Pete Gent couldn’t believe his eyes. He had wandered into a car showroom and saw a white VW Beetle in the forecourt. However, this was not just any VW Beetle, it was the most famous VW Beetle in Britain. Why the fame? Well, this was the very car that had featured on the cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. Gent, owner of a music shop, recognised it straight away and, realising that the salesman was unaware of the car’s famous history, snapped it up.

The vehicle had a distinctive registration plate, which had been the subject of many rumours and conspiracy theories that claimed Paul McCartney was dead. An American Radio Station began reporting that McCartney had passed away and that the plate, LMW 281F, contained a hidden message. LMW was believed to represent Linda McCartney as a ‘W’idow and 281F was supposed to signify Paul being 28 if he had lived. Of course, as we all know, the rumour was completely false.

Gent eventually sold the plate at Sotheby’s in 1986, where it fetched £2,300. At that time it went to America, but he believes that it is now on display at the VW factory in Germany.

Gent admits that he regrets not hanging on to the number plate for longer, “I was hoping to get more for it at the time, but there were only two people bidding. I should have kept it really, but I didn’t realise that their popularity would grow again. It would have been great publicity for my guitar shop.”

read comments (0)

Some people build up amazing collections of private number plates in the course of their lives. Once such collection is the SAW plates, which were purchased by Midlands saw blade supply company, Dynashape Ltd. The entire collection consists of SAW 1, SAW 2, SAW 3, SAW 4, SAW 5, SAW 6, SAW 7, SAW 8, SAW 9, SAW 10, SAW 11, SAW 123 and SAW 1T. It is believed that the company’s owner has amassed the largest known collection of consecutive personalised registration plates in the entire country.

SAW 6 was actually the first of the plates to be purchased, back in 1972 and over the following years the owner continued to seek out the others by answering ads and speaking to auto-numerology experts. The prices of the plates varied considerably, with some costing just a few hundred pounds while others have cost several thousand. The seller of one plate was able to purchase a new car with the proceeds.

The owner of this collection always believed that the number plates were an investment for his retirement and that when that day came he would sell them on. His belief is that the money he can make from the sale of the plates will provide a comfortable life for him in his later years.

Now that the company is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, the owner has made the decision to retire and finally sell this amazing collection of personalised registrations.

read comments (0)

Here in the UK we are made to feel bad for driving, which is why many people are put off from enjoying the whole driving experience and why we have such a poor choice of cars to buy. If you visit other countries around the world like Germany, Italy and the USA you will soon see how much choice is available, from fast and exciting sports cars to the top of the range  cars which offer lots of comfort and style, most of which are just not available from your dealership here in the UK.

The main reason for this is because the majority of cars that are made abroad are originally designed and built for left hand drive and to be sold to the UK the designs have to be converted to right hand drive and made specifically for us, hence the high price.

If you have a taste for the exotic there are ways to get hold of cars that you normally don’t see on the forecourt, you can visit a left hand drive vehicles London dealership, which specialise solely in left hand drive cars and have an extensive range of vehicles for sale as well as large range available to order. On top of that when using a specialist dealer you can have peace of mind that all require paperwork and documents will be completed by people who have extensive knowledge and experience in this confusing area. You can also have your new car either securely or safely delivered to yourself at home or to the left hand drive vehicles London dealership.

read comments (0)

The body may not be beautiful, looking a bit like an unsuccessful weightwatcher in a Lycra suit, but this car has some highly attractive compensations which amply prove that first impressions can sometimes be misleading.

The Lexus GS offers an almost silent ride in plushly comfortable seats. Whilst there is no diesel version on offer, the petrol models deliver creditable performances. The 3 litre, 245 bhp V6 hits 62 in a cool 7.2 seconds, which shrinks to 6.1 seconds if you opt for the 4.3 litre, 279 bhp V8. It has to be said, though, that it is unexceptional in the handling department. That’s not to say that it’s bad; but it’s not to say that it’s good either. It feels a little on the large side to be nimble at first but once you’re used to the bulk, it turns out to be rather more responsive than you might have predicted. The standard model only manages 28.8 mpg and the larger V8 less than 25! But if you think of the car as rotund diva with a surprisingly alluring singing voice, you’ll have a fair summary of the GS.

