Making my own number plates!

[Paul In Ireland]

Rules are a bit loose on 30year+ vehicles so I am going to use and English site to make a set of plates. White with black letters or vice versa. The reg number I get will be along the lines of "ZV 25001" or I get an age related plate which would be something like "57 C 241". I can't pick the number unless I pay about $700 each to get them out of sequence like "57 c 2106" sort of thing. And, yes, it has to be C and that's the county I am in - Cork. OK for my ute as an FC but not for the FE. As an example below you can see - apart from the reg no - what the plate will look like.

The site is http://www.american-number-plate.com/platemaker/ but if someone has a better one, let me know. I am getting them registered this week so I will have the proper reg number then.

[Paul In Ireland]

So, I have my new rego numbers. I can only take what they give so:

FE is ZV 25665
FC is ZV 25666

I sort of like the FC plates to be honest though some would be unwilling to use them I am sure.

Given the plate layout above, if you could put what ever you like onto a plate, what would you put? The bottom line can actually be 2 lines high if you have more than a few words.


Cheers,
Paul

[RET]

Just ignoring the colloquial meaning of "making number plates", I reckon the design you've got is simple and to the point.

If I could make an observation, in Oz terms like "FJ Holden", "FC", "EH" are extremely well known. I suspect this may not be the case in your neck of the woods. For that reason, it might be worth considering re-ordering the words in the more common "make, model, body" order. i.e. HOLDEN FE SPECIAL SEDAN. Even though it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily, it's more along the lines of a "standard", if you will.

Having said that, the time honoured phrase: "Holden - Australia's Own Car" is hard to go past in this context. Something like:

19	HOLDEN AUSTRALIA'S OWN CAR	57
	ZV-25665
	FE SPECIAL SEDAN

Just my 2c

RET

[JB]

Spot on RET!!!

Jason.

[pedro]

Spot on RET!!!

I agree, simple but informative.
                            Pedro

[NosFEratu]

Sorry to be pedantic here (but that is what I do best)  

While I like RET's suggestion it is wrong.  As per Paul's comments the lower half of the plate can accommodate 2 lines not the top half so "Holden - Australia's Own Car" needs to be at the bottom and "FE Special Sedan" at the top!

I could appreciate though if Paul wanted "Australia" as a focal point at the top.

And I meant to ask - why would anyone not want 666 in their number plate?  

Kathi  

[FC427]

Aha my favorite number 666666 . welcome to the darkside........FC427..........

[EffCee]

Just ignoring the colloquial meaning of "making number plates", I reckon the design you've got is simple and to the point.

If I could make an observation, in Oz terms like "FJ Holden", "FC", "EH" are extremely well known. I suspect this may not be the case in your neck of the woods. For that reason, it might be worth considering re-ordering the words in the more common "make, model, body" order. i.e. HOLDEN FE SPECIAL SEDAN. Even though it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily, it's more along the lines of a "standard", if you will.

Having said that, the time honoured phrase: "Holden - Australia's Own Car" is hard to go past in this context. Something like:

19	HOLDEN	57
	ZV-25665
	AUSTRALIA'S OWN CAR FE SPECIAL SEDAN

Just my 2c

RET

So, Kathi, This is something like you are thinking with the Australia at the bottom rather than the top.

I must say I do like RET's idea

Oh and notice it was the FC that is the evil one

Keith

[pedro]

Oh and notice it was the FC that is the evil one

As per Paul's comments the lower half of the plate can accommodate 2 lines not the top half so "Holden - Australia's Own Car" needs to be at the bottom and "FE Special Sedan" at the top!

Sounds like the best option.
                              Pedro

[NosFEratu]

Much of a muchness really - I was thinking maybe "Australia's Own Car" at the top and then at the bottom having "Holden" and with "FE Special Sedan" underneath.  But at least Paul has some ideas to think about now.   

And you boys all know that FE stands for "F'n Evil" - but I'm feeling generous so I'll let you have your moment of fun! 

Kathi

[Johns]

I'm glad we've got this one sorted, what's next?

John

[NosFEratu]

and who says it's sorted?   

[Paul In Ireland]

Yes, thanks for that. Will work out what I think looks the best and post photos when they are mounted.


 

[EffCee]

Just ignoring the colloquial meaning of "making number plates", I reckon the design you've got is simple and to the point.

If I could make an observation, in Oz terms like "FJ Holden", "FC", "EH" are extremely well known. I suspect this may not be the case in your neck of the woods. For that reason, it might be worth considering re-ordering the words in the more common "make, model, body" order. i.e. HOLDEN FE SPECIAL SEDAN. Even though it doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily, it's more along the lines of a "standard", if you will.

Having said that, the time honoured phrase: "Holden - Australia's Own Car" is hard to go past in this context. Something like:

19	AUSTRALIA'S OWN CAR	57
	ZV-25665
	HOLDEN FE SPECIAL SEDAN

Just my 2c

RET

Here is Kathi's version in RET's format.

I do like the idea of being able to put whatever you want onto a number plate.

Keith

[RET]

I don't think separating "Holden" from "Australia's Own Car" works. On the other hand having the make and model next to the year is probably better anyway...

19	FE SPECIAL SEDAN	57
	ZV-25665
	HOLDEN AUSTRALIA'S OWN CAR

I wouldn't do it in ALL-CAPS if you have the choice, but from the sample images earlier it doesn't seem that you do.

[Shayne]

The other possibility not yet mentioned is to use an Australian sized plate, rather than a USA sized plate.  If you wanted to go down that path, you could try http://plateproviders.com.au

[NosFEratu]

I do agree with RET that Holden and Australia should be together - but my interpretation of Paul's original example was that he wanted to make "Australia" the focus.

Anyway - it's been fun - and it'll be even more fun for Paul when he finally orders and then gets them. 

[Paul In Ireland]

Actually RET - I like your last version and it makes good reasoning as well.

Thanks again.

[Paul In Ireland]

The order went in with the last version but the bottom on one line only, I think it would have bunched the plate too much with 2 lines. Caps was optional but I like caps so they stayed. When they are fitted I will take a pic and post it up.

Thanks for the input.

P.

[Paul In Ireland]

When I ordered the plates something went wrong with their site and they rang me to check what I ordered. I told them and followed it up 5 minutes later with a picture to be sure.

So, the first time they came back the top line only had FE Sedan, so I sent them back.

The second time they were really takin' the p*ss as you can see:



So I rang them and asked them some "pertinent" questions and then they were to send me the letters and I would do it myself - the text top and bottom is only vinyl.

I got the letters and found the font size was wrong, so I cut and pasted etc. and got a reasonable job done.


So here are the finished plates, at last: