Original License Plate Replacement

CochinoFilipino · Jan 30, 2006

I have the original 1967 California black plates with yellow characters. I'd like to repace them. I searched and found licenseplates.tv has them for $75. Anyone know of a cheaper place or a place that will restore the originals?

limey66 · Jan 30, 2006

A place in the UK that might be able to help is:

http://www.sprintsigns.co.uk/statesplates/

We (the Brits) use them to make up licence plates that look right on American cars. Even if you add in the shipping back to the US, it'll be cheaper than the price you've been quoted.

They are the real deal, with correct letter sizing and spacing.

diablopony · Jan 30, 2006

I also have the orginal black/yellow CA plates. I had mine restored by a guy in GA., Rod Pearman, http: http://www.tagdr.com. He did a great job. They were both pretty rusted, dented and hacked up. Now they look brand new.

iskwezm · Jan 30, 2006

do it yourself, paint a few good coats of the yellow then clear then do a couple light coats of black then rub out the lettering so the yellow comes back on the lettering, thats how i did mine

69Rcode_Mach1 · Jan 31, 2006

No idea, I got mine on ebay. They actually sell plastic covers that willl go in front of the license plates, keeps them looking brand new, and aren't noticeable.

CochinoFilipino · Jan 31, 2006

iskwezm said:
do it yourself, paint a few good coats of the yellow then clear then do a couple light coats of black then rub out the lettering so the yellow comes back on the lettering, thats how i did mine

I did repaint one of them. But the plate was pretty banged up and I could only get it so straight. It came out looking alright (from a distance). It's fine for the current condition of the car. But it probably won't be acceptable once the paint and body are done.

Thanks everyone,

Cannoball888 · Jan 31, 2006

Our FL DMV doesn't allow reconditioned or copied plates, they must be used as is. I found some near mint FL 1965 plates on fleaBay, but the orange plate with yellow lettering wouldn't look right on a red car, so I got a new FL antique car plate which is blue with white lettering. Now I have a red white and blue color scheme

Edbert · Jan 31, 2006

Yup, call the local authorities first. Texas also wont allow anything other than original plates, and you have to take them in for inspection before they'll re-activate the plate.

That being said I found a pristine set of 67 plates for $20 at a swap meet, the guy had hundreds of them from the 30s to the 70s.

Too bad they wont let you make your own here. This is what I wanted:
View attachment 489190

zookeeper · Jan 31, 2006

I don't know how other states do it, but here in California, it's legal to keep the plates that came on the car or are period-correct on the car. That means that you could easily have a '55 Chevy with the original yellow with black lettering, or black with yellow lettering, or blue with yellow lettering or one of the newer versions of white with blue lettering. My point is, how do the cops know the color of the plate when they call it in? All your registartion says is the plate number, and I've seen more than a few of the newer, raised letter California plates repainted black with yellow at car shows. Any cops out there know the answer?

Edbert · Jan 31, 2006

Hmmm, never thought of that angle. To get an old plate re-issued you have to bring it in to the DMV for the visual inspection, they then approve it and it becomes a registered license number. Once that is done I guess you COULD paint it as you see fit.

The LEO would have to REALLY want your arse in a sling to have to cite you on that, and if he wants you that bad there are other easier things to write you up on I'm sure.

CochinoFilipino · Jan 31, 2006

I currently use the original plates. And in CA it's illegal to replace them with fake ones. But laws only matter when someone is enforcing them.

fasttback · Jan 31, 2006

I don't mean to hijack this threat, but since we are talking about the California DMV:

Don't replace those plates with new ones or personalized plates because the California DMV will not let you put the originals back on (legally).

I tried to "reinstall" my original 1966 (black and yellow) plates on my car, but was denied twice by the DMV. My car had some late year replacement plates put on it when the original owner took the car out of California for a few years.

I have the original plates and original DVM registration card stating those plates belong to that car.

First time the DMV said I needed the an original registration card and sent it back in a month. So, I dug up the card and sent it back. Another month goes by, and they said they can do my request because I already have plates assigned to that car. They missed the whole point, I wanted to replace those with the originals...what's the problem? They replace plates all the time - custom, lost, etc.

If anyone has been able to accomplish this...let me know. I know you cannot order personalized plates with the old 6 alpha-numeric coding.

zookeeper · Feb 1, 2006

I've heard it's kind of a "gray area" and you need to find a DMV drone that's sympathetic to your situation. Whatever you do, don't give up those original plates! When my wife bought her '69 Corvette in the mid-'80's, the DMV policy was that a car could keep it's original plates until it changed hands, then the new owner had to surrender the plates for some of the new (at the time) white California reflective plates. Since her car was a one owner car until then, it still had the original black plates. We bought some repro black plates for shows and such, but it seemed so petty a thing to change we eventually stopped. When I bought my '68 fastback from the original owner a couple years ago, I was determined that the DMV could just kiss my butt over the black plates, they were mine and they would stay mine. Then I found out they don't take them anymore, so there went that fight. Good luck with your cause, and don't give up!

fasttback · Feb 1, 2006

Thanks Zookeeper. I have tried two DMV drones at two different offices. They will not handle this at a field office and it has been sent to the Sacramento main office for processing both times. This Sacramento office is not open to the public.

I will never surrender my black and yellow plates to the DMV and will continue to find a way to do this (legally).

Zer0 · Feb 3, 2006

So there is no way to go back to the original black plates in california?

CochinoFilipino · Feb 3, 2006

Fastback,
Why can't you just order custom plates using the same number as your original plates? Then just install the originals instead of the new ones they send you?

fasttback · Feb 3, 2006

CochinoFilipino said:
Fastback,
Why can't you just order custom plates using the same number as your original plates? Then just install the originals instead of the new ones they send you?

That was my second option...I've tried at the DMV and online, but that combination "is not available" according to the DMV. The DMV also told me that no one is using that letter/number combination in the state.

Right now I think my only way is to know someone on the inside. Anyone?

65ShelbyClone · Feb 3, 2006

I've been curious about this issue as well as my dad. He has a '57 2-dr Custom 300 he would like the yellow/black plates on. I wouldnt mind having original(or original style) paltes on my car. That brings up the question: What color plates were correct for my '68? Were they black w/yellow or blue/yellow? I've been told the switch happened around then.

I was just going to find a good clean pair of the fully embossed(even "California", not the funky print) and just paint them in the old colors. Its illegal, but hey.

67staaang · Feb 3, 2006

65ShelbyClone said:
I've been curious about this issue as well as my dad. He has a '57 2-dr Custom 300 he would like the yellow/black plates on. I wouldnt mind having original(or original style) paltes on my car. That brings up the question: What color plates were correct for my '68? Were they black w/yellow or blue/yellow? I've been told the switch happened around then.

I was just going to find a good clean pair of the fully embossed(even "California", not the funky print) and just paint them in the old colors. Its illegal, but hey.

hey shelby... the blue and yellow plates actually started in 1969 so 68 was the last year of the black and yellow plates.

Mustang Crusade · Feb 3, 2006

Lots of good options...

http://www.alpca.org/faq.restorers.html

Original License Plate Replacement

CochinoFilipino

limey66

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diablopony

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iskwezm

69Rcode_Mach1

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CochinoFilipino

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Edbert

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CochinoFilipino

fasttback

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65ShelbyClone

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Mustang Crusade

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