Trezzo Specials

April 10, 2012

Among the amazing plates displayed at Trezzo, near Milan, this weekend (Easter 2012) were these, shown for the benefit of those who could not attend – but who have access to the Europlate Blog!

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Albania was occupied by Italy during WW2 (1939-43), and dedicated Italian plates were issued to the few vehicles in circulation there.    Probably they had no plates before – or they were made up of goatskin, which hardly lasted the year between those annual emission tests ……

Italy issued some great extra-territorial plates whenever it erected its flag in some fortunate corner of the world.   Rhodes, Cattaro and Eritrea are examples.

Here, from Trezzo, is a plate from the Eritrean Liberation Front fleet of semi-military vehicles, all now abandoned in the shifting sands, but awaiting your visit with a screwdriver.     (Take some bail money with you in case the plan goes wrong.    And some long books.    It may take some time to organise your evacuation – you will certainly miss the 2014 Convention!)

The ELF operated between the 1960s and 1990s, so this plate may be of that period.

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Interesting that opponents to the ‘government’ were able to obtain official-style plates.   We know that neighbouring Somalia has long abandoned plating their militia Toyota pickups.

This ‘font’ is characteristic of Ethiopia, which supports the ELF, so probably these plates came by way of aid to their administrative HQ at Tent 14, Dune 32,883, Boiling Desert.    A great place to fight over.

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CITES

After WW2, several international missions operated in Italy, to assist in the post-war recovery and their personnel were issued a fancy orange plate marked with the initials ‘CITES’, which Roberto Solbiati has kindly decoded for us as:

CIRCOLAZIONE TEMPORANEA in ITALIA di ENTI STRANIERI .

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To make an acronym that they could read, they put ITALIA before TEMPORANEA.
So the sequence of words is :
C – Circolazione – (Circulation (licence))
I – (in ) Italia
T – Temporanea – (temporary, for duration of posting)
E – (di) Enti – (entity, organisation, mission)
S – Stranieri – (strangers, foreigners)

(Temporary Licence for Foreign Organisations in Italy.)

Shortly after WW2, a new symbol was embossed on the (rear only) Italian plates, depicting three swords on a shield; this was the symbol of the National Disabled Veterans’ Association.      This CITES plate shows this emblem well.

The SITES series ran from 1947 to 1952, we understand.

The SITES plates ran alongside the ‘EE‘ plates issued to foreigners who purchased Italian cars there, to export to their home countries. (EE=Escursionisti Esteri=Foreign excursionist/visitor)

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I will add more pictures of the  other Trezzo plates which made me gasp, in a later Blog.

Leave a Comment » | Albania, Eritrea, Historic, Italy, SITES | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

1965 Chad Citroen 2cv

March 23, 2012

Ted van Rijn lived in Tchad overseeing the design and build of a new Heineken plant at Moundou in 1965.

There he ran this Citroen 2cv, 0390 A 07 – the 390 th. registration in the province 07 – Eastern Louoma.      There were no roads and the Citroen was the ideal vehicle for the terrain.    Chad had been independent from France since 1960, when it had formed part of French Equatorial Africa.    As usual in French Africa, numberplates were made up with stencils and white or silver paint, often in this characteristic font.

2 Comments | Africa, Historic, Tchad | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Whose Vietnam photo?

March 17, 2012

Who took this shot in the 1960s?   It’s a 1960s-70s white on green Viet Nam foreigner plate, exceedingly rare to sight in Europe.     No claimant as at Dec 4 2013!

The anonymous picture (with the bumper attached) came to the Blog via Jim Gordon in West Oz, but Jim says it was not he who took it…….

Taken by an anonymous cameraman, seemingly in London during the 1960s, we believe. On a Hillman Husky.

This anonymous shot shows the Hillman Husky bearing a home-made VN oval on the bumper. The bumper was missing on the later shot, by Vic Brumby in Notting Hill Gate a little later, below.

