License Plates

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.

Generally what happens when you walk into the DMV is one of two things. Either you get a person that knows the rules or you get someone who doesn't and asks you to wait a minute while they get someone who does. Someone who does will know blue plates are not covered.

I happen to have, on my Mustang, blue plates appropriate for 1973. That's because the woman I bought it from brought it into California, from Texas, in 1973. I now have a clean set of 1968 black and yellow plates with the correct sequence for the Mustang. So I can get them put on anytime I haul my *** down there. Hasn't happened yet in 5 years. Ideally I could then switch my blue plates to the Polara but being 1973 it is not covered by the law. It lost it's blue plates after being stored awhile in the 90's and they fell out of the system forcing it to be re-registered with the new white plates. The owner at the time foolishly handed over the blue plates. When my Cougar fell out and needed the same thing I didn't bring the black plates with me and so was able to put the originals back.

I saw the Legacy Plates but the blue and gold have 7 new format digits, not the original six, therefore I was not going to sign up for the incorrect plates. They might have actually achieved 7500 plates if they had presented those plates with the original format of three numbers followed by three letters. There is a fellow in my Cougar Club who has repro black and yellow plates on his car. However, it is in the incorrect format of three numbers followed by three letters and I needle him every time I see them being one of the few who spotted it immediately.
 
The blue California plate started basically in 1970 at 000AAA and by about 1980 they had used them all up to 999ZZZ so they inverted the sequence and added a number the beginning 1AAA000. These continued through the mid to late 80's ending in the S's (1SSS999). Early in the 80's they added the white plate and you had the option of the blue or the sunset white so the white plates started with a 2 (2AAA000), that left a bunch of 1****** plates unused and recently those have been put to use on some of the other special plates.

Somewhere in the mid 70's the Commercial series 00000A was used up to 99999Z and they added a digit and moved the letter 1A00000. At that time the car plates still had 6 characters but now had a smaller font. It was this time the the personalized plate started allowing 7 characters, till then it was limited to 6. They have already used up the Commercial series and did the flip to 00000A1.

The interesting thing with the Commercial plates was that they ran to about 1972 in black and changed to blue mid sequence.

So they'll use up the 9ZZZ999 series and will continue at 000AAA1

If I'm not mistaken the new legacy plates will be A00 00A format if you do not request a personalized plate.


Another note on YOM, if you have a plate assigned to let's say a 1968 and later wish to move it to a 67 you cannot, DMV has it permanently assigned to a 68. You can sell it but it will still be seen as a 68, doesn't matter who owns it.

I have already see cars with YOM 60's black plates that are to early for the car, some will swear it is correct , others will say they didn't know.



Alan
 
anyone tried to restore some plates?

I got these plates:
20140318_191724.jpg

I stripped them, then painted it with like hi temp white or engine paint white or something I thought would have some tough to it. then I clearcoated that a bunch with hi temp clear or whatever.. like bake paint. I put it in the oven to cure it each layer.
then I coated it with semi gloss black.

then tried to sand thru on the lettering so the white showed thru.

it cut thru right back to bare metal like nothing was there.

what kind of paint? like maybe car paint? I figured that bake paint would have made some good layers.

so I have these killer plates sitting here. plan A didn't work . . .

- saylor

20140318_191724.jpg
 
Got that out of my system real fast.
WTF was I thinking...
I couldn't wait to get one. That great GM feeling was a joke. I swore them off (mine was terrible) except for the old Vettes. The new ones look really good. 7 speed & 33 mpg. Hola! I get to see some of the non public stuff, what is being developed is game changing. It's back to being a pretty amazing car. I'd really like to see more effort on the Viper besides the ACR, but maybe in due time.
 
Generally what happens when you walk into the DMV is one of two things. Either you get a person that knows the rules or you get someone who doesn't and asks you to wait a minute while they get someone who does. Someone who does will know blue plates are not covered....snip

If I take a chance, my strategy would hinge on getting a "dumb" or apathetic dmv employee. Chances are probably slim to none in slipping all the way through unnoticed...
 
anyone tried to restore some plates?

I got these plates:
View attachment 51987

I stripped them, then painted it with like hi temp white or engine paint white or something I thought would have some tough to it. then I clearcoated that a bunch with hi temp clear or whatever.. like bake paint. I put it in the oven to cure it each layer.
then I coated it with semi gloss black.

then tried to sand thru on the lettering so the white showed thru.

it cut thru right back to bare metal like nothing was there.

what kind of paint? like maybe car paint? I figured that bake paint would have made some good layers.

so I have these killer plates sitting here. plan A didn't work . . .

- saylor


I did a set of red/white. The whole plate was sprayed white and then since it is an embossed plate, a firm, closed cell foam roller was used on the border and numbers with the correct red in an oil based satin paint. I also touched up a set of black/yellow the same way. I can't post any pictures because I am away from home for a bit.
 
California 1970 - 1980 Year of Manufacture License Plates

Legislation (S.B. 1429) to expand the authorization of year-of-manufacture license plates to include owners of 1980 or older model-year vehicles was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on August 19, 2016.

The Previous law only authorized owners of vehicles that are of a 1969 or older model-year or owners of a commercial vehicle or pickup truck that is 1972 or older to utilize California year-of-manufacture license plates. These plates must be legible and serviceable.

Under the new law, the state may consult with an organization of old car hobbyists in determining whether the date of year of the license plate corresponds to the model-year date when the vehicle was manufactured. A fee of $45 will be charged for the application for the use of the special plates.
 
I have one 72 plate for "her" fury. Now I need one for mine. I love the old plates but my state requires me to carry an antique car plate in the glovebox for whatever reason so cost me extra cost since they have it as dual plates.

image.jpeg
 
California 1970 - 1980 Year of Manufacture License Plates

Legislation (S.B. 1429) to expand the authorization of year-of-manufacture license plates to include owners of 1980 or older model-year vehicles was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on August 19, 2016.

The Previous law only authorized owners of vehicles that are of a 1969 or older model-year or owners of a commercial vehicle or pickup truck that is 1972 or older to utilize California year-of-manufacture license plates. These plates must be legible and serviceable.

Under the new law, the state may consult with an organization of old car hobbyists in determining whether the date of year of the license plate corresponds to the model-year date when the vehicle was manufactured. A fee of $45 will be charged for the application for the use of the special plates.

Oh, this is nice. I can put blue plates back on my 73. Now the only problem is finding a complete set. I'm pretty sure prices in most places selling these plates went up on August 20th.
 
love the vintage plates !! I just never knew how it worked to have one on, so I went the easy route. Just got one for my Fury 440 too.
100_5382.JPG
 
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