Welcome to the legendary...

M-Plate Hall of Shame.

M-Plates (Manufacturer's license plates) are a common sight in and around MoTown. M-Plates are how auto manufacturers register vehicles that are prototypes or experimental vehicles: vehicles that are not yet certified like "normal" cars for emissions, safety, etc. No one denies that "on road" testing of these vehicles is a necessary part of the car design process.

However, M-Plate vehicles are subject to great abuses. Since the engineers driving an M-Plate car are not paying for their own gas or insurance, and since they can justify (to themselves, at least) driving these vehicles "hard" as a service to the car companies, to shake out bugs, M-Plate vehicles are seen performing maneuvers no "ordinary" vehicle would dare. Hence, the M-Plate Hall of Shame.

Our Goals:

To "shame" engineers and auto manufacturers into "tightening up" this program a bit, and encourage some safe behavior.
To provide "civilians" with some insight into the fun "inner life" of the car companies.
To have a little fun ourselves.

Latest Inductee - 33M228, aka "UFO Zebra"

UFO Zebra is a "Camo Car", heavily camoflaged to hide body features. It has been spotted on I-94 and on the Southfield Expressway several times in July 2003. UFO Zebra is very maneuverable and fast, cutting in and out traffic rapidly. On July 14, 2003, at 8:20 in the morning, it was clocked at speeds exceeding 80 miles/hour on the 55 mile/hour Southfield Expressway. We don't know it's top speed, but we would assume it's very fast. UFO Zebra is capable of great acceleration. However, it does periodically get stuck in rush hour traffic, providing

Rear View

33M228 "UFO Zebra" from the Rear

Side view, Including driver. Alien in human form, clone, or android? Little is known about "Driver Zebra".

Front View. Sorry about the quality, a good front view would require passing UFO Zebra, and this is nearly impossible. Like many M-Plate vehicles, it is equiped with "M-Warp Drive".

Last updated 7/14/2003