 

The owner told Vic Brumby, when questioned, that he was an  ‘educational missionary’  and that his next posting was to Tchad.   He gave me a picture of his car in his pre-Viet Nam posting – BK = Medan,  Sumatra.      This was a well-travelled Hillman!

A well-travelled Hillman Husky in Medan, Sumatra (BK) before re-registering NTB 3621 in Viet Nam, then Tchad.

2 Comments | Historic, Uncategorized, Viet Nam | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Unknown plate in Sabah

March 17, 2012

Anyone suggest the meaning of this plate FD 01 2195?     Two or three seen in Sabah on lorries, during 2010.

A Malaysian conundrum.

FD 01 2195 unidentified in Sabah 2010

3 Comments | Borneo, Malaysia, Sabah, Uncategorized, vanity/special issue | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Antigua & Barbuda

March 17, 2012

A day visit by cruise ship to Antigua (St. Johns) on Feb. 3, 2012, rendered some new items of interest.

First, the original  Dealer (Motor Trader) plates had been changed a few years back, from red on white with Dealer initials and a low number (usually painted).                    ASM 3 is a 1981 example:

These changed to US-dimensioned,  pressed plates, thought to be in annually-varying colours, which showed the abbreviation  DL, followed by the initials of the Dealership (LR for Land Rover),  and then a serial number.

Antigua Dealer during the 2000s - Land Rover agency

2012 sees another Trade Plate change, with a complex all-silk-screened design, printed black, green and green on a white backgrounded US-size plate as shown below.   This dealer, Premier Motors,  has plates 1, 2 and 3 for their use.     This plate is un-drilled, as it is displayed loose from inside the vehicle, through the front or rear window.

Antigua/Barbuda Dealer 2012 (annually issued)

In 2007, Antigua hosted a round of the World Cup Cricket series, and the authorities issued a batch of commemorative plates for the most important participants/ distinguished visitors.

I don’t think they remain valid for Antiguans to use, but this plate survived for the pleasure of  Europlate members!   (Update) CWC 028 was among those to pass through the Europlate Easter auction at Trezzo and is now in the hands of a keen collector.

Cricket World Cup Commemorative 2007.

Current government plates for senior people are in a very pleasing colour combination of green on dusky yellow.   Ministers have yet another series, without any legends, in yellow on royal blue, MP and a low serial.

Antigua Government personnel from 2000, pictured 2012.

Antigua Member of Parliament

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None of the old AG prefix plates remain, though I did see one of each ‘P’ and ‘PA’ , which were subsequent issue, on scrapped cars.

Until 2000, when the new, US-style series began, Antigua often used a characteristic letter style, which helped to separate them from the identical  ‘P’  registrations issued by neighbouring islands in the West Indies and elsewhere.    They made up the digits with straight lines replacing the curves of numbers and letters.

Antigua Government vehicle, pre-2000, with stylised digits.

The smart annual tax disc for the country, below:

Antigua tax disc 2012

An excellent visit, where we found the Antiguans to be most hospitable and cheerful – and no grim looks when they see us photographing licence plates!     Members may know that we risk being arrested in many places these days, as we go for that  special shot!

Leave a Comment » | Dealer, Historic, vanity/special issue, Windward Is. | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Vanuatu Fake

December 11, 2011

 

6778 - false Vanuatu plate, one of several seen around Europe

6778 – false Vanuatu plate, one of several seen around Europe


I photographed this Porsche GT three years ago in Vienna/Austria.    Unfortunately I wasn´t able to speak with the driver.

For sure in the red field on the left part of the plates there were the letters ´VU´ and the flag of this islands. Front and rear plates were ident and they didn´t seem to be of paper. Right beside there was a ´CD´-Oval.

All my research shows quite different colours and appearance of Vanuatu plates.

