Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Yanked by Police.

Usual Spirited drive to our yard in Ledbury. Along Jubilee Drive, right at Malvern Hills Hotel, early morning, no traffic, round bends in third and hammer down going down the cutting. Glance in mirror, from know were car gaining on me at a rate of knots, lifted, but kept respectable 60 odd towards Ledbury. At the railway bridge, realised it was the Police behind me. They kept a distance until I pulled into the high street were I was stopped. I get out the car (as they don't like that apparently), "Good Morning Sir, we will ignore the spirited drive but we cannot ignore your pressed black alloy Plate. We have pulled two Morgans yesterday and now you this morning. Its a fine and 3 points. What are you going to do?"
I replied that I would put my legal plates back on and I had no excuse what so ever and I shut up.

"That's the right answer " he said. "And enjoy the rest of your day", which was executed through a wry smile.

Having driven all over the place and never pulled with my pressed plates on I never give it a second thought. But I think I better dig my old plates out now.

Decent enough blokes though.

Sounds as though there are some well informed Coppers in your area.

"Spirited Driving" and "Making Good Progress" are their way of saying "we know you were speeding, but couldn't get a reading". I had that on a bike once, nice bike copper, pulled in to Loomies Cafe on the A272 behind me. He also told me that because I was riding quickly, but at no danger to myself or anyone else, he was more interested in getting a coffee at the Cafe that making a fuss....

As you say, decent enough guys doing their job.
Just don't get cheeky or rude, then it ends badly.

That was a good result. I have a great deal of time for the average coppers who are doing a very hard job whilst under manned and over worked, however, it did make me think is that all they have to do with their time. Is there that little crime in the Malvern area that they could spend their time following Morgans around which can't be difficult in the area.

Excuse my ignorance,I have a 1996 morgan and if a buy an old plate, say 123 xyz can I have it on the car legally as a pressed steel black plate or does it have to be in the style of the year of the car itself. Pmh44

I'm probably not the only one but I'm confused by the whole silver on black/white on black number plates thing.

It used to be the case that pre 1973 cars could have either a modern number plate or a silver/white on black background.

However my understanding is that only pre 1975 cars can display them but only if they are in the historic vehicle class?

Arwyn

Date of registration is the key. Pre-1973 then black/silver OR newer style plates allowed.

There is conflicting information regarding the taxation class & the new DVLA rolling taxation ruling, on the Gov.uk pages, but the law still is pre-73 as far as I'm aware.

1996 is white/black and yellow/black I'm afraid.

Ok, so I'll stick with what I have got. Cheers.

My understanding is that the car has to be registered before 1st August 1973, to allow you to display silver and black plates.
My number plate dates from a 1958, but my 4/4 is 2003, so the plates have to be modern reflective, white front, yellow rear.
Hopefully Burgundymog will be along soon and confirm!


ps SBM posted while I was typing my reply.
I would go with what he says.

We've done this to death in the past, but my biggest concern is that the reflective plate on the back improves visibility massively in the dark.

A Morgan with non reflective plates and two tiny round red lights set low down is lost amongst traffic on busy motorways in the dark. I followed one once on the M42 and it was almost invisible.

I don't know for sure but the UK must be unique in the world that people are able to have their own plates made. Everywhere else you have to carry the government issued plates. In that case usually classic plates stay with the car but if they are replaced for any reason they are replaced with modern plates. Some places will reissue classic plates as personalised plates, but even that is rare.