Mitch,
If you want accuracy, it all depends on the age of your neighbour's lbc.
For "our" cars, first registered after 1st Jan 1963, the registration
format is "XXX nnnY", where X is a letter, n is a digit and Y is a
letter. Y relates to the first registration date of the car, as follows:
Letter (Y) Registration dates
A: 1963
B: 1964
C: 1965
D: 1966
E: Jan 67 - July 67
F: Aug 67 - July 68
G: Aug 68 - July 69
H: Aug 69 - July 70
J: Aug 70 - July 71
K: Aug 71- July 72
L: Aug 72 - July 73
M: Aug 73 - July 74
N: Aug 74 - July 75
P: Aug 75 - July 76
R: Aug 76 - July 77
S: Aug 77 - July 78
T: Aug 78 - July 79
V: Aug 79 - July 80
W: Aug 80 - July 81
X: Aug 81 - July 82
Y: Aug 82 - July 83
Before 1963, the format didn't contain the year letter.
After July 83, the format changed to "Ynnn XXX".
Colours:
In the early sixties and before, plates were white/silver lettering on a
black background. Later on (I don't know exactly when), the newer colour
combination was permitted, of black lettering on a white (front) or
yellow (rear) background. For vehicles first registered on or after 1st
Jan 1973, the new colours (black on white/yellow) were compulsory.
So, for example, I have a 66 Herald, registered KGH 258D, with silver on
black plates.
My 1991 eurobox, registered H685 KJB, has black on white/yellow plates.
The general preference over here in the UK is that if the car is old
enough to wear white/silver on black, then it does. Some people with
later vehicles use the white/silver on black plates but, strictly,
they're illegal.
I have a few spare plates for the Herald, including an original white on
black plate with raised plastic lettering. I would be happy to send this
out to you for the cost of post and packing. Alternatively, I could get
a plate made to your neighbour's specification - with his(?) choice of
letters and numbers. Certain letters are not allowed in the XXX part,
including I, Q and Z. [Anyone know of any others?]. The plates my wife
had made for the Herald are polished pressed aluminium, the black being
enamel paint. These give a pretty authentic "period" look. They cost
about 15-20 pounds (for the pair).
Regards,
Daren Allder, ><>
Reading, Berkshire, UK
'66 Herald 1200 convertible
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