Rear License Plate Requirement

Edited on 2014-04-10 14:52:12
Edited on 2014-04-10 14:26:34
It was better suited to being a Cotton Mill ! The first year of the national plates was 1964. but as the new year models were sold in July those cars were sold in 1963. Manufacturers and large dealers had special yellow plates, if a car was sold to a visitor and driven in the UK before being shipped those plates could be used . An American I later got to know bought a V12 E in 1972 and planned to tour Europe before sending it to Los Angeles. In Italy the car was stolen, within 24 hours a local dealer had found the same car and it was brought to his hotel, he eventually returned to the UK where the car was to be shipped from, he had no papers from the original car and it was left hand drive so the customs refused the car entry. Fortunately he had a very persistant character and eventually spoke to Mr Lyons himself, the proper papers were delivered by hand the next day. He totalled the car in June 1998 in Reseda California when he was 89 years of age he survived that, dying 8 years later.

Yes this is still a very interesting discussion, my 1960 TR3A and my 1964 1071 cc Mini Cooper S both had the vinyl stick on numbers, it was quite a fad back then and also cool.
From 1904 until 1974 license plates were issued by the county council and county boroughs, the WK & WL were issued by the borough of West Truro. After 1974 the department of transports and vehicle registration office issued license plates. When the single letter after the three letters and three numbers system started not only could you now tell who issued the plate but how old the car was. I believe this started in 1963 with an "A" 1964 would be a "B" and so on. Interestingly WK was also issued in Coventry. Did you know that Browns Lane was once an old cotton mill that was purchased by Daimler and inherited by Jaguar
I have a sense that none of this will matter in a 100 years
David H

Here is one example.

Malcolm I am very familiar with "Tax Exempt" or personal export Jaguars. The bar on your car is all that is left of the factory front plate mount--common to see this as all that was required to remove the plate holder was tin snips--simply cut the loops. Your lamps are correct for Canada but US "personal export" cars would have been set in clear lenses and red in the rear. The sticker you have is from a factory block of numbers and can be verified by simply looking at the photos of factory cars from the period. The "factory" which I define as the entire confines of Brown's Lane at that time (and not simply the assembly line) did register cars for customers. One simply needs to look in the factory parts catalog to see that a plate was optional. Since you have the "illegal" but accepted stick on number that was suggested and developed by Jaguar (covered in bulletin A.10 of October 1961). In this discussion there are several governments involved with rules for those countries. No one solution fits all cases. I happen to hold several "Personal export packets" and it is clear that when the new owner collected the car at the factory the plate was already assigned. I am looking at one now which is 4662 WK. I have no idea as to which model that is as there is no other identification on the "purchase Tax Indemnity Form (section 22 Finance Act, 1946 of the UK Customs Regulations). They are on foolscap so if I can scan a copy I will and place it on here. So in summation if one takes the narrow view of a car leaving the assembly line with a plate the answer is most likely no. If the entire factory effort is included they most certainly did.

Mr Hayden, I believe you are correct. Home market (UK) cars and those temporarily registered for personal export vehicles to be used on UK roads prior to export to final destination country had UK registration plates affixed. My own car, '62 E-Type was factory registered 3488 WK, retains the rivet holes which hold the UK rear number plate, but does not have the device for N.American style front number plate, only the small bar. In UK it is the vehicle which receives a registration number for life regardless of ownership or registered keeper change(vanity plates excluded).

Also, UK front indicator lights had orange lenses as opposed to clear ones on N.American cars, retained on personal export vehicles. Rear red indicator lenses changed to orange in UK around 1965. I've had more than one discussion with JCNA judges who are not familiar with idiosyncracies of personal export vehicles.

All, an interesting discussion, however I believe Mr. Keohan is referring to a European issued license plate affixed to the rear of his car instead of the standard issue American Tag. This would not be legal for driving on North American roads however for states that do not require a front license plate it would be fair to affix a European plate. Certain model Jaguars for export were issued a front license plate holder, in the USA where states do not require a front tag, this holder is a required part for JCNA Concours events, it came with this part from the factory.
No Jaguar car or any other British car came from the factory with license plates affixed, license plates were issued by the appropriate county , car dealers were issued blocks of license plate numbers that were attached to the vehicle upon sale. This license plate remained with the vehicle, no matter how many owners, until such a day as the car was scrapped. Long story short in JCNA Concours events you need the appropriate current State issued registration tag front and rear or rear only, however, it can be outlined in a chrome frame of your choice. Refer to Pat Harmon's response above

No Thomas again wrong. You are as welcome as anyone but you have launched a question that is only pertinent to JCNA judging of the car. If (and I did say IF) you are a member then just change your profile to reflect that. Your question will lead a few folks to do a bit of research--which they do not mind--even me but if it is for nothing then the motivation is lost. When folks (including yourself) type it is not the same as a conversation--perhaps before becoming perplexed you might take advantage of the phone number provided.
In this case there are two registrations--one for this forum (FREE) and your JCNA registration.

