The SA Historic Plate Register Project Part II: the Two Digit plates SA "31"-"50"

The SA Historic Plate Register Project

 

The SA Historic Plates Register Project- Part 2 Two Digits 31-50

 

 

31

First Registered Owner: Dr W.T. Hayward

Address: Norwood

March 1907 Vehicle: Darracq 10

Rights Sold: Yes

Current Owner:  known

Today: The rights to plate 31 were sold post the 1985 Great Plate Auction and the rights to the number were acquired by the original owner having had the number registered to a vehicle. We handled the sale of plate 31 in the mid 90's and the plate has been in long term ownership since.

32

First Registered Owner: Dr T. Borthwick

Address: Kensington

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 8

Rights Sold: Unknown- this is one of the few two digit plates that we are unaware of the recent ownership trail of. We romantically hope there is a ’66 Aston with the plate SA32 sitting in a garage somewhere being re-registered year after year. Keep reading.....

Current Owner: Unknown

This a famous plate in our old records as it is recorded several times as being registered to various desirable and rare vehicle makes. These makes are listed in our old records at the end of the normal vehicle listings as “competitive sundries”. These “competitive sundries” include the marques Ferrari, Porsche, Lancia, Aston Martin and Lotus.

In 1964, on 25th August plate 32 was registered on a Ferrari, and interestingly for the enthusiast our records show that two Ferraris were registered in SA in 1964. Firstly, on the 7th of January SA8285 was registered on a Ferrari to Champions Pty Ltd, and later in the year SA32 was registered to Robert John Billam.

Today plate SA8285 is registered to probably Australia’s greatest Ferrari, the low mileage 250GT Short Wheel Base that Dean Smoker took delivery of as the proprietor of the Ferrari dealers Champions Pty Ltd. Pictured above alongside SA119, Australia's first Porsche 911, this image was taken at a Ferrari Club run to McLaren Vale in 1997.

On our vintage records show that the 250GT SWB is listed as a “39.6 h.p.”, and the Billam Ferrari is listed with the higher output of “44 h.p.”. The Billam Ferrari could therefore have been either a 330GT or a 275, however we are not aware of a 275 having been Adelaide delivered so it likely is a 330 2+2. I’ve a few folks to ask who would know and I’ll update the site when I find out. This also rings true when you compare horsepower, as the 250 SWB is listed as being delivered, in today’s terms either as a 237 hp or 276 hp setup, whilst the larger four litre 330GT has an even 300hp in today’s hp measurement.

Two years later on 29.9.66 historic plate 32 was registered to Paramotors Pty Ltd on an Aston Martin, which would have been the last car to wear this plate pre alpha-numeric plates. We assume the car to have been a DB6 Coupe given the ’66 registration. We have been advised that Billam owned Paramotors hence the link to hime with this histyoric plate, and as our research shows through the 1960’s plate 32 has been on some of the most exotic machinery ever sold in South Australia.

Today: status unknown......information sought. And if you know be sure to send me the address details of the SA “32” Aston in the barn first.

33

First Registered Owner: Dr R. H. Marten

Address: North Terrace

March 1907 Vehicle: Decauville 12/16

Rights Sold: Unknown

Current Owner:  Unknown- this is one of the few two digit plates that we are unaware of the recent ownership trail of.

We have not come across any info on the historic plate 33 and will keep researching the history of this plate for The SA Historic Plate Register Project.

Today: status unknown......information sought

34

First Registered Owner: J.R. Walker

Address: King William St

March 1907 Vehicle: Oldsmobile 5

Rights Sold: Yes

Current Owner: Unknown

The early history of this plate is unknown and will keep researching the history of this plate for The SA Historic Plate Register Project.

Today: It is understood that plate 34 has been sold post the 1985 Great Plate Auction and that it is currently registered on an XJ Jaguar.

 

35

First Registered Owner: A.C. Summers

Address: Parkside

March 1907 Vehicle: Oldsmobile 5

Rights Sold: Yes, A 1985 The Great Plate Auction lot

Current Owner: Known

Today: SA 35 was sold at the 1985 Great Plate Auction for $2500 and was the thirteenth plate sold at the auction. It is in long term ownership and we understand is in the same ownership from 1985.

36

First Registered Owner: Dr C.H.J. Souter

Address: Balaklava

March 1907 Vehicle: Rover 8

Rights Sold: We believe yes

Current Owner: Known

SA36 was registered to another Doctor, with 16 of the first 40 registrations being issued to Doctors.

Doctors with early registrations were based geographically across SA, with cars in the first 40 registrations  listed in Adelaide (several addresses), Willunga, Yankalilla, Clare, Gawler, Balaklava, Semaphore and Riverton.

Today: From the old records of www.historicplates.com.au it is understood that historic plate 36 is registered on a vintage Mini, and was sold post the 1985 Great Plate Auction.

37

First Registered Owner: Dr P. Bollen

Address: Semaphore

March 1907 Vehicle: Talbot 8

Rights Sold: Understood to have not acquired rights, Restricted or Proprietary.

Current Owner: Unknown

Early history is unknown, extra information is sought.

Today: From our rare records we understand that SA37 is registered on a 1964 Holden in a beachside suburb of Adelaide. Further we believe that the registration on the car is constantly renewed, but that rights to the historic plate have not been obtained.  Further, we understand that this is the only class of vehicle with the plate registered.

38

First Registered Owner: J.C. Walker

Address: Mannum

March 1907 Vehicle: Talbot 7/8

Rights Sold: Understood to have not acquired rights, Restricted or Proprietary.

