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Number plate ‘1’ sells for record $14.5m

Number plate ‘1’ sells for record $14.5m

Kenneth Hall February 17th, 2008 Kenneth Hall By Kenneth Hall Author February 17th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 A new world record for the highest amount ever paid for a car number plate was set this weekend when an Emirati businessman placed a bid of 52.2 million dirhams, about $14.5 million, for plate number ‘1’ at an auction in Abu Dhabi. This almost doubles the previous record of 25.2 million dirhams, which was paid for plate number ‘5’, and makes last month’s sale of the number plate ‘F1’ for $880,000 look like a relative bargain. Buyer Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri told local reporters from ArabianBusiness that he hadn't bought the plate as investment but predicted its value would likely double within two years. In fact, Khouri revealed to reporters after the auction that he was willing to pay up to 100 million dirhams for the plate, roughly equal to $30 million, and that he hadn’t decided which car to use it on yet. The auction was run on behalf of the Abu Dhabi police department and the money raised will go to a fund that helps victims of car accidents. The new record also means the United Arab Emirates now holds the seven most expensive plates in the world.
Number plate ‘1’ sells for record $14.5m

Number plate ‘1’ sells for record $14.5m

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A new world record for the highest amount ever paid for a car number plate was set this weekend when an Emirati businessman placed a bid of 52.2 million dirhams, about $14.5 million, for plate number ‘1’ at an auction in Abu Dhabi. This almost doubles the previous record of 25.2 million dirhams, which was paid for plate number ‘5’, and makes last month’s sale of the number plate ‘F1’ for $880,000 look like a relative bargain.

Buyer Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri told local reporters from ArabianBusiness that he hadn't bought the plate as investment but predicted its value would likely double within two years. In fact, Khouri revealed to reporters after the auction that he was willing to pay up to 100 million dirhams for the plate, roughly equal to $30 million, and that he hadn’t decided which car to use it on yet.

The auction was run on behalf of the Abu Dhabi police department and the money raised will go to a fund that helps victims of car accidents. The new record also means the United Arab Emirates now holds the seven most expensive plates in the world.

Tags: Odds and ends

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Comments (8 total)

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  1. By Raptor #1, Posted: 2/17/2008

    And they sell Veyrons for 1,3 million. Funny

  2. By SuperSkyline89 #2, Posted: 2/17/2008

    Bugatti should have just made it $2 million, people would still buy it anyways and they would have lost less money on the program.

  3. By olfa #3, Posted: 2/17/2008

    And what do you think about buying a lil home for a lil child for who a lil sum of money would be a life change?

  4. By SuperSkyline89 #4, Posted: 2/17/2008

    As nice as that would be no one would do that. Given the money I doubt you would either.

  5. By Sir Yappie #5, Posted: 2/17/2008

    what a waste of money from people with more dollars than sense...

  6. By peste #6, Posted: 2/18/2008

    LOL @ the guy who actually bought the '5' plate. He's got 4 dudes that can bust his balls to no end.

  7. By sonu #7, Posted: 2/18/2008

    Ye I know what a bunch of loonies and the guy who got #5 is his cousin. I guess its all in the family.

  8. By Sir Yappie #8, Posted: 2/18/2008

    so i guess "1" stands for "number 1 tosser" ????

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