Personal opinion . . . But I think the truth is most likely a mix of coincidence and deliberate intent with that numberplate.
No doubt at all that the plate was genuine and with that car from first registration, and clearly not a complete coincidence that a 928 had a plate featuring the number 982. IMO that was almost certainly a deliberate decision by the dealership/purchaser who first registered it.
Neither do I believe for a second that the TG crew went deliberately searching for cars with controversial numberplates.
However, on looking for appropriate, available cars for the show and finding one with that particular plate I don't think the possible interpretation of it would have been completely lost on everyone involved - and I think the opportunity to buy that particular car with that particular plate would have been too much of a temptation to resist.