Projects License plate restoration - opinions requested

This might seem like a trivial question, but I'd like opinions. Maybe it will generate a fun discussion.

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 1977 license plate from my state that has my 3 initials, which I think is absolutely an awesome find. The plate isn't in bad condition, but I'll repaint it so it looks nice on the 1977 restored car that I'll put it on.

My state allows you to run "year of manufacture" plates if you have a car registered as an antique, but I don't believe there's any restriction on repainting them a non-original color. Even if there was, what are the odds that law enforcement would know the correct colors for a 47-year-old license plate?

So my question to the group is: What colors should I paint the plate, which will be on a bright red car? What license plate color combos look best? Blue/yellow? Black/yellow? White/black? Or stick to original?

 

Perhaps it might be wise to check with your local BMV just to be sure it is legal to change the colors of the plate .

 

Not sure about Illinois, but Oklahoma asks the colors of the plate on the application to run it. I assume there may be some check that they are original colors, but could be wrong. Anyway, I have a ton of Illinois and Indiana tags through those years since all my family is up there. Cool find on one with your initials.

 

Mine had to be the color as issued.

 

My 36 Texas plates had to be light mustard yellow with dark blue letters.The employees of the state were adamant the license plate matched their color photos exactly. Flatheads Forever!!!!

 

Or get the tag issues to your car, then paint.

 

Yep, that’s what I was thinking too.

 

Some states will not allow plates that are repainted to be used. Check with your state DMV.

 

I'm thinking that most states have to be the colors that they were issued in that year and some states require that the are in unrestored original conditon. To me YOM plates on a modified car are pretty lame. Stone showroom stock original as it rolled out of the dealership, that will fly.

Still don't ask us, ask the state and high up enough the dmv food chain to get the right answers. My guess is that they will have to be their original colors. If it were me I'd polish them up and get them through the state's approval before I had them restored if I had them restored. I wouldn't change the color unless I never intended to drive on the roads.

Dang it look like Illinois is pretty easy as far as the YOM plates go but you have to keep your legit plates in the car along with your current registration.

 

Interesting. Doesn’t even sound like you have to register them in Illinois?!?!

 

Just paint the car to match the plate.

 

No approval or registration of the year-of-manufacture plate is required in Illinois. You just register the car as an antique, put the issued antique plate in your glove box to show law enforcement if they ever ask, and bolt whatever plate you want on the car (if the year matches). They don't ask the color, or number, or anything at the DMV. There's absolutely no record of the plate you'll display on your car. You could bolt on a different set of plates every day & be in compliance.

Nothing is said about color, restoring the plates, etc. in the law. In fact, I can't even find a requirement that it has to be an Illinois plate. I'm sure if you went asking, someone would eventually say that it has to be exactly the same color as original, but in the practical application, NO ONE will ever be enforcing this, or even know that they are supposed to enforce it.

Illinois gets a lot of things wrong, but this is one of those rare instances where the state got it right.

 

I get that it's cool to have your initials on a plate, but I don't get the 1977 part. Most folks, if they are going with a special plate, choose one from the year of manufacture-like my '31 runs a 1931 plate. Why not go to the Illinois DMV and get a current initial plate? For instance, BFB 31 is available. https://apps.ilsos.gov/pickaplate/pickaplate
Unless 1977 is the YOM for your car in which case it's not a HAMB car.

 

Pretty sure we are talking about a car newer than HAMB focus, but the information about running YOM tags in Illinois is interesting.

 

Born in '77 maybe?

 

It's a '77 car. I should have mentioned that in my initial post. (*just edited it to reflect)
No, it's not a HAMB car, but the discussion is still relevant to antique cars.

Also (and this isn't the reason I'm going to run these plates, but I can't deny liking the benefit), antique plates in Illinois are absurdly cheap ($6 per year) and good for up to 5 years. Personalized antique plates are about $70 more per year, and regular vanity plates are $164/year. So I'll get the $6 plates and put my antique $8 ebay plate on the car!

 

There are restrictions on driving antique vehicles in Illinois so be advised. All it takes is one diligent officer, or maybe he’s not that diligent but he just doesn’t like old cars. See the second paragraph.



I just found more info, there is an Expanded-Use Option, at a cost of $45/ year. I think you need to do more research on this and avoid a lot of trouble.

 

This is common knowledge for anyone who registers an antique car (at least in Illinois), but thanks for the heads-up.

 

Common knowledge and the law are two different things. Were you aware of the Expanded-Use option? Your post sure didn’t sound like you knew about it.

 

I never mentioned anything about the type of state-issued antique plates I'd be getting. My question was about modifying the year-of-manufacture plate that I'd be displaying on the car.

Yes, I'm aware of the expanded-use plates, and have a set on one car, as well as the "regular" antique plates on two other cars. I run year-of-manufacture plates on both of those cars, and will do the same on the '77 car that will use the plate I'm discussing.

 

I vote for Fox-Pecker-Pink background with Blue-Balls Blue letters.

 

@Mr48chev said "To me YOM plates on a modified car are pretty lame. Stone showroom stock original as it rolled out of the dealership, that will fly."

In Michigan you pay a one time fee of $35 to register the plate. Normal plate would cost around $100 per year, so there is a big savings running a YOM plate. Just can't use the car as an everyday driver.

 

I’ve seen guys take a year of model plate, cut it up and add a set letters or numbers on them by tig welding them back in place. A lot of work for something so lame.
I’ve run color changed model year plates in Ohio for 25 yrs. Never asked if it was legal.

 

I run the required PA Street Rod plate in the rear and my almost but not quite correct '31 plate in the front. No officer of the law has yet complained. I like YOM plates even on modifieds, but that's just me.

 

Why tempt fate? Even if a police officer is totally uninterested in antique cars or street rods, they know that they never painted plates the color of the car. If you restore it, do it in the correct color.

 

I'm just surprised that they still had a plate with the year stamped on it in 1977.

 

Before the yearly tag updates in the late 70s, KY state issued plates were white/blue letters one year and the next year blue/white letters the next and so on and so on. Reason was the cops could glance to see if your plate was say, white like it was supposed to be. If it was blue you were out of compliance. If it was a two year old white plate, it wasn't as easy to spot. That may be why the letters and numbers played a role on the specific years.

 

You know what I like about monogram initial plates?
They make good wall hangers.

 

Exception to the rule, but nice work.