So,why no V?

[Motu]

As the old 2 letter car plates wound down towards their last days I noticed they went from UZ to WA with no V series letters.Oh well,maybe they all went to the South Island,but I have never seen V plates.Now with bikes it seems we have missed the V as well - we have just finished the 3 letter series starting with U,now the new bikes plates start with W.

OK,so it's obvious and you're all laughing at me,but I lead a sheltered life and don't watch the news on TV - so...why no V?

[Hitcher]

As the old 2 letter car plates wound down towards their last days I noticed they went from UZ to WA with no V series letters.Oh well,maybe they all went to the South Island,but I have never seen V plates.Now with bikes it seems we have missed the V as well - we have just finished the 3 letter series starting with U,now the new bikes plates start with W.

OK,so it's obvious and you're all laughing at me,but I lead a sheltered life and don't watch the news on TV - so...why no V?

The same reason they left out the Q -- both on car plates and bike plates. What I want to know is what happens to bike plates after they get to 99ZZZ. By my reckoning all of the 5-digit plate combos will have been used by then...

[curious george]

Well I don't know the official answer, but I always guessed the 'U' and 'V' could be easily mixed up when written down or when spotted on a criminals car.
Sometihng along those lines......

[Motu]

I never noticed Q Hitcher - and I spend my day writing down rego numbers,but Q and V are still use in other combinations,so the confusion thing can't be the reason.....?

[wkid_one]

The same reason they left out the Q -- both on car plates and bike plates. What I want to know is what happens to bike plates after they get to 99ZZZ. By my reckoning all of the 5-digit plate combos will have been used by then...
Either three numbers and two letters or 1 number and 4 letters.

[Posh Tourer :P]

I thought that was the reason. Are the Q and V only in personalised plates? I dont recall seeing any Qs or Vs in other cases... I'll have to look harder now :S

[FROSTY]

As I understand it one of those is reserved for goverment vehicles -Not sure which.

[Motu]

Government vehicles used to have special plates,dunno about now - but reserving the whole three letter V series for bikes? It'd take them 100 yrs to use them up.As far as confusion goes - I don't any difference between VO and OV,or is the first letter the one that gives trouble.

I smell a conspiracy - Don Brash needs to hear about this,I bet Helen has them all under her house.

[Hitcher]

Either three numbers and two letters or 1 number and 4 letters.


One of those sequences has been used. Dad's two farm tractors were 630FQ and 819PK. One number and four letters gets you into personalised plate territory...

[Hitcher]

Government vehicles used to have special plates,dunno about now - but reserving the whole three letter V series for bikes? It'd take them 100 yrs to use them up.As far as confusion goes - I don't any difference between VO and OV,or is the first letter the one that gives trouble.

I smell a conspiracy - Don Brash needs to hear about this,I bet Helen has them all under her house.

It appears to be the first letter that gives officials grief! Both Q and V are used for the second and third letters in plates. Go figure...

[Hitcher]

Which brings me on to a favourite hobby horse -- personalised plates...

If the fundamental principal of rego plates is to "unambiguously identify a vehicle", then I struggle with things like 4B0D3 (for ABODE) and other shocking examples of numbers being used to substitute for letters. My favourite sequence plate is AGA551!! I also hate the use of kerning on personalised plates to create spaces so that people can get two "words" on a plate, or put one or more Is (as brackets) at both ends of their initials or whatever...

*Raw nerve slowly stops spasming*

[bungbung]

Plates (excepting personalised) following the old AA9999 scheme omitted the series beginning with Q and V to avoid confusion with O and U. Seems strange that Q and V are apparently not confusing when used as the second letter...

NZ Government cars start with CR (Crown) and other gov's use DC (Diplomatic corp) and FC (Foreign Corp, but without dip. status). DC plates are also numbered by country, e.g. DC1 - DC100 is UK, DC101-150 is Aus. etc.

[bungbung]

..put one or more Is (as brackets) at both ends of their initials or whatever...

I believe this practice is to get a personalised plate already in use. e.g. "DOG" is already taken? then "I DOG I" is available, as well as well as the other substitutions zero for O and so forth.

[merv]

One of those sequences has been used. Dad's two farm tractors were 630FQ and 819PK. One number and four letters gets you into personalised plate territory...

Guys our age had bikes with 3 numbers followed by 2 letters (my 1970 bike ended in PN) and it was 1973 I bought my first bike with 2 numbers followed by 3 letters and it ended in AFZ so without remembering exactly when, the A series must have started about then, so that pattern has lived on in bikes for 30+ years.