Current Owner: Known, client of www.historicplates.com.au

Early history is unknown, extra information is sought.

Today: It is understood that SA38 is registered on a Chrysler Charger.

 

39

First Registered Owner: Dr R.McM. Glynn

Address: Riverton

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 8

Rights Sold: Rights sold post the 1985 Great Plate Auction.

Current Owner: Known, client of www.historicplates.com.au

Early history is unknown, extra information is sought.

Today: In long term ownership in the hands of an astute collector and client of ours at historicplates.com.au, with the owner the holder of several low SA and interstate historic plates.

 

40

First Registered Owner: G.J. Rogers

Address: Wallaroo Bay

March 1907 Vehicle: Minerva 8

Rights Sold: Rights sold post the 1985 Great Plate Auction.

Current Owner: Known, client of www.historicplates.com.au

Early history is unknown, extra information is sought.

Today: In long term ownership, sold at The Great Plate Auction in 1985 for $2000.

 

 

41

First Registered Owner: Hugh Main 

Address: Mintaro

March 1907 Vehicle: Oldsmobile 10

Rights Sold: current status unknown

Current Owner: current status unknown

Early history is unknown, extra information is sought.

Today: current status unknown

42

First Registered Owner: D. Shearer

Address: Mannum

March 1907 Vehicle: Lewis 12

March 1908 Vehicle: Lewis 12

Late 1908 Vehicle: Talbot 20 h.p.

 

 

 

Rights Sold: one of the few two digits that historicplates.com.au list as current status unknown

Current Owner: current status unknown

Historic plates 42 and 43 were both first registered to family members of the Shearer family, of Mannum. Pictured above is the 1908 Talbot that David Shearer registered plate SA"42" to. Pictured to the rear of the car at almond blossom time are Shearer and his daugther, alongside the observatory he built on his property at Mannum. Shearer was a true local pioneer as along with being an enthusiastic amateur astronomer he also built a steam car in June 1899 at his Mannum agriculture machinery works. This car still exists.

Today: current status unknown

43

First Registered Owner: J. Shearer

Address: Mannum

March 1907 Vehicle: Lewis 8

Rights Sold: yes

Current Owner: sold post 1985 The Great Plate Auction

 

Today: Registered on a ‘90’s SAAB.

 

44

First Registered Owner: Dr J.I. Sangster

Address: Kooringa (Burra Burra)

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 8

In 1914 Sangster registered the plate SA "44" on a Newton-Bennentt, a vehicle made to a British design by a factory in Turin. Murray Aunger Ltd were the local SA agents and Sangster bought one after a demonstration by Murray Aunger himself at Burra.  We understand the car is pictured outside Sangster's Kooringa home.

Rights Sold: we understand that rights have been acquired post 1985’s The Great Plate Auction.

Current Owner: known

Today: current status known

 

45

First Registered Owner: Dr C Reisssman

Address: Norwood

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 10

Rights Sold: Rights sold post 1985 The Great Plate Auction

Current Owner: known

Historic plates 45 and 46 were both first registered to Dr. Reissman of Norwood.

Today: known

46

First Registered Owner: Dr C Reisssman

Address: Norwood

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 6

Rights Sold: Rights sold at the 1985 The Great Plate Auction, lot number 15, and acquired for $2000.

Current Owner: known

 

Historic plates 45 and 46 were both first registered to Dr. Reissman of Norwood. Currently in use with the very rare and irreplaceable 1985 enamel auction plates and reflective backing plate.

Today: owner known

47

First Registered Owner: A. S. Broad

Address: Unley

March 1907 Vehicle: Oldsmobile 4 1/2

Rights Sold: Rights sold at the 1985 The Great Plate Auction, lot number 16, and acquired for $2200.

Current Owner: known

 

 

SA “47” was acquired at The Great Plate Auction 1985 and not long after this was re-acquired by ourselves. The plate spent time in the late 1980s’ on my first car, a hot little Mars Red VW Golf with a Lorinser body kit and wheel arch flares....a nice combo for a first car in 1987 if I might say so. I’m currently going through my old photos for a picture. An offer too good to refuse came our way and the plate changed hands, and we understand has subsequently changed hands again since.

Today: owner known

48

First Registered Owner: W.L. Davidson

Address: Hackney

March 1907 Vehicle: Beeston Humber 10/12

Rights Sold: Rights sold at the 1985 The Great Plate Auction, lot number 17, and acquired for $2100.

Current Owner: known

Today part of an astute historic plate collection, and registered to a pristine hi spec Charger, our all time favourite Aussie Muscle car.

Today: owner known

49

First Registered Owner: E.H.E. Wilksch

Address: King William St, Adelaide

March 1907 Vehicle: De Dion 6

Rights Sold: we understand Rights were acquired post the 1985 The Great Plate Auction

Current Owner: unknown

Historic plates 45 and 46 were both first registered to Dr. Reissman of Norwood.

Today: owner unknown

50

First Registered Owner: Dr R. Lavers

Address: North Adelaide

March 1907 Vehicle: Pope Tribune 14

Rights Sold: No. Our old records indicate a new Holden was registered with historic plate SA “50” in 1961 and that this Holden still has the plate registered to it, albeit we understand with Restricted Rights.

Current Owner: info from our old records is known

For the historical record at www.historicplates.com.au we’d love to obtain a picture of the original '61 Holden with plate SA “50”; do get in touch if you have info or images of this brilliant old plate and car. Confidentiality is assured.

Today: today’s current ownership information known, confirmation is sought.

 

**Coming soon, The Historic Plate Register Project Part III, the plates SA"51" to SA"75"**