Fun Facts About Number Plates: Strange and Interesting Stories for Leyland and Preston

Number plates, or vehicle registration plates, may seem like a mundane part of our everyday lives, but they’re actually a window into automotive history, government bureaucracy, and even cultural quirks. For towns like Leyland and Preston in Lancashire, UK—places with rich motoring and industrial heritage—the history and fun surrounding number plates are especially compelling. Whether you’re a local history buff, a car enthusiast, or just curious about the little rectangle on the back of your car, here are some fascinating and funny stories about number plates, with a special focus on Leyland and Preston.

A Brief History of Number Plates in the UK

Before diving into local legends and quirky tales, it helps to understand how number plates began. The UK introduced vehicle registration plates on January 1, 1904, with the Motor Car Act 1903. The purpose? To identify vehicles in case of accidents or traffic violations—a need that became increasingly urgent as the number of automobiles grew.

The first number plate issued was “A1”, famously secured by Earl Russell, who allegedly sent a servant to camp outside the registration office overnight to be first in line. From that moment on, the number plate became more than just an identifier—it was also a status symbol.

Leyland: The Town That Built the Backbone of British Motoring

It’s impossible to talk about vehicles in Leyland without mentioning Leyland Motors. Founded in 1896, Leyland Motors was one of the UK’s most important vehicle manufacturers, known for its buses, lorries, and military vehicles. This industrial past means many number plate stories in Leyland are tied to historical prototypes, rare test vehicles, and special fleet registrations.

Did you know that many of the test vehicles from Leyland Motors used unique, temporary number plates that collectors today eagerly hunt for? These plates, sometimes beginning with “LO” (denoting Lancashire), were frequently used around the test tracks that once circled the Leyland factories. Employees sometimes gave these vehicles nicknames based on their plate letters—turning boring sequences into inside jokes.

Preston and the “ER” Prefix: A Sign of Pride

Preston, which became a city in 2002, also has its fair share of number plate trivia. One of the most interesting things is the association with the “ER” prefix, standing for East Riding, but frequently spotted on vehicles registered in Lancashire before the 1974 boundary changes. For Preston residents, seeing an older vehicle with a local-style plate is like a time machine on wheels.

In fact, vintage car owners in Preston sometimes pay thousands to reclaim old number plates that were originally registered to the area. The “FR”, CK, or RN” plates are some of the most sought-after locally, as they’re linked to the older Lancashire County Council registration system before it was restructured.

Funny and Strange Number Plate Stories

Number plates can be surprisingly entertaining. Here are a few odd, amusing, or just plain bizarre number plate stories connected to or reminiscent of Lancashire life:

1. The Plate That Went Missing for Decades

A collector in Preston once discovered an old “LT 9” plate rusting away in a barn on the outskirts of town. It belonged to a 1920s delivery van used by a local grocer. After years of legal wrangling and restoration, the plate was re-registered and now adorns a pristine vintage Morris van, seen occasionally at county shows.

2. Illegal Fonts and Creative Fines

Lancashire police (including the Preston division) have issued numerous fines over the years for illegal number plate fonts—especially ones designed to look like phrases. One cheeky Leyland driver was fined after his plate read “S1CK LAD”, with clever spacing and typeface manipulation. The DVLA didn’t share the same sense of humor.

3. The Ghost Plates of Lost Cars

When the old British Leyland plants closed, many cars that never made it to market were destroyed—or so people thought. There are whispered stories among classic car fans in Leyland of “ghost cars”—vehicles with unique prototype plates that were spirited away by insiders before the demolitions began. Some plates reportedly began with “BMC”, a nod to the British Motor Corporation.

The Business of Personalised Plates

Lancashire residents, including those in Leyland and Preston, are no strangers to the personalised number plate trend. The DVLA has run highly successful auctions for custom plates, and some locals have cashed in big.

In 2022, a businessman from Preston paid £15,000 for the plate “PR35TON”, claiming it was the perfect marketing tool for his local delivery company. Another car enthusiast in Leyland bought “L3Y 1” and placed it on a classic Land Rover as a tribute to Leyland Motors’ heritage.

Digital Age, Same Old Love

Even as number plates become more digitised (with ANPR—Automatic Number Plate Recognition—playing a growing role in traffic monitoring), they retain their cultural weight. In Leyland and Preston, car enthusiasts host number plate spotting challenges, where rare or funny plates are photographed and posted online in dedicated local forums.

Did You Know? Quick Fun Facts

• The oldest known Preston plate still in circulation is believed to be “RN 1”, originally issued in the 1930s.

• Leyland once trialled electric buses in the 1980s using prototype number plates now worth thousands.

• Number plates with the letters “XXX” are banned in the UK—not for censorship, but due to their popularity among collectors.

• There’s an urban legend in Leyland that the plate “BL 1” (possibly for British Leyland) was stolen in the 1970s and never recovered.

What’s in a Plate? More Than You Think

Whether it’s a rare sequence, a personal joke, or a nostalgic tribute, number plates are more than pieces of metal. For towns like Leyland and Preston, they reflect a rich industrial past, an appreciation for car culture, and a good helping of local humor.

Next time you’re walking through Leyland town centre or parked near Fishergate in Preston, take a second look at the number plates around you. You might just spot a historic gem—or at least get a chuckle from someone’s creative vanity plate.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to get your own little piece of motoring history bolted to your bumper.