Grapevine: 'F1' to be Put Up for Sale

Formula One's richest players could help make history later this year with the car registration plate 'F1' set to become the most expensive number plate to be sold in the UK

May 13, 2005, 11:55 AM

Essex County Council, who have owned the number plate since 1955, are putting it up for auction to help raise funds for road safety. The Council will also put the '1F' plate up for sale.

It is hoped that it will beat the previous record price of £231,000 paid for a number plate, which went to the Sultan or Brunei when he bought K1 NGS in 1993.

Council officials are understood to have made contact with Formula One figures to gauge interest - and claim that offers exceeding the record price have already come in.

A council official told The Sunday Times: "The plates are particularly suited to rich individuals involved in F1 racing. At the start of the Formula One season last year we asked for expressions of interest in F1. Since then we have received high six-figure offers for the plate - some well in excess of Â£231,000."

The F1 number plate was originally owned by Essex county surveyor Percy John Sheldon, who attached it to his 15hp Panhard Levassor four-seater in 1904.