Database of the 97 known Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates- Updated: 3/15/2024
Among the most sought-after pieces of Vanderbilia are the porcelain Motor Parkway license plates. From 1912 to 1937, an estimated 7,400 Long Island Motor Parkway license plates were manufactured including 6,700 regular plates and 700 golf club plates.
The definitive article on Long Island Motor Parkway license plates is the article The License Plates of the Vanderbilt Long Island Motor Parkway by my favorite co-author Al Velocci published in the Spring 2000 issue of the Long Island Forum.
As of November 20, 2022, the number of existing documented original plates consist of 85 regular plates and 8 golf club plates.
Below is the current database of the 93 plates: 75 plates listed on Eric Taylor's website page Long Island Motor Parkway Porcelain Census and 18 license plate jpegs submitted to VanderbiltCupRaces.com . This represents only 1.2% of the plates that were manufactured. Any thoughts on the fate of the missing 7,300 plates?
Note: Be aware that counterfeit Motor Parkway plates are frequently being offered on Ebay. This link will help you to identify authentic plates.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
1918 (1)
This plate was sold as part of a "Motor Parkway" collection. Since there are no other known 1918 plates, its authenticity cannot be confirmed.
1919-1923 (0)
No known license plates have been documented.
1924 (3)
1925 (1)
1926 (1)
1927 (2)
1927 is the only year with two different color combinations.
1928 (10)
The #25 plate was assigned to the National Highways Association.
1928 Golf Club (1)
The golf club license plates featured a circular design. The plates were purchased by members of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club and Links Golf Club.
1929 (7)
1929 Golf Plate (3)
1930 (11)
The 1930 plates did not have a date. The #1 plate was owned by stockbroker Joseph Grier.
1930 Golf Club (1)
1931 (15)
The 1931 plates were also not dated.
1931 Golf Club (1)
1932 (12)
1932 Golf Club (2)
1933 (5)
1934 (10)
1935 (3)
1937 (8)
#100 was assigned to William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
Comments
Thanks for the much needed update to this important inventory of LIMP license plates.
Thanks Howard for solving the mystery of the Adelphi sports clubhouse in Bayside for me. Gene Perry
Who was assigned number 40 in 1937. ?
Pete, It appears that plate #40 was not issued to anyone in 1937. The highest sequential numbered plate sold that year was #36. For 1937 the Parkway had to order 75 plates as that was the minimum size order that the Baltimore Enamel Company would accept. Among the plates ordered were 10 of #100 for Vanderbilt, 4 of #300 for Harold Vanderbilt, Willie K’s brother, (down from 6 he would ordinally order,) 2 plates numbered 400 for Mrs. Earl T. Smith, Vanderbilt’s sister Consuelo. Plate #200 was reserved for H. B. Hollins every year but in 1937 he was a no show, Plates # 18-21 were issued to Dr. H.B. Baruch. At the end of the year Kienzle would give the unused plates away mostly to the children of the lodge keepers and other Parkway associates.