License Plates

[73Coupe]

I'm entertaining the thought of getting 1970's CA blue and gold plates for my car. Right now I have "new" plates (white) that came on the car.

I have a small collection of old plates, so last weekend I did a quick mockup on the rear.

I'm on the fence. What do you guys think?

Edit...note: was hoping these would display the same size..."apples to apples". they were the same size when I uploaded them, but the website made the last image smaller for some reason :-(

 

[mr. fix it]

The year of manufacture would look cool...

 

[Zymurgy]

Definitely go with the blue and gold they just look right on the car. I of course love the vintage plates.

 

[commando1]

Color coordinating your license plate to your car is truly a Corvette thing.

 

[300rag]

Color coordinating your license plate to your car is truly a Corvette thing.

Still wishing you had yours?

 

[commando1]

Got that out of my system real fast.
WTF was I thinking...

 

[patrick66]

The early styles are always better on a California car.

 

[saforwardlook]

Not sure you are just talking for display purposes or you want to register the car with the older plates? I believe CA won't let you register the car with the older plates unless you can prove the car had them on it originally (i.e. you have an old registration slip or copy of a previous title, etc.). Otherwise, I don't think they will let you do it unless it is something like 1962 or older I believe. Beautiful car!

 

[Dan Scully]

Plates

Not sure you are just talking for display purposes or you want to register the car with the older plates? I believe CA won't let you register the car with the older plates unless you can prove the car had them on it originally (i.e. you have an old registration slip or copy of a previous title, etc.). Otherwise, I don't think they will let you do it unless it is something like 1962 or older I believe. Beautiful car!

You can use the old plates ,takes a little foot work.

The Legacy License Plates is another option but unless 7500 are pre paid they will not be issued the yellow and black had enough orders and are now being issued. The blue and yellow I would check with my local DMV or AAAto see if enough pre orders where done.


What cars can use vintage plates? YOM= Year of Manufacture Plates

The California YOM law has been recently revised and now extends to 1969 and earlier cars (1972 and earlier trucks).
Plates

The plates must be for a year that matches your model year. If you have a 1951 model year vehicle that was built and originally registered in 1950, you will need 1951 plates.
If the plate year is one where a bolt on metal tag was applied to an earlier plate, then you will need the earlier plates and the bolt on tag. This did not apply to my car so I am not really clear on these details.
You will need a pair of matching plates. Single, unmatched plates will not do.
The plates must be serviceable as determined by the DMV. I have heard that you can restore the plates but have not confirmed that. (I have heard that in other states restored plates are not allowed.)
The numbers on the plates cannot already be in use. New plates were issued every year for a while. If someone has already snagged a number for their 1938 and your 1936 plates have the same number then you are out of luck. Also, some years the plate numbers used sequences that match that of currently registered motorcycles. Make sure your plates are “cleared” (i.e. not in use) by the DMV before you buy them.
You can contact the DMV to see if a set of plates is clear. Their number is 1-800-777-0133. Dial 1 to get English, then 0 to get an agent. The 800 number agents know of the YOM law and can quickly check to see if the number is in use.


Legacy License Plates

(b) The California Legacy License Plates shall consist of one or more of the following designs:
(1) Yellow background with black lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1956 to 1962, inclusive.
(2) Black background with yellow lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1965 to 1968, inclusive.
(3) Blue background with yellow lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1969 to 1986, inclusive.
(c) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the specialized license plates:

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Unless the blue plates are original to your specific car DMV will not register them to the car. Are there trick to sneak them through? I have no idea.

The year of manufacture (YOM) is only through the 1969 model year and with black plates only (on 63-69 cars) (62 and older with the respective plates)

The new Legacy plates will be available in the 60's black and gold style only, these can be used on any year car, they will be reflectorized.

You could get Legacy plates and paint them blue, would probably go unnoticed (assuming that you got personalized ones)

People are getting vintage reproduction plates with the current configuration on them, not legal.

The blue 70's plate was the first one that you could have personalized plates. You could get current personalized plates then have blue reproduction plates made to match the configuration. These would look period correct and most likely go unnoticed.

http://www.shop.restoreatag.com/197...Custom-Stamped-High-Quality-70Cali-Plates.htm
This company could match your current plate, or a new personalized plate (from DMV).


Alan

 

[rexus31]

You could get current personalized plates then have blue reproduction plates made to match the configuration. These would look period correct and most likely go unnoticed.

This is the route I went with my Goat. Although personalized plates weren't available in '64, I think they look better than a modern plate.



For the Chrysler, the original Black Plates were long gone but I did have an old Registration Card in the glove box with the original plate number on it. I ordered a set of plates in the original configuration from www.licensplates.tv (used them for the Goat plates as well). These "repro" plates went through the DMV YOM process and were physically sent to Sacramento as part of the process. They were approved without issue or incident. I've even been running a '65 Tag on the plate since I finished the car and have not had one issue in doing so. I've got the current tag in the glove box with the Registration Card just in case.

 

[chry73luv]

I'm entertaining the thought of getting 1970's CA blue and gold plates for my car. Right now I have "new" plates (white) that came on the car.

I have a small collection of old plates, so last weekend I did a quick mockup on the rear.

I'm on the fence. What do you guys think?

Edit...note: was hoping these would display the same size..."apples to apples". they were the same size when I uploaded them, but the website made the last image smaller for some reason :-(

WOW- A 73 New Yorker with lower body side moldings that line up! That is a first for me!

 

[MrMoparCHP]

This is the route I went with my Goat. Although personalized plates weren't available in '64, I think they look better than a modern plate.



For the Chrysler, the original Black Plates were long gone but I did have an old Registration Card in the glove box with the original plate number on it. I ordered a set of plates in the original configuration from www.licensplates.tv (used them for the Goat plates as well). These "repro" plates went through the DMV YOM process and were physically sent to Sacramento as part of the process. They were approved without issue or incident. I've even been running a '65 Tag on the plate since I finished the car and have not had one issue in doing so. I've got the current tag in the glove box with the Registration Card just in case.

The plate being 6 digits split in the middle looks good at a glance, people would need to take a second look.
Normally the DMV doesn't send the plates into Sacramento with the application and at some location has scrutinized restored original plates. They did not send my plates for the truck when I did YOM or on my Barracuda when I needed to solicit use the original plates. You got lucky.

licenseplates.tv will NOT do California plates anymore!


Alan

 

[rexus31]

licenseplates.tv will NOT do California plates anymore!


Alan

Looks like it. When I ordered the plates for the Goat, they shipped them to me. When I ordered the plates for the Chrysler, they would not ship to a CA address so I had them shipped to my cousin in Nevada. Now they aren't doing them at all. What a shame.

 

[bluefury361]

I tried to register a original 1969 "sample" plate to jazebelle but the lack of a letter to designate an county prevented that. I did register a YOM plate to her but have had the "sample" tag attached for 3 1/2 years now without being questioned. Even when pulled over a couple of times. I do keep the correctly registered tag in the trunk.

Funny thing happened while in New Orleans last March. Parking on the street in the quarter there is almost impossible, especially with a boat like the 69 300. The parking lots are very expensive, I found a spot on the street and slid Jazebelle into it, ( No "no parking" signs), and left her there for over three hours. To my distain, upon returning, there was a parking violation ticket on the windshield. $40.00 if paid within 30 days. A closer look showed the info as a red Chrysler, al tag #00-00000....... Good luck tracing that down. I now have another great souvenir of New Orleans.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

licenseplates.tv did the ones for my CHP car, I knew the origianal state number and got these shortly after getting the car, good thing I did it then
.

Alan

 

[rexus31]

licenseplates.tv did the ones for my CHP car, I knew the origianal state number and got these shortly after getting the car, good thing I did it then
.

Alan

Their plates are spot on. Too bad the State forced their hand.

 

[73Coupe]

Unless the blue plates are original to your specific car DMV will not register them to the car. Are there trick to sneak them through? I have no idea.

The year of manufacture (YOM) is only through the 1969 model year and with black plates only (on 63-69 cars) (62 and older with the respective plates)

The new Legacy plates will be available in the 60's black and gold style only, these can be used on any year car, they will be reflectorized.

You could get Legacy plates and paint them blue, would probably go unnoticed (assuming that you got personalized ones)

People are getting vintage reproduction plates with the current configuration on them, not legal.

The blue 70's plate was the first one that you could have personalized plates. You could get current personalized plates then have blue reproduction plates made to match the configuration. These would look period correct and most likely go unnoticed.

http://www.shop.restoreatag.com/197...Custom-Stamped-High-Quality-70Cali-Plates.htm
This company could match your current plate, or a new personalized plate (from DMV).


Alan

So after I posted this I looked up DMV website and found out about the legacy plates and YOM limitations.

I successfully did YOM tags on my two 50's vehicles, although it was a PITA dealing with the DMV (as expected, though).

My car was originally from Colorado, so the white "lipstick" plates are its first pair of CA tags.

If I were to do blue plates for the '73, I think I'd first try to sneak 'em through. I'd just show up with blue plates at DMV, hope I get a good person, act dumb, just ask them to switch my registration, and see if they would do it. Of course I'd call DMV first and see if they have the number on file. If no dice, then the next option would be to get a repro plate from the ex-cons (lol) that are making them in your link above.

 

[mr. fix it]

Here is my vanity plate for my car.... I lucked out as well on this one..

Here in Ontario, we have had blue one white plates forever...

 

[300rag]

Here is my vanity plate for my car.... I lucked out as well on this one..

Here in Ontario, we have had blue one white plates forever...

You are lucky. 65 and 67 were white on blue.