Potted History of NZ Number Plates from Richard Armstrong - a some time Motorsport Competitor in the 1970's was a member of Hamilton Car Club and a Vauxhall enthusiast !!
Richard writes ;
" Until 1941, New Plates were issued every year, In 1941 due to steel shortages caused by WWII the period was increased to 5 yearly until the last issue in 1961. The dates I've noted elsewhere of when plates were replaced with Permanent plates which stayed on the vehicle until it was de-registered or replaced with a personalised plate. If a Personalised plate is removed the vehicle is often re-registered with a new issue permanent plate, in some instance's the original permanent plate may be able to re-issued "
The period when Austin Healey's were built - 1952 - 1968 [ 1970 for Sprites ]
Permanent Plates ;
Richard writes again ;
" The permanent plates were introduced first on July 1st 1963 when all Motorbike's & trailers were required to display them. Then one year later in 1964 private motorcars got them again from 1st July when around 685,000 of the new full size permanent plates were delivered to Post Offices around the country beginning with AA1000 - AC9000 to Southland the progressively up the South Island then AV4801 - AX3950 to Northland and down the North Island ending with CI886 - CQ5600 distributed to the bottom of the North Island. Further plates were sent out in 1965 for the registration of Light & Heavy Trucks as well as Buses to display from 1st July 1965. After final large distribution plates were sent to Post Offices as required and there are no known records of what area got what plate numbers but they were not in any sort of sequence like the initial distributions."
My fathers 1963 Zephyr came out on the Yellow and Black plates and changed to BL927 in 1964.
My first car a 1960 Austin Seven [ Mini ] was AW309 and reputedly from Northland - Whangarei from memory, would have had the previous issue on when new.
Permanent plates were phased in over 1964-65 for cars but over all types from 1963 - 1966, the Aluminium " Silver ' [ brushed Aluminium ] and Black plates - from AA to MZ, then in 1987-ish the Black on White plates starting with NA - a change of letter style in recent years.
In mid 1987 purchased a brand new Fiat UNO 70SL which had the plate NG4909 and was in the new Black numbers white background style - similar to the pre-permanent plates in style.
There a website link on NZ Number Plates that is not totally accurate, and much information was lost as new Computer systems were introduced around 1990 and archives not retained.
A Healey with a permanent plate - early style - before you could get proper personalised plates you request a plate that going to be issued and then wait - the usual reason for the replacement was that the plate was damaged - taken to with a hammer before going to the local Post Office where you had requested it be made available.
Plate was acquired in 1984 from memory;
with its previous plate on ;
in the background part of the Triumph 2.5 PI that was the daily driver - TR4A under restoration at the time 1983
Photo's in the same place, our house in Herne Bay 1980- 1995 [ had been in the family since 1929 - when built ] picket fence shortened as Carport built and the shrubs have grown in the LX100 photo from around 1987-88 - LX100 had been repainted too !!
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