A1 registration plate

History

Year	Description
1903	This is the year that the Motor Car Act became law. The A1 number plate was sold by London county council in 1903 to the second Earl Russell, who queued for the entire night outside the council offices to have the right to be able to buy it. He beat someone else to it by just five seconds.
1906	The plate was sold to the Chairman of the London County Council along with the registration and the car it belonged to, a Napier.
1907	The head of the Maudes Group Motor Business, Mr. George Perry, bought the plate and was successively transferred to each of his personal cars over the years. These included: Alfa Romeo MG Morris Isis Singer Jaguar Sunbeam Talbot 90
1950	The Sunbeam was bequeathed to Mr. Trevor Laker after George Perry's death. A condition of this was that, after his demise, Mr. Laker sell the plate and the proceeds be given to a dogs' charity. The plate was sold for £2,500 and the money donated to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
1970	The Dunlop company took ownership and rights to “A 1”. The plate was put onto a Daimler limousine that was used to transport VIPs to and from the Dunlop factories.
1975	The plate was used for a brief period on the Director of Engineering's car, a Mini. The tyre division later took ownership and was used for promotional purposes, including the marketing of the Denovo "fail-safe" wheels.
1985	BTR plc gained the “A 1” plate after it acquired Dunlop. The company's headquarters in Birmingham placed it on a Ford Granada.
2000 / 2005	The "A 1" plate was bought by Jefri Bolkiah after its sale by Insignia Registrations alongside the plate, "1 A". The plates were placed on matching, white Bentley Azures.