See if my comment on this answers your questions about black plates. If
not, let me know.
6 character blue plates were issued starting in late 1969, and ran out about
1979. Then they went to 7 character blue plates, which were a lower cost
option to the white reflectorized plates which also came into being at the
same time. Late in the 80's, the blue plates were no longer issued, and the
white plates became standard. They persist to this day. The 7 character
blue plates all started with "1". The early white plates started with "2",
and are now just starting into the "5"s. This means that from 1980 to
today, there have been 5 x 26 x26 x26 x 1000 = 88 million cars licensed in
California, ignoring the few letter combinations which were not permitted,
and ignoring the personalized plates which do not follow the standard
numbering system. All the above is pertinent to passenger car plates only.
Regarding value, for those cars with their original plates, from year 1969
through 1979 or so, I'd say yes, the same argument works for those cars too,
although of course the period of time is shorter, so the accomplishment is a
little less remarkable.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark McDonald" <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 3:03 PM
Subject: Re: IML: "Black Plate"
> When I lived in California they were using the blue plates, which I will
> always associate with California for the rest of my life.
>
> 2 questions: since I lived in L.A. in the early 80's, which was 20 years
ago,
> is there any value to saying a car is a "blue plate" car? Would seem so.
>
> 2nd, is it possible to get black plates and just put them on your car?
How do
> you know you're really getting a black plate car? Is the tag# on the
title
> and/or registration?
>
> Mark
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