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Old 25th April 2021, 21:00   #1171
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Originally Posted by karlosdeville View Post
In the movie CID, a 1947/48 DeSoto gets its plates changed to foil the cops chase. For a second this closeup appears of the original plates - such lovely casting, thought I'd share.

Attachment 2140719

The BMZ series was probably 1949/50?
Such font in aluminium emboss was very popular sometimes in sixties. They were very fragile and used to bend on the corners, edges.
The font was very appealing,
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Old 26th April 2021, 13:25   #1172
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Cross posting

An early Daimler from an album of Sir Malcolm Hailey, bearing a Punjab registration number P.2, the picture is possibly from the Governor's house, Shimla.

This I believe is the earliest Punjab number that we have seen ?

Early registration numbers in India-malcolm-hailey.jpg
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Old 8th May 2021, 14:59   #1173
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

22F, 343 couple of early registration numbers seen on cars at Rawalpindi

Early registration numbers in India-pindi_parade_cars2.jpg
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Old 13th May 2021, 18:21   #1174
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Cross posting

From the book 'Shikar' by Khan Saheb Jamshed Butt

C.P.M (Central Province M....?)

Early registration numbers in India-20210513_181334.jpg

Last edited by KartikeyaL : 13th May 2021 at 18:23.
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Old 14th May 2021, 10:46   #1175
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Originally Posted by KartikeyaL View Post
Cross posting

From the book 'Shikar' by Khan Saheb Jamshed Butt

C.P.M (Central Province M....?)

Attachment 2155509
This is indeed the older series of CPM, from when it still Central Provinces, but in the 1980s too (or maybe even the 70s), the CPx series did return in Madhya Pradesh. Must have been quite confusing
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Old 31st May 2021, 12:49   #1176
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Re: Classic Rolls Royces in India

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Originally Posted by Roger OZ View Post
This is an authentic number in the pre-WW2 series of single-letter-prefix registration plates issued in Ceylon.

At the inception of a motor vehicle registration system in Ceylon circa 1903, with the exception of the letter 'Y' a different letter of the alphabet was used based on the administrative district or province in which a vehicle was registered. Colombo being the capital city with the greatest 'population' of motor vehicles compared to elsewhere on the island, more than one prefix was used for Colombo-registered vehicles, beginning with 'C' and then 'A' and, later still, 'X'.
Kevin Barron had shared these pictures from 1910-11, which were captured at Kanda road, which he believed to be in India, I think these could be from Ceylon, experts ?

Early registration numbers in India-kevin-barron-1.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-kevin-barron-2.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-kevin-barron.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-kven-barron-4.jpg

Last edited by KartikeyaL : 31st May 2021 at 13:18.
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Old 14th June 2021, 23:22   #1177
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

I have been fascinated by this thread. I would love to know if there is a way to trace old registration numbers in India through an RTO archive or some such source. I am ignorant on this matter and would love to hear from some of the experts on this thread. The primary reason for my query is that I would like to trace some of the cars that were once in my family to see where they have gone or if they are still alive and running. If there is a way to track the whereabouts of the vehicle today, it would be fascinating ,as I would love to see if I could buy one of them back and have it restored. Perhaps this is a fantasy as record keeping in the 60s and 70s was all manually done and who knows if the records have even survived. Would love to hear comments on this matter. Cheers.
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Old 15th June 2021, 04:32   #1178
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Re: Classic Rolls Royces in India

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Originally Posted by KartikeyaL View Post
which were captured at Kanda road, which he believed to be in India, I think these could be from Ceylon, experts ?
Yes, Kanda seems to be in the Kandy region, Ceylon.
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Old 15th June 2021, 10:43   #1179
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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The primary reason for my query is that I would like to trace some of the cars that were once in my family to see where they have gone or if they are still alive and running. If there is a way to track the whereabouts of the vehicle today, it would be fascinating ,as I would love to see if I could buy one of them back and have it restored.
You can start by posting the numbers (and hopefully pictures as well) of the cars in question, our resident sleuths will get to work
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Old 15th June 2021, 19:49   #1180
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Karlosdeville...Thanks. Will post pics and as much detail as possible.
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Old 17th June 2021, 01:43   #1181
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Karlosdeville....I have been unable to find old photos but the details are as follows;

1.) MDY1719 - 1949 Ford Deluxe 4 door sedan with rear doors being suicide doors. Last seen in Trichy in 1964. Colour at the time was grey.

2.) MDY5373 - 1953 Willys Station Wagon 2 door in dark green. Last seen in Coimbatore in 1978.

3.) MSZ9512 - 1951 Morris Minor 2 door convertible (low light) in dark green. Last seen in Chennai in 1974.

4.) TMC7595 - 1967 Mini Cooper in red . Last seen in Chennai in 1977.

Good luck and greatly appreciate your help.

Cheers
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Old 23rd June 2021, 14:12   #1182
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

A lovely period shot of an Ariel motorcycle. The registration reads CH 169, wonder where it could be from? It is much before Chandigarh. Maybe Chandernagore?

Early registration numbers in India-ariel04.png
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Old 2nd July 2021, 09:28   #1183
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Re: Classic Rolls Royces in India

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Originally Posted by travancore View Post
Yes, Kanda seems to be in the Kandy region, Ceylon.
This is definitely Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and yes - Kandy, not 'Kanda'.
The general demeanour, attire and physiognomy of the 'locals' all suggest Ceylon in British colonial times.

Any suggestions as to the make of the Colombo-registered car?
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Old 3rd July 2021, 10:22   #1184
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Re: Classic Rolls Royces in India

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Originally Posted by Roger OZ View Post
This is definitely Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and yes - Kandy, not 'Kanda'.
The general demeanour, attire and physiognomy of the 'locals' all suggest Ceylon in British colonial times.

Any suggestions as to the make of the Colombo-registered car?
The car has been identified by a veteran car 'expert' in Australia as a Humber - "either 15 hp or larger".
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Old 21st July 2021, 11:04   #1185
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Here are some pages from various old Motor Vehicles Act documents, showing precious insight into the registration number system in various regions

Early registration numbers in India-mv-1.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-mv-2.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-mv-3.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-mv-4.jpg
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