- The Collecting Cars platform has just offered Sir Donald Bradman historic “1114” number plate at auction.
- This Heritage Number Plate combination originally was gifted to Donald Bradman after the historic 1930 Ashes series.
- At the time of writing, the bid is at $51,114, and the auction will run online until February 24 at 4:55 PM.
In Australia, “sports memorabilia” usually means a signed bat, a guernsey in a frame, or a blurry photo with someone’s uncle at the SCG. This one’s in a different weight class: NSW Heritage plate “1114”, famously gifted to Sir Donald Bradman after the 1930 Ashes.
You read that right, the actual number plate that Don Bradman had screwed onto the front bumper of his Chevrolet, and Collecting Cars has just put it under the hammer as part of its Heritage Number Plates auction series (Part XI), which wraps February 24.
Of course, it’s hard to say with any certainty where the final price will sit once the online gavel falls. But if the previous sale is anything to go by – a mouth-watering AU$215,000 in 2024 – we could be looking at another six figure sale.
The reason why collectors are losing their minds is that “1114” is believed to be one of only six presentation sets ever produced, as a set originally commissioned for the mayors of Australia’s five mainland capitals, plus Bradman himself.
That’s the kind of provenance that turns a pair of administrative rectangles into a cultural artefact you can (technically) drive around with.
“Heritage vehicle number plates are regarded as special items, even by the most passionate car enthusiasts,” says Lee Hallett, Head of APAC at Collecting Cars. “A Heritage Number Plate combination with a story like NSW ‘1114’ is an opportunity that might not appear again for some time.”
The lot includes two enamel plates in pristine condition, presented in a bespoke display box, plus a smaller enamel replica as a keepsake. A practical measure, given its next owner is likely to want the story on their shelf and the originals kept far away from car parks and supermarket trollies.
As a couple of practical bits before you get trigger-happy, Collecting Cars says the Don Bradman number plate is exclusively offered on their platform during the auction, so ignore any third-party “brokers” punting it elsewhere. Also, transfer fees are on the buyer, so check your state’s costs. Finally, don’t forget the 11% buyer’s premium (incl. GST) sting in the tail that applies, with a minimum of $550.
Bradman’s average was 99.94. This might be the next best number attached to his name.
