Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[ukdave2002]

When I bought my Bedford CA, one of the interesting aspects was that it had its original Bluemels numbers plates, complete with the dealer name "Thrall of Skegness"



Unfortunately the previous owner had a heater near the front of the van, that had distorted all the digits, but because it was the original plate he wanted to leave it on the van.




However the heat also made the digits brittle , and soon after I had it a couple of them just fell off.

I had a new plate made with raised digits, but was never happy with it as the typeface on the numbers especially didn't look right:



Plus I wanted to put the original plate with the dealer name back on the van. For the last few years I have been on the look out for NOS Bluemels digits, they are available new for the older 3.1/2" but not in 3 1/8", I finally got the last digit the "6" , so the restored plate (I may give it a fresh coat of black paint) can go back on the van.



Probably only me who would ever notice the difference in typeface!
Dave

[alastairq]

A splendid effort. Well worth the time & trouble.
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[badhuis]

A man to my heart!
The original number plates of my Chamois (1967) also are of the raised letter type, instead of the common pressed type. A corner of a letter is broken / lost so I have been typexing it for the last 20 years.
The previous owner had new plates made, even with raised letters but as these are the newer type I do not want to fit them.
Your story of searching for new old stock letters got me thinking, I must be searching for a replacement number 9 and letter E.




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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Ray White]

I once made up some new plates for my GT6. The rear shows the "correct" font but the front shows how NOT to do it.

I needed to fit the cheapo plastic front plate to keep the car on the road while I worked on the old numbers.

There was a lot of work in getting the holes for the little pins in the right place and the special little shake proof washers were fiddly.

Some digits had lost their little pins and getting the spacing "just right" was tricky.

Unfortunately the car was sold before I finished the front plate but I suppose it gave the new owner something to do...





The plates for 1973 had, by then, lost much of their charm but I think they looked better than what came later.

[Rick]

Nice job there Dave, the original typeface looks good and I'll be looking out for the originals on cars at shows from now on. I plan to return the original, slightly battered, plates to the MGB, amazingly they're still with it despite new plastic plates (urghh) having been fitted a few years ago - not by me. I needed a correct "T" but a friend turned one up from an old plate he had.

RJ
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[Penman]

Rick
You don't need any "O"s but "B"s and "T"s could also cause problems like the 2 Ronnies had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9MptWyCB8

Also 2 "B"s or not 2"B"s is a bit Shakespearean.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[peter scott]