California Legacy License Plate Program

[mraitch]

isn't that more the black on yellow plate font? from earlier times

[spl310]

Wow, this much discussion? Its just a license plate...

[bakerjf]

Wow, this much discussion? Its just a license plate...

The iconic plate for the iconic classic car state...

[bikermike]

According to this story, the dies (molds) are ones that were found at the Folsom prison.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/l ... story.html

The images on the DMV ordering site show centered digits with no spaces and thinner characters.

plateLegacySeq.jpg

plateLegacy.jpg

The original plates were steel. I suspect the new legacy plates are aluminum. That would likely play a role in the thickness of the letters and numbers depending on the base material characteristics and thickness.

Would a die made for steel make a larger impression in aluminum?

It also looks like "California" across the top is spread out more to accommodate thicker impressions.

Here is another example:
http://www.ramforum.com/f38/new_califor ... tes-71150/

54910d1437936308-new_california_black_plates-newplate.jpg

Looking at individual digits from original plates:

BYA393.jpg

54910d1437936308-new_california_black_plates-newplate.jpg

AEU824.jpg

54910d1437936308-new_california_black_plates-newplate.jpg

HEK725.jpg

54910d1437936308-new_california_black_plates-newplate.jpg

NWF035.jpg

Other telltales for distinguishing them from the originals are reflective paint and the sequence. The originals were of the format AAA ###. The new legacy ones appear to be A###A# for now or personalized.

[Solex68]

Nice write-up and investigative work bikermike.

[bikermike]

The plot thickens. I think they are using common dies with the later version of the blue and yellow plates from the late 70's and early 80's.

As noted in one of the links above, the fact that "California" is spread out and that the "A" looks different indicates that they are not using the 60's dies for the new legacy black plates.

Some blue plate examples...

The earlier blue plates reused the black plate dies. "California" tighter and the digits are thin

AEU824.jpg

501AGA.jpg

465FPY.jpg

Later blue ones had California spread out and note the difference in the cross bar in the "A" in California. It sits higher.

634XHD.jpg

781XFL.jpg

1dru105n.jpg

1FWY612.jpg

1LGT204.jpg

The new black plates are a hybrid. Note the similarities to the later blue plates.

54910d1437936308-new_california_black_plates-newplate.jpg

[bakerjf]

Wow - interesting. Looks like the font is closer to the blue plates. I'm already seeing the black plates on newer cars around town - personally, I think they look cheesy, and don't think they diminish the value of my real-deal plates.

[68DSU]

Picking mine up Wednesday.

Did you get a random sequence one or a personalized one.

A personalized plate. You?

68 DSU got "68 DSU".
I hope they don't look like the originals. Originals should be emulated not copied. In most things, I feel that a copy should look good but not be mistaken for a one of a kind original. That does honor to the original concept without putting on a phony front.

Spacing and font may be different because California went from six digits to seven.

[bikermike]

I hope they don't look like the originals. Originals should be emulated not copied. In most things, I feel that a copy should look good but not be mistaken for a one of a kind original. That does honor to the original concept without putting on a phony front.

I agree. I prefer than one can tell the difference, however some who ordered them may be disappointed since they are off

Spacing and font may be different because California went from six digits to seven.

Oddly enough the font got thick in anticipation of the 7 digit plates in the blue era and then got thin again with the intro of white in 1982

ca84.jpg

[mellis18]

Okay peanut gallery...which way should I go? With or without??

[bikermike]

I'd go with a simple thin chrome frame.

[bakerjf]

I'd go with a simple thin chrome frame.

+1

[RCMike]

Really like the vintage frame.. I would go with..

[DnCrs13]

The trim sets the plate off more from the car. I like the trim.

[Alvin]

Rolling into work this morning when I saw this cherry 90's Toyota Corolla with the new Legacy Plates:


Soooooooo dumb! I owned myself on this one. I really thought the plates would be for vintage cars only. Anyhoo I still can't get over how weird they look compared to the originals.