After 13 years, I finally got my original black and yellow plates re***igned to my 64 Impala today! I was really surprised how fast the whole process took at the DMV. I was in and out in only 20 minutes! No appointment, and only a 10 minute wait! When I did the plates for my truck, it took about 45 minutes with an appointment and some educating of the DMV clerks. Anyway, so what do you think? Do the colors look right? I tried 4 or 5 different shades of yellow before using the one you see in the pics. After the lettering dried, I thought the plates looked too shiny. I wet sanded them and sprayed them with a semi-gloss clear.
They look perfect to me! So when did they start letting 63 + newer plates qualify for the YOM program?
You'll never guess. I actually used Testors yellow enamel for model kits. I brushed it on thick, and I tried to keep it wet to reduce brush marks. It took about 4 coats to look even. I let each coat dry for 24 hours, then I wet sanded the letters/numbers. After the last coat was wet sanded, I wet sanded the whole plate with 1000 grit. Then I sprayed the plates with a semi-gloss clear. Next time I think I'll try 1-Shot striping enamel instead. I just didn't have any yellow 1-shot at the time.
As of July 1st 2009, the YOM law changed. The 63 Black & Yellow plates can be used on 1963 to 1969 cars, and 1963 to 1972 trucks. It seems like I've been waiting forever for the law to change. The 63 black & yellow plates are the best looking license plate California has ever had,IMO.
Awesome!! Ok, now do you have to have "1964" sticker, with an external YOM bolt-on sticker thingie like the 1962 and older YOM plates require? Or can you just apply the current year sticker the plate like I can with my original blacked plated 67 Impala SS? Actaully, typing/thinking here, I answered my own question --> I would think you could apply the current registration sticker directly to the plate, cuz black plates have always been valid in CA. Plus, who would know the difference --> continuously used black plate vs. YOM black plate?
That's Awesome! I wish Illinois had a program like that. I have the correct year plates for my 1931 Model A roadster, 1964 Falcon Convertible, and 1968 Galxie Convertible that I display at shows only.
Nice job on your plates. You're right, they're probably the coolest most recognized plate around........Mike
BigDog, you have to use the year sticker on the plate in order for the DMV to approve them for use. After that, if you want to use the new yearly registration sticker on your plate, nobody would know the difference. But, once the plate is issued to your car, it can only be used on that year of vehicle. For example, if I sold my '64 but I wanted to keep the plates to use on another car, they can only be used on another 1964 vehicle. The catch is, I don't know if the DMV will want to see the plates to re-***ign them to another car. If they do, and you have covered the OG year (1964) sticker with a 2010 sticker, they might not let you use them without the '64 one.
cool deal man, those plates tell the story of a car. well they used to anyway. the paint job looks great.
I just did this at the DMV. I bought a set of "DMV clear" black plates (commercial for my 65 C10) on E-Bay. Kinda expensive for the commercial plates. You can go to the official Cali DMV website, personalized plates page, and check to see if they are in use or not. Then you need the YOM sticker, so again i found a 1965 sticker through someone on E-Bay. I took both matching plates, with sticker attached to the DMV here in San Diego. The lady that helped me happened to be the one who teaches the cl***es to the other agents about YOM plates. They make a zerox copy of both plates, so you have to have them in person. She gave me a temporary sticker to put in my window and told me the stickers for my black plates will be sent to my house. Any questions feel free to ask.. Nailz
Dumb question: Does an actual 1963 model need a sticker? I ask, since the plates are stamped 1963 already where the sticker goes, right? (yes--I have a 63 car )
Nicely done! And the yellow looks right on target from what I can see. I weirded out when I saw my first plate with the blue background...It just never seemed right to move from the black and yellow...
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