Bidder Shells Out $147K For License Plate

HYANNIS, Mass. -- People can personalize their cars in any number of ways: by the color, the rims, the spoilers, or the moon roof, to name a few. Recently, online bidders in Massachusetts jockeyed for another way to stand out -- with their car’s license plate.

Low-numbered Cape and Islands license plates were auctioned online during July, and plate No. "1" received the most interest, with the new owner bidding a record $147,000 for the right to use it.

Plate No. "1" attracted 112 bids and the high bidder wished to remain anonymous.

"We're elated with the results," Cape and Islands License Plate Committee Chairman Paul Romul said.

"We always knew the plates were popular and that so many Massachusetts residents feel a special connection to the Cape and Islands. I think this affirms it!" he said.

Plate No. "4" finished second among the plates, netting $35,500. The numbers 1 to 999 were available to buy, though not all numbers were chosen.

Triple digit numbers garnered similarly healthy bids, particularly repeating digits and Massachusetts area codes 617 and 508, The Cape Codder reported.

Other popular combinations were the jersey numbers of local athletes, including Tom Brady’s No. 12, Larry Bird’s 33, and now-former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez’ 24.

Unfortunately for those seeking plate No. 24 for that reason, Ramirez was traded after the majority of bids were entered.

All proceeds were donated to nonprofit organizations across Cape Cod, including the Cape Cod Baseball League, the Lower Cape Cod Community Development Corporation, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Barnstable County’s Economic Development Council and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.