How to keep/get Calif 914s' Old Original Plates ..., ... Resources & History of Plate Types & Colors, etc. Options

[Tom_T]

OK All -

IIRC - with some 60% of the total 914 production coming into the USA, & 40% of the total going into California ALONE for first sale new - & with more Cali 914s surviving due to the milder climate out here ... . . .... that's a big chunk of the 914s still around today! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

There have been several posts with questions on how to (re-) register your 914 with expired reg. &/or old plates, etc.; as well as those who have somehow managed to hold onto their original issue plates & wondering if they can go back to them or keep them when registering their 914 for the road again.

Well, apparently Cal DMV & our illustrious Legislature have decided to clarify & expand a couple of programs for re-registering the original plates, as well as extending the date for the "Original Year of Manufacture" plates program to at least include those from 1969 build dates.

I too have an early 1973 MY 914-2.0 with its original plates, which has been out of registration & PNO for most of the time it's sat in my garage awaiting resto since 5/85 (no PNO since 12/92), so I went searching on the DMV website for more info., & found the following which may be helpful to the rest of you out there.

These are mostly hidden away in corners of the DMV website requiring some time searching, so hopefully I've saved you some time searching them out. If you've looked at them before, then please note that these were revised in mid & late 2009. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Got your old plates? ... bringing a former Cal 914 back? ... want to get repro Black & Gold plates for your 1969 Manufactured 914-6 or 914 (-4)? ... want to try out Historical Vehicle plates? ... read on & link out!

REASSIGNMENT OF OLD PLATES:
- NEW CHANGES ALLOW VEHICLES ON DATABASE TO GO BACK TO OLD PLATES:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_memo...009/09vin20.pdf

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE PLATE PROGRAM:
- ONLY UP TO 1969 my FOR AUTOS, BUT IN LATER YEARS THEY MAY EXTEND THIS FURTHER OUT AGAIN:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/lad/pdfs/yom/new_text.pdf
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_memo...009/09vin09.pdf

HISTORY OF CAL PLATES & DMV:
- FOR THOSE ASKING WHEN WHICH PLATES/COLORS & NUMBERING SYSTEMS CAME IN:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/plates/licenseplthistory.htm
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/milestones.htm
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/history.htm

HISTORICAL VEHICLE PLATES:
- ANOTHER OPTION FOR 914s TO THE CURRENT "WHITE PLATES":
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5004.htm

DMV HOME PAGE:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/

Additionally, DMV has apparently expanded what their "Business Partners" (e.g.: AAA, dealers, etc.) can now do with these areas above, because before it changed at the end of 2009, AAA had told me they couldn't do these services, but apparently now can do at least some of them in some cases. So there may be an upside to DMV's cutbacks of service with the state's budget crisis! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom T
Orange CA
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[orange914]

o.k. i stand corrected. the white sunsets started in 85' but i know they ran into 87 as i had a -shall i admit- 87 tempo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) with them

[underthetire]

o.k. i stand corrected. the white sunsets started in 85' but i know they ran into 87 as i had a -shall i admit- 87 tempo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) with them

I don't remember my 88 mustang GT convertible having the sunset plates.

[Tom_T]

o.k. i stand corrected. the white sunsets started in 85' but i know they ran into 87 as i had a -shall i admit- 87 tempo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) with them

I don't remember my 88 mustang GT convertible having the sunset plates.

Nope - changed the year before in 87, according to DMV site. We got our 88 Westy 4/16/88 with plain ole red block lettered "CALIFORNIA" at the top,as I'm sure your `Stang had.

[orange914]

Nope - changed the year before in 87, according to DMV site. We got our 88 Westy 4/16/88 with plain ole red block lettered "CALIFORNIA" at the top,as I'm sure your `Stang had.

something i've heard and makes sense is the dmv issues the plates as they have them-until they are out. i've seen several 1970's cars with black plates? hey ever seen custom personalized black plates? i've talked to an owner of one. i believe he said they started in 69'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Tom_T]

Nope - changed the year before in 87, according to DMV site. We got our 88 Westy 4/16/88 with plain ole red block lettered "CALIFORNIA" at the top,as I'm sure your `Stang had.