Of course I found the mass of wrong examples and the possibility of offshore-registration in Vanuatu, but they always look quite different…

Further I found that there really is existing a Vanuatu registration with this number for a Porsche GT held by the mysterious GT-Group.    This dubious firm consists of mailboxes spread around the whole world and sells all kinds of licenses.

I´m sure this car haven´t ever seen one of the islands of Vanuatu.     It´s much cheaper to use a fantasy-registration.     The riddle is why nobody else discovered such type of Vanuatu fake yet.  Others have been seen, Peter – Vic

4 Comments | Pacific, Vanuatu | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by platepeter

New book: ‘License Plates of the Vatican City State’

December 7, 2011

Europlate member (#62)  Dr. Marcello Gallina has now published his new book on the history of the Vatican State registration systems.    Carlo Bellini has collaborated in the production.    That’s Bellini, not Fellini, chaps!

I was able to obtain two copies of the English-language version last week via a pal who was over in Italy and liaised with Marcello.

It is a very detailed, 170-page work, with 200 black-and-white photographs of Vatican plates old and new.

‘License Plates of the Vatican City State’ is  a must-have addition to each of our libraries.   Marcello’s contact email is:        marcellogallina@tiscalinet.it    

He plans to be at the Easter Europlate Convention near Milan.

Vatican City Plates by Marcello Gallina

Vatican City Plates by Marcello Gallina

Leave a Comment » | Useful publications, Vatican | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Confuse-a-spotter

December 7, 2011

Most of the territories which Britain managed in the earlier years of the 20th. century were given registration systems firmly anchored in the design and layout of the Construction and Use regulations of the home country.     As a result, far-flung places could have identical plates and an early spotter relied on the vehicle carrying an international oval at the back, if it travelled outside its own land.

The most prolific type was the letter ‘P’ (which usually stood for Private vehicle-but not always) followed by up to four numbers.     First, though, are three  ‘AY’  examples, all still legally circulating in their respective countries.     First, Turkish Northern Cyprus, AY 255.

Turkish Northern Cyprus AY 255

Then, AY 230 – Alderney, Channel Isles (GBA)
Alderney, Channel Isles - AY 230

and Hong Kong (HK) ( a  re-issue, as AY 995 is quite old now, on a new car.)
Hong Kong AY 995

No identifying ovals, unfortunately, but I do remember where I took the pictures!

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Perhaps the most confusing set of identical plates was issued in the Windward Islands.    One had to chase the car and interview the driver to obtain the island of issue, as they hardly ever carried an international oval….

GRENADA (WG) on an MG TD in Newmarket, GB in 1964. P 2734

1972 photo of an Austin 1300 in London, from Barbados, where P codes the parish of St. Philip.

1972 photo of a Morris 1300, P 475, in London, from Barbados, where P codes the parish of St. Philip.

 

P 2909 - the original series for Antigua.

P 2909 – the original series for Antigua.

St. Kitts & Nevis went on to P and numbers, when it had exhausted its original CN prefix (Christopher & Nevis) 1980 picture by Vic Brumby on St. Kitts.

P 335 – St. Kitts & Nevis went on to P and numbers, when it had exhausted its original CN prefix (Christopher & Nevis).   1980 picture on a Rover 90, by Vic Brumby on St. Kitts.

St. Vincent, the rarest of the W set of Windward Islands, seen in London in 1969, and still the only one ever. The owner had to be stopped and asked, to learn the island of source. Peugeot 404 - Brumby archive.

St. Vincent, the rarest of the W set of Windward Islands, (WV, WG, WL & WD) seen in London in 1969, and still the only one ever. The owner had to be stopped and asked, to learn the island of source.   Months later, P 2277 was found parked in a far distant part of London, ad a photo grabbed – Peugeot 404 – Brumby archive.

Trinidad used up to P 9999 long ago, but still re-issue as cherished plates if needed. That's what this one is. P 6000, taken there in 1987 by VB.

Trinidad used up to P 9999 long ago, but still re-issue P as cherished plates if needed. That’s what this one is. P 6000, taken there in 1987 by VB.   Black on white indicates taxi licence, as with Mauritius below.