So what's left, 1 number and 4 letters as Wkid said and some lots of 4 numbers and 1 letter, though they are used by trailers these days I think as well, or there is 5 numbers or 5 letters (provided they aren't used by a personalised plate already).

[Motu]

Even earlier it was just numbers - when I lost the plate on my Rickman and asked for a replacement they told me my original plate was fake as there were no number only plates - when I showed them the ownership papers they had to accept it.I was annoyed when I rebuilt my A10 and had to take the all number plate in - then they confiscated it and I got a silly one number 3 letter plate.

OK,I'll accept it that the powers to be can get confused with a Q or V when used as the first letter...but they are no problem as 2nd or 3rd letters.Makes so much sense now.

[Big Dog]

I believe this practice is to get a personalised plate already in use. e.g. "DOG" is already taken? then "I DOG I" is available, as well as well as the other substitutions zero for O and so forth.
I want 5XLK9.

[jrandom]

I want 5XLK9.

Oh, very good.

I want 5QUID.

[wkid_one]

I want WKID 1 - oh no wait I have it....

Others I would like

DRAGN
FARQ2
NEDWN

to name a few

[k14]

I have seen the 1I1I1 and various different combinations of that, but only on cars.

I think everyone on here should get the 1I combinations of motorbike plates and then we would be sweet for speed cameras probably.

I find it quite odd that they actually let these go actually.

[What?]

I have seen the 1I1I1 and various different combinations of that, but only on cars.

I think everyone on here should get the 1I combinations of motorbike plates and then we would be sweet for speed cameras probably.

I find it quite odd that they actually let these go actually.
Mate - I suggested that back when this site was only about 40-strong. Only issue is, I still have an issue with forking out 500 clams for waht is, essentially, a tax certificate... still, if enough were keen, I would go for it. Might also be construed as some sort of statement about being one-eyed!

[k14]

Might also be construed as some sort of statement about being one-eyed!

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO

Even though I live in christchurch I am a naki man through and through. Best week of my life down here this week, friday's game will be with me for a long time yet :eek:

P.S. Most of the people down here aren't even one-eyed, I refer to them as no eyed, your lucky if you get a one-eyed one :msn-wink:

[Lou Girardin]

I want WKID 1 - oh no wait I have it....

Others I would like

DRAGN
FARQ2
NEDWN

to name a few

Dragn's gone, it's on an MX5

[Hitcher]

Dragn's gone, it's on an MX5

If you guys are trying to wind me up, you're doing very well! (Loads AK47)

I go back to my original hobbyhorse premise that the purpose of a rego plate should be to "clearly and unambiguously identify a vehicle".

[spudchucka]

Just as a side issue has anyone else noticed that there was never a VD Commodore released? How do you reckon it would have sold?

[jrandom]

Just as a side issue has anyone else noticed that there was never a VD Commodore released? How do you reckon it would have sold?

Well, it would have made a great patrol car. :bleh:

[Hitcher]

Just as a side issue has anyone else noticed that there was never a VD Commodore released? How do you reckon it would have sold?

Syphillitically!

On the subject of model descriptors I was amused that Ford with the dreaded (barks like a dog) AU Falcon were so enamored of this that they went to "series III" before they changed it. Previously Ford had no qualms in changing the model descriptor every time they changed the grill! They also deserve some sort of marketing prize for running the same model largely unchanged for 30 years. Whoops, sorry, this is a BIKER forum...

[Motu]

No matter how many cyl heads they stick on the poor old block it won't be as good as the original 170,she was a sweet motor - and the 250 with max torque at 1600rpm was very strong across an intersection - I had a 250 in my XC instead of the first attempt at the Xcrossflow....that thing had some tow...oh,bikes,yeah,right.

[bungbung]

When did the crossflow 250 come out? my XC ute(s) had x-flow heads.

[Motu]

XC was the first Xflow,maybe late XB - this was the cast iron head job,it was crap so they made an alloy one...oops,that was no good so the Japs designed a better one,not saying it was a good head,just better than the ones before.Then a couple of SOHC ones and now a DOHC - but it's still the old block from the 60s,updated of course.

The old red rocker cover 250 was a grunter - torque converter stall speed is 1600 rpm,with max torque at the same revs it all happened when you floored it,the Xflows had max torque at 2500rpm and could rev higher,but were slower off the mark.Taking off on a wet hill with a 250 was tricky cause they just broke away real easy.

It's my thread - I started it about car plates remember.

[Big Dog]

No matter how many cyl heads they stick on the poor old block it won't be as good as the original 170,she was a sweet motor - and the 250 with max torque at 1600rpm was very strong across an intersection - I had a 250 in my XC instead of the first attempt at the Xcrossflow....that thing had some tow...oh,bikes,yeah,right.
I only miss 2 of my cages.