George, Your response puzzles me. I thought the purpose of this form was to discuss the salient issues related to the authenticity of the marque we all are passionate about. Obviously, I am stepping in your territory and am not welcome here. As you suggest (read between the lines) I will delete my registration in this forum and not bother you again. I apologize for clearly upsetting you- for what I believe was a valid question and a topic of interest to others. As a side, IÔÇÖm in the process of renewing my membership and have been involved with JCNA since the early 1980ÔÇÖs. Since I am not welcome, perhaps I should give pause to that decision.

Thomas you did not understand what I said. You are registered as a non member so may I ask why you are asking the question. If you are not a member it is all moot to you--and us. If you are a member would you please update your registration. Jaguar cars left the factory WITH plates all the time. That was a requirement for home market and Tax exempt cars. Should you care to discuss it youmay call 888-258-2524 ex#3 8-5 EST.

Thanks everyone for responding. I agree very interesting topic indeed!

Chapter V. A. 1. Second paragraph states: ÔÇ£That standard is, ÔÇ£The EntryÔÇÖs configuration and condition shall be as it was officially documented or intended to have left the factory.ÔÇØ Of course the cars never left the factory with registration plates except in the possible case that George makes about factory cars used for public relations or media purposes or in the case of factory show cars which used the black and silver raised ÔÇ£JAGUARÔÇØ letters in place of the license plate (as seen in official Jaguar photographs if I recall). As Pat noted, Chapter V. C. 10 covers the topic of license plate frames and clear covers. IÔÇÖve taken the liberty of pasting the entire section here to assist in the discussion:

11. License Plate Frames and Plate Clear Covers
Champion Division: Plain license plate frames or those advertising current or past Jaguar
dealerships, JCNA, JCNA Affiliates, or promoting the Jaguar marque are accepted. Frames
may be of any material. All other license plate frames will be scored as non-authentic unless
the Entrant can document that Jaguar Cars Ltd., Jaguar Cars Inc., or Jaguar Canada Inc.
offered them for that specific model and Model Year.
Clear plastic or glass license plate covers are allowed and, if present, will be judged for
cleanliness and condition.
Driven Division: License plate frames and/or covers will only be judged for cleanliness and
condition.
If I am reading the section properly, it does not discuss license plates themselves, but only the frame and plate covers. I donÔÇÖt know the history of this section, but I suspect it was written because plate frames were and have been an issue when judging a car for authenticity. Regarding requirements for cars to be licensed, IÔÇÖm sure each state has slightly different requirements, but in general most if not all states will require a vehicle to be licensed and issued plates that are required to be properly attached if the vehicle is to be driven, parked or stored on a public road or street. However, in at least the state I live, a registration and license plate is in fact not required unless the vehicle is to be used as described above. So, for example, if a vehicle is stored in-doors and then trailered to an event and displayed, a license plate is not required and is perfectly legal. Ownership is a separate issue which is provided for via a ÔÇ£certificate of titleÔÇØ document from the state the owner resides.

Interesting questions. Differentiating between license plates and license plate frames, I think the Rule Book is clear that all Jaguars delivered to North America were provided with a prepared bumper location or specific devices necessary for mounting a front license plate (license plate frame). These must be displayed on, or off the car. I note that the Rule Book does not require official license plates, be it a state plate or one with the word Jaguar. Chapter 6 provides deduction for missing brackets but not plates. Chapter 5 goes on to say that if an official license plate is not required, a Jaguar or club plate may be displayed...This pertains to states (such as Georgia) that only require rear license plates. This begs another question...JCNA does not require entries to be registered for operation within the state they are owned.

Thomas please look at your factory parts manual. If the black with silver raised letters are what you are talking about those were offered by Jaguar. While they intended this to be the plate assigned to the car Jaguar themselves made plates just as you describe for show cars. In fact those type of plates are mentioned in the section of the rules you cite. So that said I can not see any issue with what I think you are asking, however as Bob states it is odd as the "required" plate for your state will be in the boot?

Tom,
Read V-8-10 again. If an official license plate is NOT required etc. I am unaware of any state that does not require some type of license plate.