Period correct license plates

[Healey_Z]

It has always bothered me to see late model license plates on my restored, older car. California has a program that allows you to re-apply the correct period plates on your vintage car. There are a number of hoops to jump through, but it is definitely doable and worth the effort for me.

I'm pretty excited about my plates. I picked them up on craigslist for $30 and just finished restoring them. I had them bead blasted at a local powder coating shop and then I painted them with semi-gloss black high temp engine paint. The most difficult step was getting the numbers/letters painted the exact dirty school bus yellow color and getting the paint smooth and within the lines (I have never been one to color inside the lines).

Next is going through the DMV, but I think I have a good understanding of the process.

 

[Editor_Reid]

That looks GREAT!

So how did you paint the letters and numbers?

 

[HealeyRick]

So how did you paint the letters and numbers?

Signed up for the apprenticeship program at Folsom?

 

[Randy Forbes]

So how did you paint the letters and numbers?

Signed up for the apprenticeship program at Folsom?

LOL! That was funny!

In both Ohio and Florida, you can put "model year" plates on your car (it was the Ohio DMV lady that informed me about it, when I registered the Healey for a historic plate).

In Florida, you CANNOT repaint the plate, and they're also County-Specific (the number "15" prefix on mine designates Manatee County). I'm REALLY looking forward to when I can put the Florida plate on the car! Possibly as early as March 2012...

In Ohio, the "Historic Plate" MUST be carried within the car, even though the registration has the "model year" plate's numbers/letters on it.

My 1957 Manatee County Plate:

I've been keeping my eye out for one in nicer condition, or I "may" get that one restored, once it's been approved by the Florida DMV...

Does anyone know how long the registration is good for in Florida? In both Louisiana and Ohio, you only have to renew them every fifty (50!) years

 

[Healey_Z]

That looks GREAT!

So how did you paint the letters and numbers?

Like most things I do, it takes me a few trys to figure it out. I have more perseverance than talent.

I first did body work on plates to get out the bends and kinks out. I couldn't get them perfect, but one plate I was able to get pretty good and since I am planning on only using one plate for the rear, but need two to register the car, having one good one and one acceptable one was ok with me.

On the letters and numbers: The first try was taping and spray painting, followed by 3000 grit sand paper to knock down the edge. None of the rounded edges looked all that good. Second try was with a firm roller, like they were done originally at Folsom Prison, not too far from me. That was a mess. The third try was to paint the yellow first, then 6 coats of clear, then paint black over the yellow. With the plate held firmly and flat, I then lightly sanded with a sanding block with 1000, 2000, 3000 grit until the yellow was visible. This by far worked the best and some letters looked great, however I burned through to the metal in a number of locations where the letters had a small bend or a kink in them. I probably could have touched them up and it would have gone unnoticed, but I wasn't satisfied.

I then stripped it down again, painted it black and went and bought a good paint brush. I then hand painted the letters and this too looked pretty good, but see the note above regarding talent. I did however conclude that this was the best method. I then decided to have them bead blasted to start fresh. I called an old school pin striper. I asked if this is something he could do; match the yellow and paint the letters and numbers. He said piece of cake, so I dropped them off at his house and a few days later picked them up. They are unbelievably perfect, both in color and where they consistently come on the bend of the letter on the plate.

 

[dougie]

I agree, a vintage plate for a vintage car is the only way to go. I sourced my NOS plate at a swap meet, wasn't cheap but I didn't want to attempt to restore one.
Great job.

 

[judow]

A dear friend gave me my plate. Even the identifier for the county is correct. The number 1 is Santa Fe County and 2 is Bernalillo County, my county. This is followed by the zia symbol and 3 descending numbers. It's white with red numbers and symbol. The color indicates that it is a plate that was designated to a government official. Background red with white was for us peons. If I had a photo I'd show it to you. I think I need to take a pic. Anyway I simply registered it as a 'prestige plate' and renew it every two years. I don't put the registered year tag on it but I do keep it with the registration. So far I've never been cited for a faulty registration but then it is so low on the car I doubt anyone would notice.

My lengthy response is you can use a period plate in New Mexico!

Now I'm worn out, have to go take a nap.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Healey_Z,

I really enjoyed reading your post about the effort you put in, the learning curve and your persistance.

Some peoples ego gets involved, as I put a lot of work into this, it's the best I can do, I'm not going to pay someone being I put so much work into it, I'll live with what I did.

You found a specialist who could do it, and you handed the job over to him.
End result is the quality you wanted. Good for you and a smart move.

It's all in the details I say.

Congratulation!

 

[tahoe healey]

Yeah, but wait till he deals with the DMV. That will require patience and persistence. I hope they have gotten their act together by now. It took almost a year and more than 8 visits. Plates must match dates. If your have a '66 the plates cannot by from '65.

 

[Keoke]

So how did you paint the letters and numbers?

Signed up for the apprenticeship program at Folsom? jester


------------------------------ :lol:

 

[smaceng]

In California you need a tin plate which was appropriate for the year of the registration (If the car was made in a different year, CA DMV has been known to change the year of registration). In addition, the plate numbers/letters combination can not be currently used by anyone else. In addition, one needs the proper year sticker for the rear plate. All are generally available on ebay ($), but as mentioned above, CA DMV sort of can make up their own rules as they go along.
Scott in CA
I thought about going to period correct plates, but can not give up the 60 FROG plate on my bugeye.

 

[Healey_Z]

Thanks SMA,

Yes, before I restored the plates, I made sure they were issued to a car, dmv cleared and had the 1964 sticker in my hand (registration shows the car as a '64).

Ken

 

[AUSMHLY]

Thanks SMA,
Yes, before I restored the plates, I made sure they were issued to a car, dmv cleared and had the 1964 sticker in my hand (registration shows the car as a '64).
Ken

Ken, sounds like you went thru a lot of work, bead blasting, painting, hiring someone, making sure they were 64 plates etc. Well being I have a 64 Healey in Norcal, and I'd love to have a set of black plates, I'm willing to take them off your hands for you. I mean now that you know how to do it, and it was nothing but fun the first time, just think of how much fun it will be again and how you're helping a fellow Healey guy out...Can ya feel the love

 

[Healeysince59]

Restored this from a grungy but straight plate ($15 on eBay).
Bead blasted
Powder Coated black
Spray painted with white lacquer from the hobby shop
Wiped the face of the numbers/letters clean with lacquer thinner
Clear coated for durability

This one is on my BN1. I did 2 more Texas plates the same way for my sons Bugeye.

Marv J

 

[smaceng]

Just to add this note to the thread, there are outfits that will renew your plate. Here is one: https://www.mojoartworks.com/
They charge $80 per plate.
no interest, just info.
Scott in CA

 

[elrey]

All well and good but who duplicates plates? I have one Cal. black plate original to my auto and wish another to satisfy my state requirement.

 

[smaceng]

Know anybody in Folsom?

<span style="font-style: italic"> </span> Edit: CA inside joke...Folsom Prison...Johnny Cash Country...make plates in prisons in CA.

 

[elrey]

Fortunately not!

 

[Healey_Z]

Hey Elrey,

There are places that will duplicate your plate, but they do them in aluminum. I have heard they could test the plates with a magnet to verify they are original plates, but I'm sure that varies DMV to DMV, clerk to clerk.

p.s. Cal Pol grad here. Love SLO!