Hi all,
Just got back from the goodguys show in Pleasanton Calif and found a guy that will restore and paint license plates the correct original Blue and yellow. He takes your registered current plates, does whatever is needed to straighten them and then paints them, powder coates them in the correct blue and yellow or black and yellow. He says that its perfectly legal because you are not changing the plate number, only the color and the police dont care what color your plates are just the numbers and letters. Has anybody else ever heard of this or is this guy blowing smoke. This sound to easy to me to get the correct blue and yellow plates for my 1970 LS-5.
Thanks Dave:

If you have a 70 it would have come with black base plates-pass cars recieved the first of the new issue blue base but trucks with commercial sequence got the black one's even into the 71 calendar year.The problem with going that route is the current issue plates have non raised "cali" script(unlike the period issue block raised letters) so how would a peace officer know what state they were?.One way around it is to order historical plates(your truck is 35 years old so they qualify) which are consistent with the old embossed one's and paint them black or blue base with chrome yellow(this is where most restorers get the color wrong) and you should be fine..but speaking of yellow you will forefit your loading zone parking with them.

Not sure about Cal. but, I had a set done also, just had to have Historical plates and then register the year plates, all pefectly legal.
I believe there is a place in Florida that will make you a set, with the numbers or letters of your choice.

I had a pair of black/yellow plates restored years ago for my wagon.
Never had a problem.

I can do you one better.
I found a website that will make you a plate.
So if you're missing one or just want 2 new plates.
Check it out.
http://www.licenseplates.tv/cat/california_147.html

Be forewarned, they're not bashful with their prices.

if you're going to repaint your plates .... you are altering them !!! which is against the law !!! my advice is get someone VERY VERY good at paint matching ..... or don't do it !!! it is only a fix-it ticket but once they fix it you'll have the new white & blue plate !!! btdt!!! it sucks

Hi all,
He says that its perfectly legal because you are not changing the plate number, only the color and the police dont care what color your plates are just the numbers and letters. :

NOT True... You can not alter the plates at all. You can not even "legally" repaint them the original colors... Most of the guys restoring plates tell people they are considered "novelty" items, not meant for actual use...


It is kind of true that the police don't care, because most don't know what years the old plates changed (unless they are car-guys)...

"officially", it is illegal, but unless you are young and/or stupid, you probably will not get cited... But it could be another thing an angry officer puts on the ticket...

I have several friends that have painted their plate black/yellow (the older blue/yellow plates with the 'raised' "California")... One of these friends is even a police officer... After 15+ years, neither has received a ticket for the plates...

If you do get caught, just order a set of "new" plates from the DMV. Give them a story, and DON"T turn in your old plates... Get the ticket fixed with the new plates, and swap back to the black ones when its time for cruisin'...

I just registered my 70 in CA, and when I went in I asked for the historical plate but they told me that my car was not old enough, and that it had to be the new style plate. I was a little bummed but what do you do,

Not sure about Cal. but, I had a set done also, just had to have Historical plates and then register the year plates, all pefectly legal.
I believe there is a place in Florida that will make you a set, with the numbers or letters of your choice.

Hey Mike, did you do them or have someone else do them? I have new Ohio historical plates, white with black lettering, and don't care much for them. Too plain and look too much like the cardboard temp tags from a distance. I'm getting year of model plates to replace them but don't have the equipment right now to restore them.

If you do get caught, just order a set of "new" plates from the DMV. Give them a story, and DON"T turn in your old plates... Get the ticket fixed with the new plates, and swap back to the black ones when its time for cruisin'...


I hope you know a REAL good bailbondsman.... defruading the goverment out of they're Licence fee's by using a unpaid for plate will get you one large FINE !!!& your car inpounded while they run the rest of the numbers to make sure its not stolen ........unless its on private property DO not mess around with the Licence plate !!!

If you do get caught, just order a set of "new" plates from the DMV. Give them a story, and DON"T turn in your old plates... Get the ticket fixed with the new plates, and swap back to the black ones when its time for cruisin'...

uhhhhhhhhhhhh......NO......
That would be illegal.

I just registered my 70 in CA, and when I went in I asked for the historical plate but they told me that my car was not old enough, and that it had to be the new style plate. I was a little bummed but what do you do,

You mean you brought your car here to CA from out of state?

The DMV cannot make you get rid of your original black/yellow or blue/yellow CA plates when transferng title.

They try to push people to get rid of the older plates in favor of the new reflectorized plates. You have to stand your ground.

As long as you have both plates on the car and they are in good condition (legible), you should be able to keep them.

You would think that with the amount of intrest people in CA have in trying to use the original plates or colors. They would realize the potential to make a few extra dollars for the state or DMV or whomever gets money from plates and tabs.

Charging a few extra bucks for the classic license plates or register the originals may be a win win situation for both the car owner and the state. Im sure people would have no problem paying like 10 extra dollars to regester classic plates.

the reason they did away with the Black/yellow plate & the Blue/yellow plate was law enforcement said they were to hard to read... (might have had something to do with the BB under the hood ?? ) anyway there is no way California will ever change way from the new reflector plates.... Hell they can get Nasa to traget those puppys from outer space :D