Anybody Else Use "Vintage" License Plates?

Jonnyuma

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My state (OR) allows for the use of vintage lic plates on "Special Interest" vehicles so I always end up doing some ebay scrounging looking for a correct-year plate. "SP" (special purpose) registration also does away with the (stupid, imo) requirement for a front plate.
I just bought a blue-on-gold 1979 tagged plate for Charlene, my 79 Lebaron and wondered if anybody else bothered with this little detail, or if I'm just a noodge.

BTW, good-looking old plates can be had for about 10 bucks or less, restored plates are obviously higher. The '76 plates on my truck were $15 for the pair (only needed one so I used the better one) and this one was $9.99 shipped. Pretty cheap detail and a fun conversation starter.

$_57.jpg
 
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Dr Lebaron

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Don't you have to put a sticker on it to drive it?, which tosses a wrench into the plan.

Plates with yrs went away in 73, and went sticker.
Early plates after 73 had 3 letters and 3 numbers, which went the reverse when they ran out of combos.
Now it's 4 letters, 3 numbers and up to C now.

Also new plates w 4 letters are reflective for photo radar, toll roads.

I can get heritage plates for $18 a yr v/s $120 for regular plates.
6 yrs ago I picked up a vintage plate frame for the 79.
$(KGrHqJHJFcE-lwk9D7HBPq+mvDz+!~~48_35.jpg
 

Jonnyuma

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Don't you have to put a sticker on it to drive it?, which tosses a wrench into the plan.
Not with the SP registration.
You have to submit an application to get the designation and there are some arbitrary restrictions on usage. Once you're approved you have to submit the plate you want to use, if you're going that route, for approval. They're looking for damaged, unreadable, or stolen plates. Once you get that approval you have permanent registration and no need to get new tags every year or, here, two years and that vehicle is exempt from emissions testing.
Yes... some areas of OR require emissions testing all the way back to 75. It's freaking ridiculous. My 76 F150 has 0 emissions equipment on it. 0. The "new" F150 was a deliberate move by Ford specifically made to dodge the EPA... they (Ford) added some HD bits to the F100 which raised the GVW above the 8000# cutoff which exempted it from EPA regs (for a few yrs, anyway).
OR's DEQ (Dept of Environmental Quality) does not make that distinction because they're after the money just like every other gov't agency.

So there ya go... a little unsolicited history lesson AND an anti-guvmint rant all in one post :rolleyes:
 

Aspen500

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Far as I know, Wisconsin doesn't allow "hertitage" plates. We have "Collector" or "Hobbyist". Collector is for mostly stock vehicles and Hobbyist is for modified. We have to submit photos of the vehicle (exterior, interior, engine comp.) with the application for approval. When I got my Hobbyist plates they were $250, a one time charge, and are good forever (no stickers or additional yearly fee). Neither of those plates can be used in the month of January. Only thing I don't like about them is the color. Kind of a dark green and yellow. Oh well, can't have everything, right?
DSCF0002.JPG
 

old yellow 78

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In PA, you can use vintage plates as long as they are not claimed by, or registered to someone else, or you can use "antique/historic" plates. I don't like PA's newer antique/historic plates which are the same color as the regular PA plates, and have a silly horseless carriage picture on them. Much cooler are the older plates which are a sort of purple with white numbers. Unfortunately, the state doesn't issue them anymore, so if you can find one, you can transfer it. I already had a purple plate on my '50 Pontiac but didn't want to use that, so when I wanted to register OY as antique/historical, a good friend of mine signed his purple plate over to me. It came off his Volvo P1800 that he sold. It was easy to transfer, with no problems. Don't remember how much it cost, but I did have to have a letter from my friend releasing the plate to me.
late oct - early nov 2014 001.jpg
 

slant6billy

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In NJ we have what is called "QQ" tags. That is the tag starts with "QQ______" for collector, antique, vintage, showcar, parade car, and hotrod. Although, the rules for each vary. I went with just conventional registration. Proved it could get through inspection and since 2016, no inspection for any car older than 1995 or non OBD2.
 

