Tracing original number plate to region/ town

[Non MemberParticipant]

Hi All,

i have tried to the point of frustration to trace the original plates that were in the boot of my car 393-AG79 on a 1953 11B Normale with the help of Google

Any ideas about my best course of action?

Regards, Bill

 

[ChrisParticipant]

Hi Bill,

According to Wikipedia the French were using the FNI system from 1950 to 2009 – which means the car would be registered in the department it lived in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_France#FNI

The format would be 123 AB 12 – where the last 2 letters were the department code.

79 refers to the Deux-Sevres department which is on the western side of France about half way down

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departments_of_France#Current_departments

Chris

[Roger GrixParticipant]

Hi Bill,

At that stage, when a car changed départments, it’s registration number changed to reflect the new département so it could have started out anywhere.

Now, when a car changes hands or département, it has to be re-registered with one of the new style plates. I don’t know if this applies to Véhicules de Collection.

If you could find a fonctionnaire in Deux-Sèvres, who was interested, I expect that the information is “in the system”.  Napoleon decreed that everything had to be recorded.  However that would require him/her to be interested enough to work outside their job definition and that is unlikely (unless you can find one who is a tractioniste).

Bonne chance

Roger

[Roger GrixParticipant]

Hi again Bill,

Are you in France? Do you have any documentation linking your car to that number?

If so, you can do a search on a number plate at the préfecture to determine the status of the vehicle. It may still be in the system.  I can’t remember exactly what information it gives you but, if I remember correctly, it tells you if there is any outstanding finance and other things and may give you a previous owner.

Roger

[Author]

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