Private Plates - Vulgar and Nouveau Riche!
Discussion
Sir Bufton Tufton is alive and well! Owns a Ferrari 400 GT, loves opera but hates private plates and writes letters to the FOC monthly mag:
'On another note, it's clear that many Club members love personal number plates (PNPs), but I am not one of them. I am certain that I am not alone in my view that PNPs are nothing more than nouveau riche vulgarity. Why anyone wants their name or initials on their car is a mystery to me. There should be plenty of readers who can tell me the effect PNPs have on themselves and the effect they are supposed to have on me.
A trip to the car parks at opera venues is revealing. Many of the attendees could easily afford PNPs but have no desire to own one. To a level of statistical significance, there are none. PNPs are readily bought; good taste is not. Viewed from the bottom of society looking up, PNPs look like a status symbol. Viewed from the top down their owners look more like social climbers trying too hard.
I have seen only one explicit explanation in writing about the appeal of PNPs: they show that the owner has 'made it'. The trouble with telling all that you've 'made it' is that you are also boasting that you come from that sector of society that enjoys a relatively short life span.
Some years ago I heard a programme about tax evasion, on Radio 4. A tax inspector was asked where one might look for probable evasion. One thing mentioned was expensive cars with PNPs...'
So much material and so little time but this was one reason why I was reluctant to join the FOC, for fear of running into plonkers like this.
'On another note, it's clear that many Club members love personal number plates (PNPs), but I am not one of them. I am certain that I am not alone in my view that PNPs are nothing more than nouveau riche vulgarity. Why anyone wants their name or initials on their car is a mystery to me. There should be plenty of readers who can tell me the effect PNPs have on themselves and the effect they are supposed to have on me.
A trip to the car parks at opera venues is revealing. Many of the attendees could easily afford PNPs but have no desire to own one. To a level of statistical significance, there are none. PNPs are readily bought; good taste is not. Viewed from the bottom of society looking up, PNPs look like a status symbol. Viewed from the top down their owners look more like social climbers trying too hard.
I have seen only one explicit explanation in writing about the appeal of PNPs: they show that the owner has 'made it'. The trouble with telling all that you've 'made it' is that you are also boasting that you come from that sector of society that enjoys a relatively short life span.
Some years ago I heard a programme about tax evasion, on Radio 4. A tax inspector was asked where one might look for probable evasion. One thing mentioned was expensive cars with PNPs...'
So much material and so little time but this was one reason why I was reluctant to join the FOC, for fear of running into plonkers like this.
Edited by Spleen on Sunday 19th February 19:47
I suppose this is the sort of thing he's talking about. SPB were the initials of Shaun Bealey, Managing Director in the 1980s of Maranello Concessionaires, otherwise known as Ferrari UK. It is not known whether Mr Bealey was ever spotted at the opera.
Edited by Rumdoodle on Monday 20th February 13:36
I have a few plates,to be honest they spend more time on retention than on my cars as most of them are classics and have nice age related
plates on them ,most have the same registration number they were issued with when new so part of their dna
It should be treated as a bit of fun really,not keen on plates that states someone's christian name but that's me ,decent initials with low numbers are fine
along with novelty plates that may have a meaning ,either to do with the make or model of the car there on or your business or what ever.
If you don't want a personal plate on your car that's fine ,if you do that's also fine, Life's to sort to worry about either ,just my two pennies worth
plates on them ,most have the same registration number they were issued with when new so part of their dna
It should be treated as a bit of fun really,not keen on plates that states someone's christian name but that's me ,decent initials with low numbers are fine
along with novelty plates that may have a meaning ,either to do with the make or model of the car there on or your business or what ever.
If you don't want a personal plate on your car that's fine ,if you do that's also fine, Life's to sort to worry about either ,just my two pennies worth
Self awareness is low.
Did make me chuckle, the whole ‘my indulgence is logical good taste whilst yours is illogical vulgarity’ ethos is fabulous.
It’s right up there with my daughter’s tribe who are so edgy & individual that they all dress the same & listen to the same bands, you know, to reject conformity. I gave tried pointing out that the most ‘punk’ thing you could do is arrive at a hip hop gig in a pinstripe 3 piece suit & bowler hat.
Did make me chuckle, the whole ‘my indulgence is logical good taste whilst yours is illogical vulgarity’ ethos is fabulous.
It’s right up there with my daughter’s tribe who are so edgy & individual that they all dress the same & listen to the same bands, you know, to reject conformity. I gave tried pointing out that the most ‘punk’ thing you could do is arrive at a hip hop gig in a pinstripe 3 piece suit & bowler hat.
browngt3 said:
Odd that he would write a letter criticising fellow members, many who will have PNPs. Even more odd the FOC publish it.
Still, PNPs have always seemed a waste of money to me which is why I've never bothered with them.
The FOC classifieds always have tons of 'PNPs' for sale too Still, PNPs have always seemed a waste of money to me which is why I've never bothered with them.
tomtom said:
browngt3 said:
Odd that he would write a letter criticising fellow members, many who will have PNPs. Even more odd the FOC publish it.
Still, PNPs have always seemed a waste of money to me which is why I've never bothered with them.
The FOC classifieds always have tons of 'PNPs' for sale too Still, PNPs have always seemed a waste of money to me which is why I've never bothered with them.
rat rod said:
And it is a manual!!!
Yes, but he says, "Leave it in fifth, no need for an automatic." Surely, if you're just leaving in top, no need for a manual? Anyway, what do I know? I have a PNP (hadn't encountered that abbreviation before). But it was on the car when I bought it. And when it was put on the car originally, it appears - from the history file - to have been a gift to the owner from his wife. So, I guess he had to put it on - and no more opera for him!Gassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff