Italian style historic number plates

[chriswgawne]

I have just had a really nice pair of number plates made for my newly UK registered 1955 Aurelia B12 to the authentic style for the period - in my case black plastic with raised numbers picked out in white in the correct size and font for the period.
They were made and dispatched by Francesco at www.targhestoriche.it . They offer plates in various styles appropriate for the period.
I am sure that my small front number plate is strictly speaking not legal in the UK but I have this size and style of plate fitted to all our old Italian cars since the late 1970's and I have never had a problem.
I did however once get stopped on the M3 with no number plates fitted to our ex Switzerland 1st series B20 but I was on my way home from the MOT station having passed its first MOT in the UK before registering it! I got as police escort home and they stopped for a cup of tea.!   
No connection to seller.
Chris

[Parisien]

Thanks Chris, filed away for use in the medium term!


P

[SanRemo78]

I used a company in the States to get a set made up for the Stratos replica.....

http://www.licenseplates.tv/italy-245.html?=

Excellent service (but no connection to the seller!)

Guy

[simonandjuliet]

Excellent, I really like the "story of the plates"

Can we see a picture of your plates ?

Interested to see how a UK reg fits into the Italian style - wondering how the French plates would look because my current plates on the Appia berline are hand painted and I need to do something about it .....

[the.cern]

Thank you for this contact Chris. I must dig out my plates for the B20 which I believe are original to its import to the UK in 1963. I recall that they are pressed aluminium, black ground and self colour alpha numerics.

I cannot remember their condition and may need to replace them simply because of deterioration over the years.

Just another thing to check!!!

                                Andy

[fay66]

I had a small front number plate made up for me by 'Tippers', it is slightly bigger than the recess of the original Italian number plate holder, See photo in my report back on New years Day meet at Stony Stratford.
Although  the tippers plate is too big to fit in the recess it still fits the  overall size of the number plate holder, the plate is metal and is a Motorbike front plate.
I seem to remember we had this discussion here previously about if the Italian style plate is legal here in the uk, from what I remember someone reported that it's ok if you have the original Italian size holder.

I shouldn't think the boys in blue where they're are on number plates regarding historics, as it seems that now later vehicles up to 1976 ? are included as historic, the DVLA have stated that if these vehicles carried the reflective plates when new, they would now be allowed to change them for Black and White number plates.
That should certainly cause a measure of confusion.

Brian
8227

[Tony Stephens]

My 4th. Series B20 has a cut down motorcycle plate fitted in an Italian holder from a S3 Appia. Looks good and is probably illegal, so I have a full size plate for the MOT ( no longer necessary but I still submit  the car ). However the tester hssnot bothered me for the "legal" plate for some years now.
Incidentally I need another holder for the Aprilia when it hits the road in due course, where do I get one?

[chriswgawne]

Simon,
I have these photos of our Fulvia GTE and also the new B12 plates from Rome to hand.
Chris

[fay66]

Simon,
I have these photos of our Fulvia GTE and also the new B12 plates from Rome to hand.
Chris

They look great Chris, I've only changed my front plate as the rear is the original.

Brian
8227

[Sliding Pillar]

Chris, interesting to see you have been issued with a 'UYO' number plate. The vehicle I recently registered was given a UYO plate too. I got my Italian style plate from the American company mentioned below.

[LouK]

They look great Chris, thanks for recommending.  Once the Super Jolly is registered and issued with its number, we'll put in an order.  I'd love to reuse the original small front number plate holder if possible as I'm not sure a bigger one will really suit it or where we'd put one.

[Woodyrvf750]

Simon,
I have these photos of our Fulvia GTE and also the new B12 plates from Rome to hand.
Chris

Chris
Did these plates on your Fulvia come from http://www.targhestoriche.it/. ?

Thanks, Mark

[timdaw]

Another possibility for number plates is that a company called classictransfers.co.uk can do you a self adhesive stencil of your number, laid out how you choose, which you can use to hand paint the number onto a plain plate using 'one-shot' signwriting paints. It's something I've used on vintage cars and it works very well, giving a hand painted effect without having to train for 7 years to become a signwriter! You can also distress the lettering if you want, by rubbing with very fine steel wool.

Link to page is https://classictransfers.co.uk/product-category/registration-letters-numerals/

[RBryant]

Revisiting this thread, a thank you for the guidance and an update.

My Flaminia GT Touring, just granted a UK registration (A reg - 1963) and has the usual Italian plate holders.

First, the Blue Peter method, vinyl letters from Ebay stuck on black card, just so that I could drive it.

Then http://www.targhestoriche.it/
I ended up ordering what the website says is appropriate for 1963, but was disappointed when they arrived, plastic and looking like it. 

So over to the USA  https://www.licenseplates.tv/italy-245.html?=
Great communication, a couple of emails to clarify the spacing and whether I wanted an embossed Italy decal - yes, because it was on the Italian plates when I bought it.

Only a few days later, they arrived, see attached pic, and look great.

A small bonus, they declared them as $20 value which means that I avoided duty.

[RBryant]

Stamped Aluminium