Historic Canberra number plate '35' heads to auction after 99 years
Historic number plate passes to auction after 99 years in one family.
Plate 35 was issued to Bernard on 1 July 1927 when Canberra was barely a town. Back then, there were so few drivers that Bernard could have chosen almost any number.
Bernard passed it to his son Clifford, who kept it for 40 years on vehicles like an FB Holden and a Mitsubishi Magna. Warren Vant, the current owner, inherited it after his mother died.
He's now selling it after his mother's death and considering what would happen if he eventually passed it among his three sons. Similar two-digit plates have sold for up to $181,000 through local auction house CARBIDS.
Bidding closes 4 November.
- 1 July 1927 to Bernard Vant
- Plate issue date
- 99 years
- Years in one family
- Up to $181,000 through CARBIDS
- Comparable sale price
- Bernard, Clifford (40 years), Warren
- Generations held
Why it mattersRare heritage number plates command six-figure prices and attract collectors and investors, showing strong demand for historical items tied to Australian cities.
AustraliaCanberra's vintage number-plate market is booming, with early sequential plates becoming prized investments worth more than the cars they're attached to.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
