License plates ,dealer frames, and dealer badges

[shooter65]

I'm not sure if it's still a law and if it is, its seems they no longer enforce it but in PA, if you have aftermarket lights mounted above the bumper you had to have them covered if driving on the road. The crazy part was, they MUST be operational, but were not allowed to be used on the road, and could not even be uncovered on the road. I guess all states have some crazy laws.

 

[Big_John]

I have a blank New York State plate. This was a trial piece from Auburn Prison. A friend found a few and gave this one to me. The Lewis Goodman frame is from a now defunct (Thanks Obama) Chrysler dealer in Syracuse. This one was on my Dad's '63 Newport. I'd be tempted to use it if it had "Chrysler" or the pentastar on it. I have a later one with the pentastar, but it's a little rough.

 

[SGT FURY]

My father was a license plate collector. He would go to dedicated license plate club meets.
The plate clubs still have meets. I would get lots of plate frames from those meets.
Check out this site if your interested in old plates and frames
https://www.alpca.org/

 

[odcics2]

Big John- Actually, Bush approved the bailout plan on December 19, 2008.
Obama took office over a month later. So, blame Bush, if you must blame someone.

I worked at Chrysler 37 years. 2008-9 was a dark time for Chrysler. Most dealers that got cut had poor performance, even padding warranty work. Not saying Goodman did, but the cuts were not done lightly. There was no way to maintain the size of the dealership network under the Bush plan.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I have been looking for another Guy Moothart Compton frame for over 30 years.

Alan

 

[GBsPanhead]

These are on my '69.....

 

[patrick66]

Looking for a Skyline Dodge (Denver, CO) tag frame, dealer callout or other dealer stuff from there. My Coronet came new from there.

Also looking for a Jack Clark C-P. Oklahoma City tag frame. Mine is presentable but very pitted.

 

[hergfest]

Since everyone else is asking...looking for Teague Motors Salem, OR. My 300G was sold new there.

 

[redchihuahua2004]

How about Wiest Motor Co. in York, PA? Thanks.

 

[Eric_Stollsteimer]

Claude Short Dodge - Santa Monica from my collection.

 

[carrman]

A friend is exec VP at Mr. Norms.

 

[PH27L7]

Plates from my '65. Original owner parked by braille, bumpers & plates were battered. Dealer had an odd product line.

 

[MOVE N UP]

 

[CBODY67]

As I understand it, CA had a regulation that dealers could not physically affix a dealership name plate to the vehicle. Possibly issues with the screw holes rusting from the near-beach atmosphere (in a time well before 3M molding tape)? So that left the license plate frame as their only means of identifying the car "as one they sold" to the general public, it seems. In other areas, it was the two chrome Phillips head screws and then molding tape holding the dealer nameplate onto the vehicle.

Always NEAT to see these old things! Thanks for posting.
CBODY67

 

[polara71]

As I understand it, CA had a regulation that dealers could not physically affix a dealership name plate to the vehicle. Possibly issues with the screw holes rusting from the near-beach atmosphere (in a time well before 3M molding tape)? So that left the license plate frame as their only means of identifying the car "as one they sold" to the general public, it seems. In other areas, it was the two chrome Phillips head screws and then molding tape holding the dealer nameplate onto the vehicle.

Always NEAT to see these old things! Thanks for posting.
CBODY67

That would explain the huge amount of California frames over those of other states.

 

[rapidtrans]

In Michigan it is technically illegal to cover any letter or number on a license plate. Making 90% of the dealer frames that I see around here illegal. That same code section makes all those clear license covers illegal and more importantly the tinted ones. Another easy cop-stop at 2am!

 

[CBODY67]

TX tried to outlaw any license plate frame which might cover a part of the state's name on the plate, although the TX emblem was between the lh and rh segments of the plate ID. At that time, most new car dealers were using plastic license plate frames to secure their temporary paper license plates on new vehicles, so the top sections were trimmed a bit to allow more of the "TEXAS" name to be more visible. Some enterprising law enforcement operatives did write warning tickets for the "non-compliant" frames, but later ceased to do so. Just as they ceased to write tickets for "colored, non-white-light" headlight bulbs. Or the lack of wheel opening extensions to cover all of the tire's tread width, in more recent times.

In the display of license plates on the vehicle (TX is still a two-plate state), there was an old provision about not having a dirty license plate, as an offense. In one of the upgrades to the statute over the past decade or two, that provision was lined-out. That was an observed reason for what I term "a customer contact stop", which might lead to other things. Nothing else discovered, usually just a verbal warning. FWIW

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[Mike66Chryslers]

I never thought about this before, but was there ever a Mopar dealer in Newport Beach, CA? I did a quick google search for that and only saw dealer frames for exotic brands from Newport Beach. My Newport convertible has an old membership sticker in the windshield from the Newport Beach yacht club.

 

[rapidtrans]

In Michigan it is technically illegal to cover any letter or number on a license plate. Making 90% of the dealer frames that I see around here illegal. That same code section makes all those clear license covers illegal and more importantly the tinted ones. Another easy cop-stop at 2am!

And technically this plate frame on the Monaco is illegal.

The 1/4” high text “Mackinaw Bridge” is covered!
I know, livin’ on the edge here!

 

[patrick66]

In OK, as long as one can read "Oklahoma" (or the tribe name, if a tribal tag) unobstructed, and read the month and year tabs likewise, cops tend not to care.