A VERY rare Victorian Heritage number plate “14” is expected to fetch record bids in the range of $1.6 million to $2.2 million under the auctioneer’s gavel at a Shannons auction next month.

The black and white plate, which has been owned by the same family for the past 25 years, is one of only 90 Victorian original double-digit black and white numerical plates released early last century.

Shannons, which will present a collection of 18 early number plates from NSW, Victoria and Queensland at its timed, online autumn auction to run from May 17 to 24.

Shannons said early number plates have created a “seemingly insatiable demand by enthusiasts.”

“Early-issue Australian number plates have an enviable track record at Shannons auctions for attracting serious investors, with Shannons for many years being the preferred platform of Victoria’s VicRoads and Services New South for releasing collector plates,” the auction company said.

“Four low-digit Queensland plates – ‘Q156’, ‘Q226’, ‘Q410’ and ‘Q630’ – are on offer, with ‘Q156’ expected to sell in the $150,000-$200,000 range and the other three likely to attract bids in from $100,000-$150,000.

“The single New South Wales numerical plate being auctioned, ‘1666’, is expected to sell for $100,000-$200,000.”

Shannons said that while VIC ’14’ was the star attraction of the 13 Victorian plates on offer, ‘690’ is also expected to attract solid bidding in the $280,000-$360,000 range, while the top-tier four-digit ‘1003’ and ‘1004’ – both offered with ‘no reserve’ – offer a unique opportunity for families and businesses to have sequential numbers on their vehicles. Each is expected to attract bids from $100,000 – $200,000.

“However both could be eclipsed by the ‘birthday’ number ‘2012’– an ideal present and investment for a child or grandchild – that is also predicted to sell in the same price range,” it said.

Two other Victorian four-digit plates ‘6.969’ and ‘3.222’ also have guiding ranges of $100,000-$200,000.

Shannons said that another Victorian number plate expected to draw many bids from the Asian enthusiast community is the ‘lucky’ five-digit ‘88.388’.

It and the numerically-attractive ‘34.567’ are each expected to sell in the $50,000-$100,000 range.

By Neil Dowling