Number Plates News

'Persuader' Reunited with Plate

12 September 2011

A former James Bond turned up on BBC Television's The One Show last Friday when veteran actor, Roger Moore, was featured publicising a forthcoming book about his role as the world's most famous fictional secret agent.

Later on in the programme, Roger was reunited with the car he drove in an earlier incarnation as Lord Brett Sinclair in the early 1970s TV action drama, The Persuaders. The Aston Martin DB5 was the original vehicle used in the ground-breaking Anglo-American production, which also featured Hollywood legend, Tony Curtis, as his transatlantic counterpart.

The car was shown still bearing his character's signature registration, BS 1. Although the number was used only for filming and not displayed when being driven on the public highway, permission to use it was sought from and granted by its real owner at the time, the circus tycoon, Billy Smart.

BS 1 was one of the first number plates ever issued back in 1904 and originally assigned by the Orkney licensing authority. It was held for some time by Regtransfers.co.uk following Mr Smart's ownership and later returned 'home' once again when it was sold to Bill Spence from Kirkwall, Orkney.

Read the full story behind this impressive plate.

Read about Billy Smart and his family's colourful history of registration ownership.