Hilman Hunter (mildly modded motor) 1800 First ever car.
And my S pac XE.


Currently got my eye open for a low price ute with either the 4.1 or an 8 in it or the 8 in an XA. Primary function to be driven 1/2 doz times a year when I can't be arsed with the weather or gear, and when I want to move things bigger than a backpack. Also it would be nice to be able to add my name to the register on the other thread.

Still ride to work most days but some days it would be nice to have a choice.

[bungbung]

Yep, the first car thing is funny. It doesn't really matter what it is/was or what it was replaced with, being first is what counts.

Mine was a XC ute, 4.1 auto. $600 of my hard earned when I was 15.

[jrandom]

Yep, the first car thing is funny. It doesn't really matter what it is/was or what it was replaced with, being first is what counts.

Mine was a XC ute, 4.1 auto. $600 of my hard earned when I was 15.

'63 Valiant AP5 Regal. 225ci slant six. Last of the push-button Torqueflite auto transmissions; the buttons were to the right of the steering wheel. I think I paid $800 for it. Wish I still had it. Weighed about ten tons, skinny-as wheels, got all sideways in the wet at every opportunity. Wonderful, it was.

Sniff.

[Motu]

Currently got my eye open for a low price ute with either the 4.1 or an 8 in it or the 8 in an XA. Primary function to be driven 1/2 doz times a year when I can't be arsed with the weather or gear, and when I want to move things bigger than a backpack. Also it would be nice to be able to add my name to the register on the other thread.


My XC was a bright yellow 78 station wagon,can still be seen driving around now,rebuilt with modern mags and bonnet scoops.I had nice mags on it and the thing was a joy to drive - also had a Fairmont with all the GT fruit as a donor,but never got around to doing the swap.Was going to get a ute but hell,just too many projects and I'm into bikes really.Sold the SW for a good price,but lost heavily on the Fairmont - put the money into my Pajero project instead.

Bloody hell - highjacking my own thread!

[pete376403]

Did changing the wheels ever catch you out?
(left hand thread nuts on one side of the car, right hand on the other side)
I know the early Valiants had this "feature" not sure when they dropped it

[riffer]

Did changing the wheels ever catch you out?
(left hand thread nuts on one side of the car, right hand on the other side)
I know the early Valiants had this "feature" not sure when they dropped it
Not on my first car. VJ Regal 318 V8 4 door (silver blue with white vinyl roof), four barrel carb with dodgy chrome hi-flo air filter. Mopar front and rear sway bars (originally designed for Dodge Challenger but worked ok), Monroe GT Shocks, twin pipes coming out just in front of the back tyres - try and get them warranted now.

But 205 Dunlop Aquajets don't great roadholding make. Met its death after trying to outcorner an SLR5000 going down on Kaitokes (twin lakes lookout corner) .

I loved that car. Unlike every one of my various girlfriends' mothers. But at least my girlfriends could hear me coming :Punk:

[Hitcher]

Firstly my apologies to any bikers frustrated at this now way off-topic discussion on CARS. I promise I will be more careful in future.

Secondly, my first car was a 1963 Riley Elf Mark II. Hydrolastic suspension, no synchro on first, sliding front windows, walnut veneer dash, woo hoo! When I left home to go to Massey at age 17 it held all my worldly goods!

With a set of Kleber 165/10 radials, a tweaked cam and twin carbs it was a veritable pocket rocket. My record through 10 miles of Goat Valley (the twisties between Wanganui and Waitotara, or more specifically Brunswick and just north of Maxwell, as these were in the '70s before Transit straightened them out -- THE BASTARDS) was 10 minutes. Eltham to Palmerston North in two-and-a-half hours. Those were indeed the days!

[Big Dog]

Not on my first car. VJ Regal 318 V8 4 door (silver blue with white vinyl roof), four barrel carb with dodgy chrome hi-flo air filter. Mopar front and rear sway bars (originally designed for Dodge Challenger but worked ok), Monroe GT Shocks, twin pipes coming out just in front of the back tyres - try and get them warranted now.

But 205 Dunlop Aquajets don't great roadholding make.
Nice! :niceone:


I loved that car. Unlike every one of my various girlfriends' mothers. But at least my girlfriends could hear me coming :Punk:I have had more than one cage I can say the same about, but then I hate owning cages with no character

[Hitcher]

But at least my girlfriends could hear me coming :Punk:

Do you need a car for that??

[pete376403]

Post of the month!!! :laugh: