The question concerns front license plates on Ca. cars. I am the 4th owner of my 68 that has one black plate in the rear that is registered legally for the car with current tags. The problem is that the front black plate is missing.
(For those who haven't lived in Ca. the black plate was used on cars until the early 70's). You usually lose the black plate with a change of ownership. I was lucky somehow.
I know not many people put much stock in the original black plate as to value, but IMO it adds to originality, and I would like to keep it.
O.K. ... Since it is illegal to run in Ca. without a front plate,.. (USA-1, and my current
"Heartbeat of America" don't count), I came up with this wacky idea with the help of a few Coronas... Take the rear plate and one of those plastic dealer ad plates you get on a new car,
place the plastic plate over the original, apply heat from say a heat gun, and mold your own plate.
Paint it black w\yellow nums & letters, let it sit in the sun a couple months to get that " I didn't just make this,. look" and Voila!
Now.... The questions,.. While probably not legal, is it better than no front plate? After all it's the same as the rear. When CHP passes you going the other way, will they notice? Can I just call DMV and ask about a replacement plate?
Do they do this? I think that as long as you don't do something like speed, or run a red light this should be on the bottom of the priority list.
I know there are some peace officers here on this site, and would be curious as to how you would handle the situation. I don't want to give up my black plate, but I worry about not having a front plate and being cited every time I take the car out. I'm not saying this is necessarily the right thing to do, but sometimes one has to be creative with "the system".

P.S. I don't recommend or condone this as a legal act, nor have I done it. (Yet). Just an idea. :D

"Darryl's", is a plate restoration company and will make you a copy of any plate that you can configure....paint, lettering, state and so on. I remember it costs about $25 a plate and you can also have your original plate restored to DMV new condition for about the same amount.

And yea, its legal. I did mine back in 93 because I purchased my 67 without a front plate.

I agree with Tom. The time vs. $ equation leans toward having Darryl's make a very nice repro plate. I've seen up close several sets of plastic repro's that just don't look right and the paint never stays on.

Most policemen won't hassle you about the plate if it's not original. If they do just explain that you wanted to keep the car original, and had no intention of deception.

LOL!!

1 - Black plates are a commodity in CA and a set that has been restored will run you about $85-$100 at car swapmeets. If the vendor selling them is good, he's checked and knows they are clear in the DMV records

2 - Said black plates stayed with the car from seller to seller as long as the car stays registered and in the CA DMV system, just like any other plates with the exception of special and personalized plates.

3 - Current CA law allows any car '63 and older to use those restored plates mentioned above but only allows vehicles that were orig issued them to have them beyond '63. There have been several bills in the last few years that former gov Davis shot down that would have allowed black plates to be re-issued on any model year that would have come with them when registered for the first time. His arguement was, black plates are not reflective.. There are several sides to this in the classic car world. Some collectors just want the nostaligic look the black plate adds to their classic, others feel there is true value in a black plate car and if it don't have them you don't need them as the car will be passed off as a rust free orig CA car down the road...

You can get plastic black plates that look real from 10 feet. We were at a car show last year and my daughter bought me one that said "FINE 69" for about $8.00

I've run most of my cars for the past 33 years with only one plate. My wife's the only one that's ever been stopped for no front plate in any of my cars. I don't think you'll get hastled in a classic unless you've done something that leaves you suspicious in the eyes of the police and they use the plate as their reason to stop you. Or maybe you have long blond hair and are all by yourself on a country road!! ;)

Thanks to the both of you for the info. Is there a link to Darryl's you can give me or is it Darryls plates .com? I would rather write a check to Darryl's than the state of Ca. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Dennis, I am one of those who likes the black plate look on classics. And I do find myself on lonely country roads, but no long blonde hair.
Not since high school anyway, and now the ice chest has Snapple and water in it instead of beer. :D

Yo D, I am not being arguementive cuz i remember 'our' little discussion on this subject in the past two years or so, but.....

1. NO, the Cal DMV will not just mearly let you take a set of clean plates and register them to your 63 and/or later vehicle. I have tried. I spent the money on a set at the Pomona Swap from the "License Guy" for some decent money and clearly good research and information.....it still didnt fly. BUT, I have heard of some guys in the "sticks" (rural) being able to do it and get away with it. Basically there is no inforcement to support this either way. :(

2. See number 1.

3. The only plates that you can use that have been restored, are the plates that are currently on and registered to your vehicle. This is TRUE, I have gottten away with that at least. But, you can not just take a set of plates that have been restored and stick them on your vehicle....or everyone would be doing it (that would be too cool, but CA wouldnt make a dime). Basically this was summed up in the re-issue scrap eailier last year cuz CA is crying fo' money.

My 'copy' is a dead on match of the original....plastic or not. You can not tell unless you try and stick a magnet to it or pick it up.....as it doesnt have the weight of a metal plate.

Darryl's
http://www.darrylsplates.com/

And I see that prices have gone up a little....

http://www.acme.com/licensemaker/licensemaker.cgi?text=&state=Georgia&r=1577911788
Here's a site to make images of plates for your web page. I know, I'm off subject, but this topic reminded me of it!
David

Ok so I missed it by a year!! graemlins/clonk.gif

Read on...

http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/970817644.shtml

http://www.racingwest.com/news/story.php3/1338/

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