the back aren't exactly around in their thousands either. Nice old thing, good spot.

Ford Mk3 Zodiac in dark blue with mid blue interior. Northbourne Dorset. I want one.

Bob.