Classic reg plate (UK)

Bonzo

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I'm after a black on yellow (UK) reg plate for my '74 mk2.

I'd like it to be as near to what it would have been when it was first registered. What were they made from back then? Plastic, or metal? Stickers for the letter & numbers or raised plastic?

I can, of course, get a modern plate made up, but that would just look a bit, err, modern :rolleyes:

Can anyone recommend somewhere to get one made up?

Not the end of the world, but thought I'd ask the question.
 
like it to be as near to what it would have been when it was first registered. What were they made from back then? Plastic, or metal?
Could be either.


Stickers for the letter & numbers or raised plastic?
Adhesive letters and numbers weren't exactly legal although they were often used.
 
And of course to be technically accurate for a '1974' (M) registration it would have either a (black on reflective white) forward facing plate or front pedestrian slicer plates plus a tax disc holder and tax disc but I guess that could be taking it too far.:)
Classic reg plate (UK)

Classic reg plate (UK)
 
Am I right in thinking in the UK now that black/silver is only allowed if the vehicle is registered as: 'historic?'
 
Am I right in thinking in the UK now that black/silver is only allowed if the vehicle is registered as: 'historic?'
Yes, but only historic vehicles manufactured before January 1980.

 
I can get a black metal one pressed no problem, but was wasn't sure what the yellow ones were made of.

As for the tax disc, that isn't taking it too far at all here. They're still a requirement in the IoM. We get to pay £25 for the privelidge whatever the age or cc of the bike.
 
My original '72 Combat rear plate is an aluminium plate with a reflective yellow layer with separate 3D plastic letters pinned via holes drilled through the plate and secured with Star lock fasteners.

BS AU 145a stamped on all 4 edges. According to BSI this legislation with reflective yellow (rear) and white (front pedestrian slicer) colours was introduced in Sept 1972
This matches my recollection of 'K' reg bikes having black plates and 'L' reg bikes being yellow.





Whether you can find someone who still makes them is another question altogether!
 
I can get a black metal one pressed no problem, but was wasn't sure what the yellow ones were made of.

I'm not sure if this type was around in '74 but I have an almost certainly '78 (Aug. 'T') manufactured plate (as I've owned the bike since '81 when it had only done about 400 miles but has a few more on it now :)) that is a transparent perspex sheet with the black letters/numbers sandwiched between it and the yellow reflective aluminium backing sheet and how they are still made.

Classic reg plate (UK)
 
BS AU 145a stamped on all 4 edges. According to BSI this legislation with reflective yellow (rear) and white (front pedestrian slicer) colours was introduced in Sept 1972
This matches my recollection of 'K' reg bikes having black plates and 'L' reg bikes being yellow.

Reflective plates didn't become a legal requirement on new vehicles until January 1973.

'L' registration was August '72 - 'July '73 so early L reg. plates can also be black.
 
I don’t know much about this subject, but this is what came on my 59 AJS:
It is metal.
 

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Tippers make pressed aluminium plates in both black/silver & black/white, black/yellow. Just had them make one for my latest build. Very nice quality.

Martyn.
 
My 1970 commando had silver on black plates (front and back), that I replaced in the late 70s with a yellow and black perspex on the back only. This is exactly like plates are today, except I got my name along the bottom, which was legal then.

Ironically, I went for yellow to make the bike look newer, now I'm planning to change back to silver on black to make it look older. Oh, and in the hope that it will confuse speed cameras
 
Just did 'some research' (google :)), and black number plates are legal for vehicles constructed prior to Jan 1 1980, so although Historic vehicles are classed on a 40 year rolling basis, the number plates have a firm cut-off date.
Not a problem on this forum...
 
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