The passenger space is generous, although larger passengers may find sitting in the back a little oppressive after a while: the rounded rear end seems to limit at least the sense of space. Rather oddly, the boot is large but curiously long – reaching heavy luggage from the back of it may be a test of one’s spinal resilience.

read comments (0)

If you have been thinking about purchasing a left hand drive 4×4 for either business or personal use and you are based in the Capital or home counties, it’s recommended that you do some research to find a suitable left hand drive 4×4 London dealer who specialise in left hand drive vehicles. There are many things to consider when purchasing a new 4×4 and even more when it is left hand drive, these types of 4×4 are imported from Europe normally straight from the manufacturer, so you need to know the people you are dealing with have the correct knowledge and are compliant with importing vehicle regulations.

By using a specialist left hand drive 4×4 London based dealership you will find a wide range of premium vehicles are available like Land Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery or Defender, or the Mercedes Benz ML350, BMW X3 Sport, or the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Volvo XC90. You also can save £1000’s compared to right hand drive vehicles and find that many have a higher spec as standard, as well finding some models that aren’t generally for sale in the UK.

Specialist left hand drive dealerships should take care of all the legal requirements you need for driving both here in the UK and also around Europe and can help you out with any requirements you may need, depending on the use. Some people choose to have a left hand drive vehicle if they spend part of the year abroad and using a UK based dealership means you don’t get confused by the language barrier and know exactly where you stand when it comes to insurance. It is also handy to have a left hand drive vehicle if you frequently travel abroad for either business or pleasure.

read comments (0)

Vehicle registration plates came into existence in the United Kingdom in 1904. The majority of vehicles are required by law to display a valid plate. The legislation that first required the carrying of number plates was the Motor Car Act 1903, which came into force at the start of 1904. This statute required all vehicles to be registered and as such, each vehicle was assigned a specific identifying number. This law came into being in order for vehicles to be traceable should they be involved in an accident or criminal activity.

UK registration plates are square or rectangular in shape and the law dictates the exact dimensions of the lettering contained within them. This includes the spacing between the characters as well as the width and height of the characters themselves. From 1st September 2001, it became mandatory for licence plates to be printed using one specific typeface. All plates must be in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. For all vehicles manufactured from 1973 onwards this means that the plates must be made from reflex-reflecting material. Front plates should be white while rear plates are yellow and both contain black characters only. Only vehicles manufactured prior to 1973 are permitted to carry black plates with silver, grey or white letters and numbers.

The standard size for front number plates is 520mm x 111mm. Most rear plates are the same size, but they can also measure 285mm x 203mm or 533mm x 152mm.

read comments (0)

The Mercedes C-Class has filled a significant gap in the stylish, cost effective end of the market and is as an attractive alternative to BMW’s range. Combining sleek looks and quality components, this vehicle comes with all the trimmings of its competitors, while only having a starting price of £19,125.

Holding up the rear are the 1.8litre petrol and 2.0litre diesel engined models, which offer all the pizzazz of their more expensive cousins, but obviously won’t have that extra bite, unless you go for the C200K or the C220CDI. However, the majority of prospective customers would be advised to opt for the 3litre diesel, which pushes out some 224bhp and is sporty, attractive and effective. However, the speed freaks among you would be better choosing the C63, which comes with a rather impressive 6.3litre V8 engine. You can expect to pay at least £50,000 for the privilege of calling one of these your own.

Of course, surface looks are only half the beauty of the C-Class; its majestic road handling is also what will turn heads. What appears to be a regular standard looking saloon shows a completely different side on the open road. Granted, it is not going to live up to the BMW 7 series when it comes to feel and driving comfort, but there are very few cars, if any, in this sector that will make driving such a pleasurable experience.

