Vanderbilt Cup Races

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

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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.