something i've heard and makes sense is the dmv issues the plates as they have them-until they are out. i've seen several 1970's cars with black plates? hey ever seen custom personalized black plates? i've talked to an owner of one. i believe he said they started in 69'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Mike - according to this link, the personalized plates didn't start until 1972 - but then, the DMV website was done with their employees!
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/milestones.htm

However, I've heard that before that some folks "who knew somebody" could convince (or bribe?) somebody to assign certain characters to black plates. IIRC State Sen. Carpenter had one on his 56/57 T-Bird back in the day, but you'll recall he left office in disgrace for various malfeasance issues in office! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

According to this link, the white Sunset plates started in `82, & both Blues & Blackies were issued in 1970:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/plates/licenseplthistory.htm
I think it's always been state policy to use up the rest of the stock when new colors/series were issued, except when they went to the Month + Year renewal stickers on the Blackies & wnated the Yellows back.

More Trivia - according to this one, Cities & Counties issued plates 1901-05, then the Secretary of State took over....
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/profile/history.htm

Hey Mike - why no 914 on your bottom signature anymore? Did Kenny mash another one!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
Oh wait - now I see it! This scroll down sig box is a pain when you have to scroll but forget to do so, but it saves space. Sorry Kenny!

[orange914]

Mike - according to this link, the personalized plates didn't start until 1972 - but then, the DMV website was done with their employees! However, I've heard that before that some folks "who knew somebody" could convince (or bribe?) somebody to assign certain characters to black plates. IIRC

According to this link, the white Sunset plates started in `82

Hey Mike - why no 914 on your bottom signature anymore? Did Kenny mash another one!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
Oh wait - now I see it! This scroll down sig box is a pain when you have to scroll but forget to do so, but it saves space. Sorry Kenny!

the example of personalized black plates i've got was a on a customers car i worked on alot. he was a ham radio operator fanatic. it had his call numbers. the additional weird thing was he had keep the plates and transferred them to his newer vehicle. makes me second guess my sanity. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

how could the sunsets be issued in 82 when the white plates weren't out until 87'?note to self: it just dawned on me as i'm writing this in 82 i got personalized plates for my 442 in white "2hypr4u". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) i remember it was an option to get white so i did.

no but kenny has put a civic on it's roof since (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[Tom_T]

Mike - according to this link, the personalized plates didn't start until 1972 - but then, the DMV website was done with their employees! However, I've heard that before that some folks "who knew somebody" could convince (or bribe?) somebody to assign certain characters to black plates. IIRC

According to this link, the white Sunset plates started in `82

Hey Mike - why no 914 on your bottom signature anymore? Did Kenny mash another one!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
Oh wait - now I see it! This scroll down sig box is a pain when you have to scroll but forget to do so, but it saves space. Sorry Kenny!

the example of personalized black plates i've got was a on a customers car i worked on alot. he was a ham radio operator fanatic. it had his call numbers. the additional weird thing was he had keep the plates and transferred them to his newer vehicle. makes me second guess my sanity. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

how could the sunsets be issued in 82 when the white plates weren't out until 87'?note to self: it just dawned on me as i'm writing this in 82 i got personalized plates for my 442 in white "2hypr4u". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) i remember it was an option to get white so i did.

no but kenny has put a civic on it's roof since (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

Were his ham call numbers all numeric then - or alpha-numeric? IIRC - the call sign I got for the CB way back when were both. However, I don't recall ever seeing a black plate with anything but numbers on them. He must've had some pull somewhere, or else there was another personalized plate program which the DMV historians forgot about!?

Geez Mike - get a load of that hair! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I used to have a mop like that too, back in the day! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

My Grandfather would get a new 442 every year until he retired, then he got a Delta 88 until he passed. His the same year as yours was white with red-orange stripes on the hood & trunk. He'd scream that sucker around the country roads outside of Pittsburgh PA (Allegheny Mountains doncha know!?) - even in his late 60's!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

That's where my Mom & I got our Lead Foots! We had a 67 Chevy pick-up with a 327-2Bbl. like the black one in the background, with a cab-over camper shell as a family trip & around town vehicle (replaced the Greenbrier van) that the two of us got the most out of with our "heavy feet"! A few other classics in the background too!

I guess ole Kenny just hasn't figured out yet that the shiny side is supposed to stay up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)