History on a plate to go under the hammer
An exclusive and rare piece of South Australian automotive history will be up for grabs for the first time in nearly 40 years when numeric plate 8 goes up for auction later this month.
Among the first numeric plates issued in 1906, the iconic numeric plate 8 is the first single digit numeric plate to be sold by the State Government in South Australia since plates 3, 6 and 9 were sold in 1985.
These plates were a mark of prestige typically displayed on vehicles of prominent South Australian families and were issued between 1906 and 1966, with alpha-numeric plates introduced from 1967.
Lucky plate 8
The number plate is highly sought because eight is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture, while some numerology schools believe it represents strength, prosperity and victory.
Experts say an 8 within a number plate sequence has become the digit of choice among number plate collectors, both for its luck and symmetrical format.
Prestige on a plate
Numeric plates have become a distinctive and exclusive item for car enthusiasts and collectors across the country.
Previous numeric plate auctions in South Australia and interstate have set purchasing records, with New South Wales number plate 1 selling for more than $11.5 million in January 2024.
The current South Australia auction record is for a bespoke 1 plate commemorating the Adelaide F1 Grand Prix, which sold for $593,000 in 2020.
Numeric plate 8 will go on auction alongside 27 other genuine and coveted numeric number plates including numbers 55, 873, 5566, 46000 and 111444.
All plates will be auctioned with Class Specific Rights which entitles the owner to long-term rights to their plate.
This means the plate can be transferred to vehicles registered in South Australia under the same name and sold to a third party, extending the buyer market to include investment opportunities.
Anyone can purchase the rights to a numeric plate, however the plates can only be affixed to a vehicle registered in South Australia.
Auction details
Details of all numeric number plates included in the auction will be revealed in coming weeks.
Registrations to bid are now open with the auction to go live on Wednesday 28 August. The auction will close at 7pm on Monday 16 September.
The online auction will be run by third-party auctioneer Slattery Auctions and Valuations.
Learn more and register to bid at Slattery Auctions and Valuations or via EzyPlates.
Revenue raised from the auctions will be returned to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to fund services for South Australians.