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California Black plate

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by perk30, Mar 17, 2010.

  1. perk30
    Joined: Jun 22, 2009
    Posts: 321

    perk30
    Member

    I have seen ads that claim the car to be "original california Black Plate car". What does this mean? Thanks for any info.
     
  2. PRIMERDAVE
    Joined: Jun 8, 2005
    Posts: 895

    PRIMERDAVE
    Member

    early 60's black plates are very desirable ....and if they have been on the car since back then it increases the value of the car to some....especialy if they are the original plates on the car
     
  3. it means it has that the original plates were never surrendered, lost, stolen or replaced.

    really doesn't mean much unless you are very interested in originality.
     
  4. Wouldn’t think the ’60 California Plate would be of any value to Pittsburgh (or any out of state) resident
     

  5. perk30
    Joined: Jun 22, 2009
    Posts: 321

    perk30
    Member

    Thanks for the replies. I figured it was something like that but wasn't sure.
    Knew I could get an answer on the HAMB. Best resource around.:)
     
  6. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,817

    BJR
    Member

    So in California you never get new plates, you just keep renewing the old ones (unless lost or damaged) and when the car sells the plates go with the car not the owner? Is that how it works?
     
  7. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    Have you ever notice in the movie "American Graffiti, all the cars have yellow plates? Well, those were 56 plates. The following year,63, they came out with the "new" black plates (I say "new" because 63 is not the first time California had black plates.) and it wasn't until about 72 or 73 that they changed the color to blue.
     
  8. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    I couldn't figure out why all of the cars in the used car lots had tags on them when I was stationed in Calif. in 1968.:D
     
  9. ojai/jan
    Joined: Feb 6, 2008
    Posts: 110

    ojai/jan
    Member
    from ojai, CA

    Hi

    Both my 1952 Plymouth wagon and my 1964 Ranchero have black plates. To me it confirms that the cars were both built in California and therefore should have less rust issues. I paid a little extra for the cars because of this.

    Jan in Ojai, CA
     
  10. not necessarily.

    perhaps on your car that IS the case, as with many if not most black plate cars, but a black plate really only means that it was REGISTERED in California.

    the VIN confirms where it was built.

    exactly.
    the plate is assigned to the vehicle not the owner.
    not sure why the rest of the country assigns tags to owners... prolly something to do with parking tickets....
     
  11. Church
    Joined: Nov 15, 2002
    Posts: 2,839

    Church
    Member
    from South Bay

    You can still find clear DMV plates for cars 1962 and earlier. After 62 however, the vehicle needs to have the originally assigned black plate. At least that's the what I'm being told. Sadly, I that means I need to run a new white cali plate on my 63 econoline. BOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! If someone can tell me otherwise, I'm all ears.
     
  12. 61TBird
    Joined: Mar 16, 2008
    Posts: 2,640

    61TBird
    Member

    That doesn't always mean they are the ORIGINAL plates.
    You can generally guess the "year" when the plates were issued by the letters.
    I had the original plates on my '68 Malibu that started with VYH.That put it first sold in early '69.
    I also had a '68 wagon that started with ZEN and that put it being sold as a "Used Car" in mid '69.

    1970 for Passenger Cars
    1971 or '72 for Pick Up Trucks(Commercial Plates)
     
  13. HitIt
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 23

    HitIt
    Member




    If I understand you correctly you think you can’t get CA black plates for your 63? Look into the CA DMV’s YOM (year of manufacture) program. You can buy black plates and have them assigned to your 63 with a little extra paperwork. I am going through that process right now.
     
  14. woodywagon1965r
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 351

    woodywagon1965r
    Member

    Ok to my understanding and my wallets..lol i paid extra for my car because of the black plate knowing it spent its time and life in cali..most desirable is cali arizona nevada texas..for rust issues..too many people were taking a out of state car down to cali .. was really from another rust belt state drove down there and reregistered ..lol yet now had a blue .or white plate and claiming it to be a cali car
    my plate has almost a half inch of stickers for year renewal..and reciets to show it
    hope this helps a little
     
  15. 61TBird
    Joined: Mar 16, 2008
    Posts: 2,640

    61TBird
    Member

    Go to another DMV office or AAA
    For a '63 vehicle,get a pair of plates with the letters starting with A--(NOT ASS!). Like AAA/AAB/ABC,something like that.

    I have the Yellow/Black '56 plates on my Tbird and had NO problem with registering them.
    The Black/Yellow plates are the same.
    The DMV will need to see 2 plates,make sure they're "real"(not repro) and make a copy of both plates to send to Sacramento.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2010
  16. here's what the DMV says...

    http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5004_1.htm

    doesn't say anything about originally registered.

    may wanna call the DMV 1-800 number, but legislation like this is usually pretty explicit when it comes to exceptions.
     
  17. Crankhole
    Joined: Apr 7, 2005
    Posts: 2,634

    Crankhole
    Member

    AAA wont process YOM requests. You will need to go to the DMV.
     
  18. M_S
    Joined: Feb 20, 2008
    Posts: 542

    M_S
    Member
    from SoCal

    The 52 would not have been a black plate car originally.
     
  19. AJofHollywood
    Joined: Oct 3, 2008
    Posts: 641

    AJofHollywood
    Member

    Any year car in CA, 1969 and older is no eligible for YOM plates as of June 2009. Blue & yellow started in 1970. No YOM on '70 and newer (not yet).

    Actually if you take a pair of clear plates starting with 'ABC' to the DMV for your 1969, they won't hassle you --but car guys will. If you want vintage plates on your classic, please make sure the prefix corresponds to when your car was made.
     
  20. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    There was a new plate for 1951, yellow letters with a black background, and the same plate was used from 1951 to 1954. In 1955 was the new plate, same thing, just had the year 55 stamped on it. In 1956, they came out with the smaller plates which were black letters with a yellow background and those stayed around until 1962.
    A quick note: When the new plates were issued in 1956, they had to be installed on all vehicles and in 1963, all vehicles had to install the new "63" plates. After that, the plates did not have to be changed when the state issued new plates i.e. the blue ones, the white ones.....Etc
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2010
  21. BAD ROD
    Joined: Dec 16, 2004
    Posts: 1,532

    BAD ROD
    Member

    As I understand it, in California in 1963 all cars had to change in their plates for new 1963 plates. That is why you have seen so many old plates (pre-1963) as they were all removed from service.

    My dad bought his 1960 brand new in 1960 and it had yellow plates until 1963 when he had to change to black 1963 plates which remain on the car. So, being a black plate car prior to 1963 doesn't necessarily mean that the plates are original to the car.

    Similarly, my 1959 has black 1963 plates too.
     
  22. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    That is exactly what I said, just like prior to the 63 plates all cars had to have the 56 plates. 55 was the last year for the large "oversized" plates which were black with yellow letters. In 1939, the plates were blue with yellow letters and said "worlds fair". If you go back to the the teens or early 20s , Cal had a red plate with white letters. There are even some years that the plates were white like today.
     
  23. 59Apache4J
    Joined: Oct 21, 2007
    Posts: 4

    59Apache4J
    Member

    Here's my solution. I have a set of black plates that fell of the books years ago. They are no longer in the system. Order personal plates with these numbers. When you receive your new plates. Put the black ones on the car with the new stickers. The black plates will match your registation.
     
  24. BAD ROD
    Joined: Dec 16, 2004
    Posts: 1,532

    BAD ROD
    Member

    By golly, I guess you did! :D

    So, my 1959 and my Dad's 1960 came originally with 1956 plates and then each changed in to 1963 plates in 1963.

    Mike
     
  25. BAD ROD
    Joined: Dec 16, 2004
    Posts: 1,532

    BAD ROD
    Member

    I don't believe you can order personalized plates with numbers/letter configurations that are reserved for general use. Not 100% sure though....
     
  26. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    Here is somthing to look at that will answer everyone's ? concerning the California plates. Go to the Wikipedia encyclopedia web site and in the search box type in: Vehicle registration plates of California. The answer to all your questions.
     
  27. oldpl8s
    Joined: Apr 11, 2007
    Posts: 1,487

    oldpl8s
    Member

    The 1951 California black plate was used through 1955 using metal year tabs from 1952 through 1955. In 1956 they came out with the new standard 12x6" plates that were yellow with black numbers/letters. There was no 1955 plate with 55 stamped in it. The 1956 plate had 56 stamped.
     
  28. PRIMERDAVE
    Joined: Jun 8, 2005
    Posts: 895

    PRIMERDAVE
    Member

    Originally Posted by 59Apache4J [​IMG]
    Here's my solution. I have a set of black plates that fell of the books years ago. They are no longer in the system. Order personal plates with these numbers. When you receive your new plates. Put the black ones on the car with the new stickers. The black plates will match your registation.

    kinda....you cant order personalized plates with older sequence format i.e. ABC 123 (space in the middle)
     
  29. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    I am a lost on the 55 plate because I have seen plates both in real life and in photos (old) with the year "55" stamped on. Even James Dean was issued a "55" plate for his spider, even though he was dead by then.:confused:
     
  30. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    I checked out this other web site www.davesclp.com and it showed a 51 plate with a 55 tab. I stand corrected. By the way, to everyone else, check out this site, it has photos of the actual plates.;)
     

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