A bidding war is set to erupt over rare number plates in a South Australian auction on Wednesday.
The two-digit numeric plates — 10 and 98 — are the most “highly sought-after” ones among the 32 rare plates up for grabs.
The historic plates, first released between 1906 and 1966, can generally garner thousands of bids from motoring enthusiasts keen to be linked to the state’s automotive history.
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The “rarest of all” historic plates up for sale are expected to be sold for over half a million dollars each.
The first two-digit plate to sell in the state since the Great Plate Auction in 1985, was snapped up last year for $625,100.
But the plates can go for far more.
An iconic single-digit plate broke the state record when it sold for $2.3 million last year.
The number 8 plate had first been issued to Arthur Ernest Ayers, the son of South Australian businessman and politician Sir Henry Ayers, the original owner of the historic Ayers House in Adelaide.
Revenue raised from the auctions is returned to the Department to fund services in the state.
SA plates can only be fixed to cars in the southern state, but will be auctioned with Class Specific Rights.
That means the new owner will have the long-term rights to their plate.
“The plate can be transferred to vehicles registered in the same name and sold to a third party, extending the buyer market to include investment opportunities,” the SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport said.
It said that the two-digit number plates, 10 and 98, offer South Australian collectors symbolic intrigue.
“The number 98 is frequently linked to attracting wealth and success — locally, it is an ideal reflection of the year that marked the Adelaide Crows’ second straight premiership win,” the Department said.
“Number 10 is considered to be a one-zero gem that represents a new beginning. It is often seen as an invitation to embrace change, perfect for collectors seeking meaning and rarity.”
The two-digit plates will be up for auction alongside other genuine numeric plates including those displaying the numbers 6666, 4477, 333555 and 292, from midday on Wednesday — when registrations close — until 7pm on September 22.
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