Passengers, if you haven’t already forgotten about them, will also enjoy the ride, as there is plenty of legroom and comfortable seats in the back. The estate model will easily be able to handle large families with lots of baggage; a 1,500litre boot will swallow almost anything you might try to throw at it. The top-end models, such as the C63, are not going to provide all the comfort of the more family-based editions and could have you calling for a chiropractor after a few hours driving.

The cost-conscious should note that trips to the petrol pump would come around far more frequently than you might like with the bigger engines. If you are a sucker for the Mercedes badge and the sleek style of the C-Class, one of the smaller engines will prove to be much more fuel-efficient. However, over long journeys, one of the V6 diesels would make a chariot fit for a king. Quite simply, this is the coolest looking and roomiest saloon on the road today.

read comments (0)

We all know that Jaguar has on at least a few occasions struggled to come up with the goods as manufacturers of luxury, top-notch cars that people want to buy (in preference to, say, BMW or Mercedes-Benz). But when it comes to the fabulous XF series, they have really pulled the rabbit out of the hat.

The comfort is truly sumptuous; you’ll find luxurious seating with masses of space front and back (and this is especially true of the large diesel version). Add to this a mammoth-sized boot – 540 litres, no less – and you’ll quickly appreciate that elegant luxury is the name of the game. The interior ambience, enhanced by ingenious lighting solutions and high quality gadgets, is opulently splendid.

The car comes in petrol and diesel versions, although the petrol V6 doesn’t quite match the performance of the diesel models or the larger 4.2 litre 286 bhp V8 petrol, which hits 60 mph in 6 seconds. This is very much a grown-up’s car – the young may feel it doesn’t fit a boy-racer image. It doesn’t and it shouldn’t (although some have noted that it resembles an Aston Martin from the back): it’s a class act rather than a ‘fast and furious’ gimmick.

The Jaguar XF gives you a beautifully cushioned ride and you can sense the fabulous suspension as you cruise along. It isn’t averse to cornering at relatively high speed, either, hugging the road securely. A real beauty all round.

read comments (0)

If you are looking for a left hand drive 4×4 in London the first place that you should visit is someone who specialises in this type of vehicle. If you live in London or the Home Counties, your task is very much easier than someone who may live in the delightful Scottish Highlands, but even these fortunate people would be well advised to take a trip to the capital.

It will not be difficult for you to access a left hand drive 4×4 London specialist and when you visit you will find a huge range of left hand drive 4×4 cars. The massive advantage of buying one of these vehicles is that you will save a considerable amount of money over a standard right hand drive model. The range means that only the best left hand drive cars with low mileage and complete equipment levels are chosen. This makes it easier for you to find the right left hand rive 4×4 car with the specification that you require. Whilst you would expect to see lots of Range Rover and Land Rover left hand drive 4×4 vehicles, there are other makes that are available, and if you should have a special requirement, the left hand drive 4×4 London specialist will be able to source the right vehicle for you.

read comments (0)

The Cherished Transfer Scheme is used to transfer a registration mark from its assigned vehicle to another. The registered keeper of the assigned vehicle is the only person authorised to make this application, using form V317 ‘Application to Transfer or Retain a Vehicle Registration Mark’. The fee for this process is £80 made payable to DVLA.

It is important to note the benefits and restrictions, which are specific to this scheme. For example, only testable vehicles can participate in the Cherished Transfer Scheme. This means that vehicles such as milk floats and tractors are exempt. Motorcycles and mopeds are, however, eligible to participate.

With regards to MOT testing, a valid certificate must be held if the vehicle is more than three years old. In addition, the vehicle from which the registration mark is being transferred, known as the donor vehicle, must be available for inspection to confirm its authenticity.

It is possible to make an application to transfer the registration mark from a donor vehicle that has an expired tax disc, as long as the tax expired less than 12 months beforehand and there was no gap between the expiration of tax and the SORN declaration.

The recipient vehicle for the private registration plate must also hold a valid tax disc. If the registration mark is being transferred to a vehicle, which is already registered, its assigned mark will become void unless an application to transfer or retain the mark is made simultaneously.

read comments (0)