DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Spot the difference with a photo earlier in the thread...



The V5 came through a few weeks ago, and it wasn't until today that I had time to put the plates on the 914, and take it for its first proper drive

It was still too light to properly test the candle powered head lamps before I put it away. I switched them all on anyway while I pondered the LED upgrade...

Nice apt plate

Did you get issued an age related first then transfer or did you get DVLA to "first" register it with your cherished reg?

Age related standard issue then transferred.
More than easy: it's all online now -and instant - less than 15mins after opening the original V5 envelope, I logged on with dvla and boom! it was transferred

Shouldn't it have reflective plates?

Nope. Nowadays black and silver can be used legally on any car with historic vehicle tax status.

You sure about that? My own understanding is that tax status (ie historic) has nothing to do with reflective plates (construction and use): that's 2 bits of legislation they'd have to change. If so the DVLA been very quiet about it: and since the introduction of ANPR the old bill have been a bit hot on it.

Yes, I'm sure.
There's a thread elsewhere on Ddk about this too.

Having since DMOR, you're right - for now. It appears to be the result of a cockup, why should anyone be surprised.

In 2001 new legislation was passed as no. plates became LLNN LLL, governing the new plates & those issued prior to that. At the time both reflective plates and tax-free historics were co-terminus, by pure chance. Unfortunately the legislation was faulty: when the tax-free cutoff date started moving again, the date for reflective plates did too. This was neither intended nor desirable: it was a while before the DVLA cottoned on, in fact they still haven't updated their downloadable INF104 which appears to be their prime info on number plates.

Obviously it cannot continue: it will be legislated out of existence in due course. Whether it will be restrospective will be interesting. Previously no legislation was: but Gordon Brown did it with IHT & got away with it, maybe they will do so here too.

Meanwhile, make hay while the sun shines. What a bloody mess.

Even if they reverse the rules, I - like many others - would likely just drive on these plates anyway, and chance it.
It's one thing putting black and silver plates on a late 80s 205gti. Altogether less likely to attract any bother if you are in an early 70s car.

Worried about plate colour? I thought we were outlaws?

Nice one James, Love it !

When I had an E Type I was pulled over by the boys in blue, in the middle of a Bristol rush hour, because the front number plate wasn't vertical. I did ask them where I was supposed to put it but was just told to change it or the next time they saw me they would give me a ticket. I never changed it & it was never queried again.

I don't have a front one on my camper unless I'm going through the Dartford crossing. Passes MOT and not been stopped yet

But more important than lights and plates, how was the drive?

gridgway wrote:But more important than lights and plates, how was the drive?

I'll probably be in the 914 at the first Buckmore 6 Hours, you can have a look over it then.

Straight after that it should be off to the surgeon for some body building... Need to get a move on as I plan to take it to the Oldtimer GP in August.