Bermuda is not far away, though not in the West Indies, and used the same P system. The motorbike shows P 1936 and was photo'din the early 1950s.

Bermuda is not far away, though not in the West Indies, and used the same P system. The motorbike shows P 1936 and was photo’d
in the early 1950s.

P 135 is from distant Mauritius, where the white background shows it to be a taxi - a Hillman Minx, shot by VB in Port Louis, 1980s.

P 135 is from distant Mauritius, where the white background shows it to be a taxi – a Hillman Minx, shot by VB in Port Louis, 1980s.

 

Northern Rhodesia allocated 'P' code to Lusaka and Mumbwa and Reg Wilson capured P 1106 in Britain in 1961.

Northern Rhodesia allocated ‘P’ code to Lusaka and Mumbwa and Reg Wilson captured P 1106 in Britain in 1961.

P 5373 was issued to Penang as a Straits Settlement in Malaya in the1920s - and this Ford Anglia was photographed there as recently as 2012!

P 5373 was issued to Penang as a Straits Settlement in Malaya in the1920s – and this Ford Anglia was photographed there as recently as 2012, by Douglas Fox!

France kept the enclaves of Pondichery and Karikal in Madras State, South India, tagging the vehicles there in the P and K series. This Cadillac P 1452 has survived the obligatory change to white Indian plates, when this photo was taken. Thanks to Cedric Sabine.

France kept the enclaves of Pondichery and Karikal in Madras State, South India, tagging the vehicles there in the P and K series, using the British-style font of India. This Cadillac P 1452 had survived the obligatory change to white Indian plates, when this photo was taken. Thanks to Cedric Sabine.

 

P 8825 - Similarly , French Tahiti sometimes used British-style plates for the original series of up to four numerals followed by a 'P' for Privé. VB photo in Papeete, 2002.

P 8825 – Similarly , French Tahiti sometimes used British-style plates for the original series of up to four numerals followed by a ‘P’ for Privé.        VB photo on a Land Rover in Papeete, 2002.

END (Unless you know otherwise????

3 Comments | Historic, INDIA, Mauritius, Tahiti, West Indies, Windward Is., Zambia | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

South Africa Military

December 6, 2011

ZA army towed gun 2005

Leave a Comment » | Africa, Historic, Military, South Africa, Southern Africa | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

Sri Lanka CV code and others

December 6, 2011

http://www.bokhans.com/trollybus.html

Above is a web page which shows a few early Sri Lanka plates on trolleybuses.    The double-deckers use the code  ‘CV’ which RPWO lists as ‘diesel buses & lorries’ – so perhaps CV also covered electrically-driven vehicles, too…..

I had once thought that it indicated ‘Conduit Vehicle’, as trams and trolleys rely on the overhead conduit for electric power, but no.

 

And while we’re in Ceylon:

Mototcycles from each of the first two series in Ceylon. A 1040 from the 1910-28 series and EL 3943 from the 1953-4 issue. Seen in Colombo in 2009. Brumby archive.

Austin A40 Devon in Colombo 20091940-56 series.   EY 2846 – Austin A40 Devon in Colombo 2009.   EY specifically 1951-3.          Brumby archive

In 1940, someone had he odd idea of creating a Sinhalese registration series which used the letters of the name of Ceylon as a component of the tag.   Thus CE, CY, CL, CO(not issued ) and CN were succeeded by to EY, EL, and EN.    The idea was then abandoned before YL began,  and in 1956 the first ‘sri‘ symbol plates were launched.

The 1 Sri issue ran from 1956-8. Jaguar Mk2 exists as a collector's car in Colombo.

The 1 Sri issue ran from 1956-8.    This Jaguar Mk2, 1 Sri 2581, exists as a collector’s car in Colombo.

Leave a Comment » | Asia, Historic, Sri Lanka | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Victor Brumby

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