Post by Amardeep on Apr 26, 2006 23:30:57 GMT
The top selling plate, 51NGH (Singh), went for £254,000 (including costs), beating the previous record for a UK plate, K1NGS, which went for £231,000 in 1993. 51NGH’s sister plate, MR51NGH (Mr Singh) went for £101,000. Other top selling plates were 1 00 (£197,000) and SSS 7 (£44,289). RU55 ELL was bought by Oxfordshire property developer, Russell Harrison for £78,500. He plans to put it on his new Rolls-Royce and use it to publicise his company. The DVLA’s Damian Lawson commented: "We thought that some of the marks would attract a lot of interest but this level of response is exceptional. This record result is even more incredible when you consider that we reduced the number of lots offered for sale by 250 for this auction."
Click here to search for a personalised plate – from just £79
The hammer goes down on 51NGH
The DVLA’s 100th auction isn’t just a story of big numbers however. Two cousins, Robert and Gerard Calise, from Sheffield and London respectively, who had never met and were not even sure of each other’s existence, were both drawn to the auction by the number plate, CAL 15E. Gerard prevailed with a bid of £1100 but then approached his only competitor for the number and discovered the family link. "I thought I might be the last Calise in Britain and wanted the plate to keep the name in the family. I was amazed when this man sat right in front of me and started bidding! His father was my hero when I was a boy and I’m absolutely delighted to discover that he is still alive and living in Sheffield," said Gerard Calise. His cousin Robert added: "I lost the plate but gained a cousin! We’ll definitely be getting together after the auction. There’s so much to talk about."
Top 10: celebrity number plates
The top 10 plates sold at the auction
Another successful bidder, Carl Elsby from Northampton, who is a Liverpool supporter, showed a lot of confidence in his team when he purchased ‘F4 CUP’ for £11,200 the day before his team – successfully - played their semi final against the competition favourites, Chelsea. "I’m hoping to turn up to the FA Cup final with this number on my car," Carl stated.
The youngest winner at the auction was six month old baby Devon Lalani, whose parents, Phil and Katrina bid £10,000 for the number ‘D3 VON’. "Well we’ve got his 18th birthday present sorted. We’ve just got the other 17 to worry about now," said father, Phil.
Click here to search for a personalised plate – from just £79
The hammer goes down on 51NGH
The DVLA’s 100th auction isn’t just a story of big numbers however. Two cousins, Robert and Gerard Calise, from Sheffield and London respectively, who had never met and were not even sure of each other’s existence, were both drawn to the auction by the number plate, CAL 15E. Gerard prevailed with a bid of £1100 but then approached his only competitor for the number and discovered the family link. "I thought I might be the last Calise in Britain and wanted the plate to keep the name in the family. I was amazed when this man sat right in front of me and started bidding! His father was my hero when I was a boy and I’m absolutely delighted to discover that he is still alive and living in Sheffield," said Gerard Calise. His cousin Robert added: "I lost the plate but gained a cousin! We’ll definitely be getting together after the auction. There’s so much to talk about."
Top 10: celebrity number plates
The top 10 plates sold at the auction
Another successful bidder, Carl Elsby from Northampton, who is a Liverpool supporter, showed a lot of confidence in his team when he purchased ‘F4 CUP’ for £11,200 the day before his team – successfully - played their semi final against the competition favourites, Chelsea. "I’m hoping to turn up to the FA Cup final with this number on my car," Carl stated.
The youngest winner at the auction was six month old baby Devon Lalani, whose parents, Phil and Katrina bid £10,000 for the number ‘D3 VON’. "Well we’ve got his 18th birthday present sorted. We’ve just got the other 17 to worry about now," said father, Phil.
