The Victorian heritage plate ‘2‘ was originally issued in 1910 and adorned the vehicles of the state’s first two Governors General.
It is said to have changed hands around 2003 for a price in the $200,000 range, before being sold again for a “handsome profit” according to an article in Unique Cars.
Single digit plates are virtually impossible to accurately value, with the pool of potential buyers being minuscule relative to the overall number plate market.
Whilst any valuation would be pure speculation, it would be safe to say this plate would sell for comfortably more than $1 million if it was offered again.
Today the plate is widely reported to be owned by the Smorgon family, who are also said to own other high quality plates including 9 and 900.
Images:
BMW 535i GT – 5 September 2016 – Heritage Number Plate Spotting
Volvo XC90 – 28 January 2016 – Heritage Number Plate Spotting
Volvo XC90 – 1 December 2015 – Heritage Number Plate Spotting
BMW X6 – 22 May 2014 – Heritage Number Plate Spotting
BMW X6 – April 2014 – Instagram
BMW X6 – 25 January 2013 – Plate Shed
References
18 December 2011 – Plate owners register a protest – The Age
“Numbers 2, 4 and 9 have all believed to have changed hands privately in recent times for prices in the $250,000-$350,000 range.”
“But back to the numbers, because that’s where the real fascination (and money) lies. In my ill-spent youth, I had a celebrity weekend car- wash clientele. Every week I would wash Victorian plate No 2 on a super grey Jaguar XK 150S coupe, No 46 on a white Mk II 3.8 Jaguar and No 120 on a superb white Aston Martin DB4.
No 2 has a great history. When the first Victorian plates were issued in 1910, number one was held back and the next five, Nos 2-6, were reserved for government vehicles, with No 2 gracing the cars of the State’s first two Governors General.
It changed hands in unusual circumstances in the past 12 months for a figure thought to be in the $200,000 bracket and was believed to have been re-sold for a handsome profit.”
February 2004 – Numbers Up! – Unique Cars