by Megan Doherty
It was bought for $30,000 decades ago and it will probably sell for more than $500,000 - the original ACT number plate has turned out to be a good investment for a Canberra family.
Rivett grandmother Jacqueline Knight, however, wasn't entirely on board when her husband Keith bought the number plate in the 1980s, from its previous owner, a women who lived in Forrest.
"We went to this lady's place, my husband said, 'We're going for morning tea' and I said, 'Well, that's good'," Mrs Knight said.
"And when we got there, she made us a cup of tea. My husband polished his off straight away and then he said, 'I'll offer you $30,000 for the plate'.
"That was what I was saving to have my bathroom and kitchen done. I could have killed him! I gave him the filthiest look and dropped my cup of tea.
"I don't think she was expecting that much but my husband wanted the number."
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| Sophie Knight loves the No.6 number plate so much she even has a tattoo of it on her right arm. (Picture by Keegan Carroll) |
Keith, a bricklayer and ex-Navy officer, who has since passed away, tried to buy as many rare number plates as he could, as an investment for the future.
He had plates with three numerals but the No.6 was his only single digit plate.
"My husband was mad on number plates, I tell you," Mrs Knight said.
"He followed every plate under 10 and made an offer."
The No.6 plate is now on Mrs Knight's 2017 Kia Cerato.
The car is driven by her 18-year-old granddaughter Sophie Knight, who works in after-school care at a local primary school and also coaches dance.
She says the number plate - which has her P-plate beside it - always attracts a lot of attention, including people leaving post-it notes asking if the plate was for sale.
"When the car was parked out the front of our house, people would leave notes in our letter box," Sophie said.
"People would make full flyers asking 'If you're interested in selling this, please contact me'.
"I love driving the car around. I love the attention. I love people asking me about it…it’s my favourite thing.”
The family also owns ACT number plates 351 and A19 but only 6 is for sale, with expressions of interest being accepted through MR Plates.
Mrs Knight, who is in her 70s, hopes the sale helps her move from her home into an aged care facility.
"We've been offered $500,000," she said, saying the offers are still coming and none have been accepted it yet.
Sophie is sad to see the plate go - but will always have something to remember it by.
She recently got a tattoo of the number 6 plate on her right arm, with her grandmother's initials, JK.
"It's now my favourite thing," she said.
First published in The Canberra Times, October 19, 2024
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