Black 'n' silver

quattro

Administrator
Staff member
Just been told that any 'historic' vehicle can now legally be fitted with Black and Silver plates. It used to be that you could only fit them if the car came with them, i.e. registered before 1st January 1973, but now any vehicle registered before 1st January 1976 can have them as long as it's been registered as "Historic."

Anyone else seen this?

Richard
 
I believe this is true. I talked to the guys on one of those stalls that do number plates at the classic car show at the NEC and they told me that once a car is 40 years old and qualifies for the free tax they are allowed to print black/silver plates for it, but not before.
 
Occie's a '73 and qualifies....but most definitely will carry on wearing the reflectives.

Each to their own, but this is akin to MOT exemptions.

IMHO.

Stan
 
I think the implication that the rules no longer apply is what stan's alluding to. Possibly a step towards limited usage.

In this case it's probably that the rules are difficult for the police to enforce and barely worthwhile.
 
I can understand keeping black and silvers on a car that would have originally worn them....I do so myself on the Jag.

But I think taking reflectives off a car that would have had them originally and replacing them with black and silvers is a retrograde step, in that it makes the car less safe. Not something I'm interested in doing.

But hey-ho, each to their own. :)
 
As ,long as it isn't the modern plate with a godawful flag on it then I'm happy. Best leave it as period as these things just jar and distract from the car.
 
What’s the story with black and silver number plates? | Inside DVLA

Here's the link to the gov.uk website which gives the necessary info. Not sure about why someone came up with the bit saying that fitting black plates to cars that originally wouldn't have had them 'allows your vehicle to retain its authenticity'. In this case it does precisely the opposite since vehicles registered from 1/1/73 onwards would definitely have had reflective plates, not black ones. In fact so would many cars from 20/12/67 onwards when their use was legally authorised at the owner's discretion. Seems a pointless change in the law to me but each to their own and all that.
 
Well my 1972 P6 already has the black and silver plates but in two years time I WILL be swapping the reflective plates on my 1978 Dataun 260Z for black and silver ones because I personally much prefer the look of them. The yellow rear plate I particularly dislike. With lights and reflectors already on your car I don't really think you need reflective plates for safety reasons.
 
Just went to pick mine up. They put a bloody 5 on the end instead of an S. Could be an omen!
 
Hi, It's not so clear cut as it first seems, this was discussed on another forum and someone raised an interesting point. The DVSA has issued a notice as said but the legislation still says that no black and white plates after '73. So does a notice overrule the law? It could end in tears depending on the police officer.

Colin
 
Sparky arrived with some modern pressed plates and silly little blue flag things on the left hand edge. I changed them for the correct ones, i.e. individual letters fitted into drilled holes, held on by little circlip washer thingies, and a correct size rear plate to fit the boot mount. I do like the black and silver plates, but they're not right for Sparky, so I'll stick with the correct ones.
 
Sparky arrived with some modern pressed plates and silly little blue flag things on the left hand edge. I changed them for the correct ones, i.e. individual letters fitted into drilled holes, held on by little circlip washer thingies, and a correct size rear plate to fit the boot mount. I do like the black and silver plates, but they're not right for Sparky, so I'll stick with the correct ones.
Yes I've got the original plastic letter plates too and will keep them. Four screws and we're miraculously back to original. Always changed to black and silver when I was a young un irrespective of vehicle year and still have the urge to do so.
 
Mind you used to Jack them up and put wide wheels on the back. Also 4inch fluorescent red fur interior but I won't be doing that
Look silly now.
 
What is most annoying is the fact you cannot I believe, legally have made, reflective plates with the correct font and size of the original 1970's cars
 
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