Vintage number plates is a term often used to describe black and silver number plates that are for use on vehicles first registered before 01/01/1973. Vehicles registered after this date should only have white number plates on the front of the vehicle and yellow to the rear.
Black and silver number plates can be manufactured in various ways. Traditionally vintage number plates were made from pressed metals, typically aluminum. The metal plate would be sprayed black and baked after the digits had been pressed out. Once sprayed the paint would be removed to leave a silver finish to the face of the number plate.
Acrylic can also be used to manufacture vintage number plates as an alternative to the pressed aluminum number plates. The acrylic black and silver number plates are produced in layers and laminated resulting in a reflective number plate. This process would not have been used originally when older classic vehicles were made and for this reason only we would recommend for any restoration project aluminum vintage number plates.
