Black-and-gold California license plates return after nearly 50 years

[AF News Desk]

Black-and-gold California license plates return after nearly 50 years
Posted Jun 26, 2015 by Chris Bruce


If you want to give your modern car a bit of vintage flair in the Golden State, the California DMV is happy to oblige. After over two years, the state is sending out the first batch of black-and-gold license plates to customers. This style was last issued to vehicles there between 1963 and 1969 and afterwards the design changed to blue with gold characters.

California's Legacy License Plates program isn't just limited to classics, though, and they are available for any car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, or trailer. Even personalized versions can be ordered, but those don't arrive to drivers until August. Regardless of whether a sequential or vanity version, the black-and-gold plates are $50.

Getting these vintage plates has been a long road for California drivers. The DMV started accepting pre-orders for several vintage designs in 2013, which also included yellow with black lettering and a blue background with yellow. However to see production, a given style needed at least 7,500 reservations by January 1, 2015. The people voted with their wallets, and the black with gold characters hit the required number. According to DMV spokesperson Jaime Garza to Autoblog, the other two proposed styles didn't meet the required orders.

According to The LA Times, the reproduction black-and-gold plates are being made from the original molds. They are still being produced by inmates at Folsom Prison, as well. The only major change is that the gold paint for the characters is now reflective.
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Classic California License Plates to Hit Streets this Summer

First Set of 1960's Legacy License Plates Mailed

Sacramento – California drivers can relive those nostalgic memories from the 1960's with Legacy License Plates. The black and gold replicas are now available to order for your car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, or trailer. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) mailed out the first set of Legacy License Plates, so expect to see them on our roadways soon.

Currently, the DMV is distributing the sequential versions of the pre-ordered plates, which will be mailed directly to the customers. The personalized plate customers will receive a post card informing them when and where their plates can be picked up. The personalized plates take longer to produce and will hit the streets in August.

Customers picking up personalized Legacy License Plates, are reminded to bring their old license plates and registration card with them.

The plate costs $50 for either the sequential or the personalized plate. The 1960's Legacy License Plate can be ordered online, by mail, or at your local DMV field office or auto club.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/06/26/b...fter-50-years/