German License Plates Old Vintage - Anyone Know?

[Bootes]

I have a 1971 Mercedes 280SL here in the US and have thought about putting a German vintage license plate on the front. I'm having a hard time understanding what plate would be appropriate for this car. Would it be the Zoll plate (football shaped plate used for export) or a plain white; painted black letters old font rectangular steel plate. Or something else? Any info. would be appreciated.

[TheDon]

i would go with the Rectangle version

But a Zoll plate would be cool as well.

How about both?Swap them when you get tired of the other

[rnysl320]

Bootes,

My understanding is that the "Zoll Plate" is license plate issued to tourist by the German Government. It comes in different shapes: football shape, rectangle shape and a 3" x 21" (which I have on the front of my SL). The different shapes represent years of issue and quite possibly region of issue. My Zoll Plate has an expiration of 12/07. The vintage plates are the football shape. The Zoll Plates usually have a red tag with the expiration date printed on it. If you go to Google and e-bay you can find a history of Zoll Plates. It is not the same as a plate issued to German residents. I love the look. Its a real conversation piece.

[abe g]

I have a german plate (rectangle) blac leters on white for sale. $25 plus postage. email if interested. aggreen4@yahoo.com. excellent condition, came with 77 450 sl. Abe G

[abe g]

I have a german plate (rectangle) black leters on white for sale. $25 plus postage. email if interested. aggreen4@yahoo.com. excellent condition, came with 77 450 sl. Abe G

[Lexxani]

The old Zoll plates have 2 numbers, the top being the issing Customs (Zoll) office, the "Z" is self explanatory and the last 4 numbers are the plate number. The issued the oval ones from I believe 1944(correct me if im wrong) to 1988. Ive got one on my SL-C "327 Z-1150" (not origionally assigned to my US spec model)

[cbdo]

Either would be fun; do you want to look like an American who picked the car up in Germany and would be using the Zoll plate, or like a German using the standard one? Or, as has been suggested, either one at your whim?

[Lexxani]

mine looks as if I took european delivery of my car, however only a german or a mercedes enthusiast would recognize the signifigance of the Zoll plate, however all of us would also recognize that my car is a federal model and would not have been origionally equiped with such tag. It looks good though. . .

[Tims450SL]

mine is cool...dont know where it is from but it is rectangle with 01 in red on the left corner and 95 in red on the right. then says E 8829 looks great on the car and people ask me all the time where is it from...any clues??

[unesl]

You can buy the plates on various internet sites.

http://www.licenseplates.tv/cat/european_plates_2.html

[cscmc1]

Late reply, I know, but Wikipedia explains all the different plates and their purposes quite nicely:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_car_number_plates