Strange vehicle sighting New Year's Eve?

[HULK_I6T]

I was in Penrith (Western Sydney) new years eve approximately 3pm and alongside me in traffic was a late model Holden Caprice, what I noticed about this car that was odd was that it had a prominent chrome number plate surround and a gold crown where a number plate would be. No number plate just a crown.

Further inspection of the car and I noted the following.. Inside it had what looked like police equipment on the dash and in the front and in the side windows looked like it had some sort of lights on it. These lights were just in the window and not illuminated or easily seen. Car was otherwise unmarked.

It also had a large aerial at the front of the car in the centre

The driver looked to be dressed in formal clothes. Car wasn't in any sort of hurry.

What does the crown represent in place of a number plate? Seemingly Police equipment in a LWB car?

[BroncosXR8]

Some military base commanders get something similar, however they still run number plates. I imagine the police commissioner has something like that, not sure why it wouldn't run plates though.

[aussiblue]

The Governor General's Car see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governo...l_of_Australia



And only the GG and Queen and other Royals get that treatment.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Yep gov generals car. I remember the first one I ever seen was an NCII Fairlane.

[aussiblue]

The PM get C-1


Head of Defence gets ADF1.

[aussiblue]

Aerial at front is for flag when the GG is using it on official business.

[aussiblue]

... so I hope you remembered to tip your cap.

[HULK_I6T]

Yep it looked like the crown as per post#3

Wonder what it was upto cruising about Penrith on New Year's Eve?

What other strange dignatory vehicles have you seen rolling around?

[MDS69]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

Yep it looked like the crown as per post#3

Wonder what it was upto cruising about Penrith on New Year's Eve?

What other strange dignatory vehicles have you seen rolling around?

Probably dropped the GG off at Panthers for a NYE **** up.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

The PM get C-1
image

Head of Defence gets ADF1.

Wow, prime ministers car is still a WL Statesman. Thats like over 10 years old. Time must really be tough for govco

[MDS69]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Wow, prime ministers car is still a WL Statesman. Thats like over 10 years old. Time must really be tough for govco

I thought I read that the cost to build a car suitable for a VIP was exorbinate so they don't turn them over as often, you know looking after the tax payer and all.

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by MDS69

I thought I read that the cost to build a car suitable for a VIP was exorbinate so they don't turn them over as often, you know looking after the tax payer and all.

I believe they are looking at replacing it very soon.

I got stuck behind the PM's motorcade on the M5 a couple of years ago.

In a bus, heading west, with a load of school kids, I was winding it up down the on-ramp to merge with the flow of traffic, and a police motorbike pulled across the lane, with his hand out to stop. I had to jump on the anchors, and he moved forward a little to give me more room to pull up, but didn't look happy about it. Scared the hell out of me.

[Bent8]

Was driving alongside one of these while the fireworks were going off on the Perth foreshore... pretty much made my night !

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by MDS69

I thought I read that the cost to build a car suitable for a VIP was exorbinate so they don't turn them over as often, you know looking after the tax payer and all.

Haha, admire their dedication to saving tax payer money. Guess that there could be more embarrassing automobiles to be riding in than a WL Statesman, like the Popemobile or Obama's Lowriding Beast that likes to beach itself on a driveways.

[AUwindsor]

god save the queen

[AUwindsor]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Haha, admire their dedication to saving tax payer money. Guess that there could be more embarrassing automobiles to be riding in than a WL Statesman, like the Popemobile or Obama's Lowriding Beast that likes to beach itself on a driveways.

Obama needs a 64 impala with hydraulics so it can unbeach itself then go lowrider again

das racis

hahahaha

[Elks]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Wow, prime ministers car is still a WL Statesman. Thats like over 10 years old. Time must really be tough for govco

PMs car is a big dollar armoured version. So changing it over doesn't happen much. Having killed Australian manufacturing he has now ordered an X5 Security version.

[nuthin' fancy]

I had dinner with the NSW Governor's driver 7 or 8 years ago. He explained that his car was a police car but with no external markings. He had full lights inside and behind the grille.

[commodorenutt]

Many times over the last decade or so I've seen black WH/WK/WL/WM/WN Caprices on Sydney roads with the crown on the plate - until recently they were simply a painted or printed 2D plate, in matte black, with a matte gold crown in the centre - the raised 3D crown is news to me.

As noted it's the GG's car, although there's other parliamentary dignitaries I've seen in them (without the GG) on occasion, so it possibly gets used for other errands.
Most of the times I've seen it, there has only been the driver inside.

The "police equipment" is limited to flashing lights & convoy communication radios.

I learnt about them from my previous neighbour, who's 45 year career was spent as a minder & driver for heads of government. He retired a couple of years back.

[cram_it_frog]

My ex father in Law was a RAAF cop for 20 years and when he got out of the RAAF he scored a job with the WA Premiers dept as a go for messenger sort of job

jobs for the boys sort of thing

All the car they had were commodores with 6WA.001 to I think 6wa.020

The best part was with that rego number police are not allowed to stop the car , parking tickets never, speeding no t6ickets ( just a letter saying this is a gov car obey the law sort of thing nothing else .

So driving around the city of Perth was a breeze

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by cram_it_frog

The best part was with that rego number police are not allowed to stop the car , parking tickets never, speeding no t6ickets ( just a letter saying this is a gov car obey the law sort of thing nothing else.

Is this for real? Diplomat plates are a similar affair if I am not mistaken, but I think they can still be pulled over.

[aussiblue]

Is this for real?

I doubt it and in any event the CCC would be onto it these days. I also seem to recall one of the WA Gov drivers going for DD. However, I think police would avoid pulling up a Government car without a good reason (just to avoid the paperwork if the relevant polly complained to the Police Minister).

[aussiblue]

Also see http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/11/10/...of-parliament/

[cram_it_frog]

malazn mafia because the dept is Premiers dept there is often

Members of parliament or or word dignitaries even the Premire of

State in this vehicle

It is also security issue it was not widely known about the number

plate I am not sure what they drive now and what plate they use

As you see with crown plates there is always a security detail

where as the Premiers dept just go about there work quietly and

only those who need to know about the cars again things and the
world has changed

[cram_it_frog]

https://europlate.vit.ua/countries/a.../auwa-tabs.htm


this show what the new premiers dept has now along with other WA gov plate

[aussiblue]

and remember there is a large WA public sector (which I used to be part of) that know all about what plates what Department's have (including the Premiers Dept).

[The Yeti]

Maybe Cosgrove was out in the Riff for a little Aqua golf, some indoor skydiving a pie at harry's and to throw a bit through the Pokies before watching the NYE fire works at Panthers

Just a thought

[JC]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

The PM get C-1
image

Head of Defence gets ADF1.

The plates they have for the convoy territories, SS etc are rippers. Can't remember the exact ones, but they are like Chaser1, Chaser2, Lead1, Lead2 etc....Stormer rings a bell too.

[2011G6E]

Seen what I was told was the state governors car myself a couple of years back up in Montville outside my friends restaurant. That's my Celica in front of it.


My "strangest" sighting was at the Shelby museum outside Las Vegas...yes, it was an official Shelby product...

[olfella]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Is this for real? Diplomat plates are a similar affair if I am not mistaken, but I think they can still be pulled over.

Yep, you can pull them over, but if they pay the fine is another story because that is when they can pull immunity.