Rare Personalised Number Plate VIC 1 Spotted
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Rare Personalised Number Plate VIC 1 Spotted

The Victorian '1' personalised number plate is one of the most valuable and sought-after number plates in the world, with an estimated value of between $10 million and $20 million. It is currently owned by former Fosters' Group and Coles Myer chief executive Peter Bartels, who has reportedly rejected several offers of over $1 million for the plate.
Victorian '1' heritage plate.
The plate was first issued in 1906 and has only had a handful of owners since then. In 1984, it was sold at auction for $165,000, which is equivalent to over $570,000 in today's money. The plate has since changed hands several times, with each sale increasing its value.
The high value of the Victorian '1' heritage plate is due to a number of factors. Its low number and its long history make it a very desirable collectible. Additionally, the plate is seen as a status symbol and is often purchased by wealthy individuals who want to show off their wealth.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for heritage number plates, with prices skyrocketing. In 2019, the Victorian '916' heritage plate sold for $108,000, while in 2022, the Victorian '14' heritage plate sold for a record $2.27 million.
The Victorian '1' heritage plate is a truly unique and valuable item, and it is unlikely that its value will decrease in the foreseeable future.
Here is a more detailed look at the history of the Victorian '1' heritage plate:
The plate was first issued in 1906.
It was originally reserved for government officials, but they could not agree on who should own it.
In the 1980s, the plate was auctioned off.
The first owner was retired mechanic Gary Price, who purchased it for $165,000 (inflation-adjusted $571,551).
The plate has since changed hands several times, with each sale increasing its value.
The current owner is believed to be Peter Bartels, the former CEO of Carlton & United Breweries and Fosters.
The plate has been heavily documented and photographed throughout its life.
It has been displayed on a variety of luxury vehicles, including a Mercedes-AMG E55, a Mercedes-AMG E63, and a Porsche 911 Turbo.
So what are the top selling number plates in the UK? The DVLA has been selling private plates to UK motorists since 1989. During this time, there have been a number of records set, but most of the top 10 have been bought in the past 15 years. Here’s what currently makes the list:
- 25 0 – A Ferrari dealer bought this for £518k in 2014. It is now on a £10 million Ferrari 250 SWB.
- F 1 – A businessman, Afzal Khan, bought this for £440k in 2008 and put it on his McLaren-Mercedes SLR.
- S 1 – This was bought in 2008 for £404k by an anonymous buyer.
- 1 D – Businessman Nabil Bishara bought this plate in 2009 (before One Direction was formed, so it is not a reference to the band) for £352k.
- M 1 – Businessman Mike McCoomb bought this number plate in 2006 for £331k, apparently for his son, who was 10 at the time.
- VIP 1 – Chelsea owner and businessman Roman Abramovich bought this plate for £285k in 2006.
- 51 NGH – This number plate, which looks like the surname Singh, was sold in 2006 for £254k.
- 1 RH – Businessman Robert Haverson bought this in 2006 for £247k.
- K1 NGS – This reg plate, which looks like the word “kings”, was bought anonymously in 1993 for £231k.
- 1 0 – This very simple but striking number plate was bought anonymously in 2009 for £170k.
These are large amounts of money, but they are all small compared to the top-selling number plates found in other parts of the world. Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, has the record for the most expensive number plate ever sold. That number plate was a simple “1”. It was bought in 2008 by businessman Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri for £7.25 million.
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