Dr Lebaron

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Yrs ago I grabbed a set like these for the 79, but when I went to the MTO/DMV, I was told they where trailer plates and can't use them.
ONTARIO-CAR-LICENSE-PLATE-1979-B64-239-PAIR.jpg
 

89.Fifth

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New York only allows vintage plates on cars registered as "Historic" which means you can't daily drive it.
 

4speedjim

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New York is no fun. The closest thing I could get on a regular Reg was - the lady dug through the box of plates and found 3 letters and 8165 or 6581 which is the years me and my car where made. A bit of a stretch but...
 

78VOLAREWAG

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In PA, you can use vintage plates as long as they are not claimed by, or registered to someone else, or you can use "antique/historic" plates. I don't like PA's newer antique/historic plates which are the same color as the regular PA plates, and have a silly horseless carriage picture on them. Much cooler are the older plates which are a sort of purple with white numbers. Unfortunately, the state doesn't issue them anymore, so if you can find one, you can transfer it. I already had a purple plate on my '50 Pontiac but didn't want to use that, so when I wanted to register OY as antique/historical, a good friend of mine signed his purple plate over to me. It came off his Volvo P1800 that he sold. It was easy to transfer, with no problems. Don't remember how much it cost, but I did have to have a letter from my friend releasing the plate to me.
View attachment 29862
I've had the white & purple Classic plate on my 67 Rambler, since before my Volare was made. However I have been toying with the idea of changing it because I found a brand new 1967 plate in the envelope because my father sold the car before the plate arrived in the mail.
 

jasperjacko

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Far as I know, Wisconsin doesn't allow "hertitage" plates. We have "Collector" or "Hobbyist". Collector is for mostly stock vehicles and Hobbyist is for modified. We have to submit photos of the vehicle (exterior, interior, engine comp.) with the application for approval. When I got my Hobbyist plates they were $250, a one time charge, and are good forever (no stickers or additional yearly fee). Neither of those plates can be used in the month of January. Only thing I don't like about them is the color. Kind of a dark green and yellow. Oh well, can't have everything, right?View attachment 29857
whoever designed your plate must be a Packers fan.
 

kkritsilas

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Collector car plates in Alberta are $CAN85, lifetime. You cannot daily drive a collector car. Other than that, it is $CAN42 insurance for 1500 Km.or less mileage. Declared value was $CAN2500. A collector plate in Alberta doesn’t have a place for a sticker. I think cops/photo radar etc, identify collector cars with a dash/hyphen between the 3 letters and the 3 numbers. Regular plates don’t have the dash/hyphen.
 

Duke5A

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I looked into hobbyist plates for my 5th and the restrictions were nuts. Using regular plates here in Michigan.
 

M_Body_Coupe

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I am about to do what Dr. Lebaron suggested, namely: "...heritage plates for $18 a yr v/s $120 for regular plates...".

I have been using my old (original to my now gone '80 Plymouth Caravelle coupe) plates for the past 5 seasons, but at $120/yr pricetag, of which I only use about 3 months worth and put a measly 1Kmiles on, it is nothing more then a price gouge!!!

I will tell you how it went in about 1-2 weeks...
 

Dr Lebaron

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Only draw back is you lose those old plates.
They wouldn't let me keep mine 202-BKY.

They won't say it, but it's about the new plates being reflective for tolls/photo radar.
 

M_Body_Coupe

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Only draw back is you lose those old plates...

Yeah, I know, it sucks because I am 'emotionally' attached to these old plates...LOL!

I asked about the stuff last year, then reached out to MTO officer to get clarification regarding the limitations, etc...his response was pretty straight to the point, so I'm going to avoid the $120 scalping and go cheapo-Fillipo on this one!

I wonder though, can custom Historic plates be done? I know they are spendy, but heck, saving that $120/yr is enough to put them towards a set of custom plates.
 
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