by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen January 29, 2008 12:16 PM
Filed Under: F1, General, Tuners
New record
Everybody thought that GBP 331,000 would be the ultimate record for the M1 UK license plate, topping Russian gazillionaire and Chelsea owner Abramovich's GBP 281,000 bid for the VIP1 plate. But today we can officially report a new record, set by Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn who paid an astounding GBP 375,000 for the 'F1' UK number plate (that's GBP 440,625 including taxes, almost 600,000 Euro or USD 875,000).
The F1 number plate was sold by the Essex County Council who has been in possession of the plate ever since 1904. Lord Hanningfield, the current leader of the authority, said: "It will be with some sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history.”
Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers.”
For now the F1 license plates is used for a Mercedes SLR McLaren, but in a few weeks time it will move to Kahn latest, a Range Rover Cosworth. Stay tuned for that!
The UK’s most expensive ever number plate has been sold for £440,625 Inc. The F1 plate, previously owned by Essex County Council has been sold to automotive designer and entrepreneur Afzal Kahn from Project Kahn LTD.
Essex County Council Leader Lord Hanningfield and an Essex advanced trained young driver will hand over the most prized ID in Britain to its new owner on January 21st 2008 at North Weald Airfield, Near Epping, Essex.
The “F1” number plate was sold for £109,625 more than the previous record holder, the “M1” plate, sold at Bonhams recently for £331,000. The record sale also eclipses the sale of VIP 1, reputedly sold to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich for £285,000.
The money raised from the sale will go to the education and training of young drivers. Hundreds of young and recently passed drivers will be given help to take the Pass Plus test, which gives advanced training in driving techniques. The test, designed by the Driver Standards Agency, gives youngsters knowledge of how to drive on motorways and in poor weather conditions. The test is recognised by many car insurance companies, lowering insurance premiums and also by many employers.
F1 was first registered in the Essex County Register of Motors in 1904 as belonging to the County Surveyor of Essex. It was the official car of the first Chairman of Essex County Council, Andrew Johnston, and has remained in the county council’s possession ever since, having had pride of place on the Chairman’s car until recently when it was replaced with the plate, “ECC1”.
Council Leader - Lord Hanningfield said “It will be with a little sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history but I am pleased to say the money raised will help improve the safety of our roads through the training of young drivers. I believe we have got an excellent for Essex in selling this asset. I congratulate Mr Kahn on his purchase”
Afzal Kahn, President of Project Kahn, said “I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious marque. I am extremely happy the money raised from the sale will help improve road safety and through the training of young drivers such as James. The training of young drivers is a very important issue and I am privileged to have contributed to such a worthy cause.
“I look forward to The F1 number plate being placed on the groundbreaking Range Rover Cosworth that we will be launching in the coming weeks.”
Ummm.. in UAE .. they sold some license plate in the auction for 25,000,000+ Dirhams (6,793,000+ USD) and all the money were sent to the poor people in and outside UAE and the same guy bought more 3 or 4 other plates with very high prices too maybe all the plates costs him 100,000,000 Dhs (27,173,900+ USD)
no... not insane... pure generosity lol seriously crazy yet very generous... plus he definitely has nothing else to do with it... why not help millions of poor people trying to make a living :)
all of you bashing the guy for spending so much on plates, who do you think you are to tell someone how to spend his money? how do you know this guy hasnt donated to charity or something, and even if he hasn't, he is entitled to do whatever he wants with his earned money.
MB.65 just go shove your handicapped sour ass elsewhere, no one is telling him how to waste his money away, however who are you to tell us what to think about such a waste? With 80% of the planet enduring hunger, 2 million new kids each year getting into prostitution, and so on, wasting more than half a million on a 40cm f`cking slice of cheap plastic is morally insulting. Even from a car enthusiast standpoint, who wouldn't buy, say, a Rolls Phantom Corniche and a Ferrari F430 for that money? Sure, there are jerks using 500€ bills as toilet paper out there, but dont expect one to agree with it.
yea and who make it your problem that these people are spending their hard earned money the way they want and dont give a crap about charity(which may not be true). I'm not sayin its morally the best thing that someone could do with his money but thats what he wants and he has every right to spend his money the way he wants. Wiping your shithole with 500 pound notes is messed up, but maybe an F1 license plate may mean something to someone that is a car designer, and the money's going to help improve driving safety anyway. you think what you want and watch how you address me next time or i will say sh*it thats ten times nastier.
Compare to HONG KONG, it is just a small money. The most expensive license plate was the number "9" and it sold for 1,000,000GBP (15,000,000HKD)in 1994
in the state of victoria (australia), the first number plates (1 to 999) issued in the first half of the 20th century easily fetch more than A$100k (US$90k). It is believed that "1" is worth around A$2m, or US$1.8.
it is crazy to spend so much on a number plate, but at the end of the day his business is in cars and modifying and thats how he made his money so i guess its not a biggy to him if he wants to put that much into it if he can easily afford it? also, it is an investment i guess.
