Some people have too much money, and too little creativity. Private plates are testimony to this…I’m pretty observant when it comes to matters four wheeled, a trait that certainly helps when you’re a motor noter. So I’ve being paying attention to personalised registrations (PRNs) since they first saw the light of day in my home province, KZN. Personalisation of one’s pride and joy seems to be a popular past time in KZN and once the big alloys, bodykit, et al are added to your ride, a PRN is the next logical step. And therefore it came as no surprise to find that this part of SA was the first to introduce this option. That history lesson aside, it was a plate on Mini that got me thinking. It simply said “WOOF ”, so it stood to reason that the owner was a dog lover. A quick conversation with the blonde babe behind the wheel confirmed as much. Though she did find my suggestion of “WOOFLIS”, for her Cabrio model, a funny one. Oh, and since our conversation was ended by a green light, my number is 0833-4 (focus Matai, focus – Ed)… Okay, where were we.
When first introduced a flurry of people opted for plates with their names, and I can understand that. What better way to advertise that Andrew drives a Merc than to get it as a PRN. But there are only so many plates that can say “ANDREW1” or “ANDREW M” before they lose their novelty and with a surfeit of Andrews in Cape Town, or Singhs in Durban for that matter, it happens pretty quickly. Then, some folk got clever. One that comes to mind was “2TH DOC”, pretty creative for a dentist. Another made full use of the allocated letters, even the suffix “JUS CRU-ZN” – clever.
“THX DAD” to denote a birthday prezzie is not bad and tells us that the car (or maybe just the plate) was a gift. “TRY ME” on a street racer is a strong claim but fitting on the right machine. “MINI ME” on a 1970s model is very funny, and a plate saying “BLONDE”, fitted upside down on the front bumper is such a brilliant stroke of self-deprecating humour that you have to think she’s very bright. “YUM MUM” needs no explanation, and neither does “EX WIFE”. “STOLEN” is a bit dodgy, but probably refers to the owners driving style rather than how he acquired said ride. “WAAP TSS” on a Scooby STi is esoteric but apt if you know the soundtrack of an STi. “L8 4 A D8” must be a local Romeo, and I always move over, girls get cranky when you’re late, and when they’re cranky they (Oh stop it Matai – Ed). “BAA BAA” on a black Jeep is funny but in a silly way. Funny or clever plates though are few and far between, hence more memorable.
Bordering on silliness is when owners register PRNs that resemble regular number plates. “ND 2930-ZN” or “CA 4950-WP” I mean, why bother, if you’re going to go through all that hassle why make it resemble a normal plate.
The option that boggles my mind though, is when owners opt for the same PRN as the model or make they drive. Why bother with “C280” or “GTI” when the badge not two-feet away on the boot lid says exactly the same? Is it not enough that you just spent hundreds of thousands of your hard-earned (or not) cash on a car that you now have to throw some free advertising in for the auto manufacturer? I can understand if it said “GTI BABE”. It may be slightly naughty, apt if she’s hot, but it does tell us that it is her car, and not her dad’s or, worse still, her boyfriend’s. “M3” on a 3 Series with big wheels, two doors, a bodykit AND an M3 badge on the front wing air-vents is hardly a revelation, neither is it funny or creative, so why bother. “M5 V10”, “AMG” or “XC90”, “RUNX RSI”, “911”, “F430” etc, etc make zero sense to me. Seems that the people that may have the financial wherewithal to purchase PRNs do so simply because they can, regardless of whether they need to, and with very little thought.
* Sudhir was last seen filling out his PRN application, though he was concealing the forms with zeal. Dep Ed HO suggests that WINDGAT is a good option.
