Historic number plate S1 ….going going gone
Edinburgh’s very first car number plate has fetched almost £400,000.00 at auction.
The vehicle registration S1 was originally bought in 1903, the year vehicle registration numbers were introduced. The registration plate was first owned by Sir John H A MacDonald a former Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland and also a motoring pioneer. Sir John, also known as Lord Kingsburgh was one of Scotland’s first car owners.
Sir John was a founding member of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland which later became the RAC, he was also the first president of the Scottish Automobile Club founded in 1899.
The historic S1 plate which had not been offered for sale since 1903, was expected to fetch between £200,000.00 and £250,000.00.
Josephine Olley from auctioneers Bonhams, said: “There was a bidding battle between several people on the telephone and a bidder in the room, the bidder who was present eventually secured the lot to a round of applause.”
The winning bidder who declined to be named agreed to pay £397,500.00 inclusive of buyer’s premium, he said: “I believe that number plates in general are a good investment, even at this price”, he continued, “The registration number will remain in the UK and will be going on an old red Skoda which will be seen around the Midlands.”
The registration was sold by Bonhams Auction House at its Goodwood Revival Sale in Chichester West Sussex.
In 2005 Bonhams sold registration “1F” for £144,500.00 and then in 2006 it sold “M1″ for a then world record auction price of £331,500.00.