Originally Posted by
NumberDummy
Blue and yellow CA commercial plates were not used on these trucks originally, only black plates. It wasn't until mid-year 1971 that the blue plates were installed.
I bought a 1971 F100 Ranger XLT brand new 10/1970, the plates I received were black. There were two types of commercial blue plates, the originals used on trucks of this vintage have a letter as the last digit.
Passenger Cars were another story, as black plates were not used after 1969.
There is no "best option" for getting your money out of it. You think you bought a truck, but what you really bought is a hobby, and hobbies tend to be expensive.
These trucks are money pits, so don't expect to make any money off them...especially in today's economic conditions.
Ford didn't offer trailer brake controllers or any tow packages on trucks of this vintage. These setups were usually installed by U-Haul or by places that sold RV's.
Do not believe the mileage, because the odometers on trucks of this vintage read to 99,999.9 then return to ZERO!
A 41 year old truck w/62K on the clock would have only averaged about 1,500 miles a year. Not realistic.
Thanks bill you saved me $160 on plates that DMV wouldn't except. I see that the information on the internet concerning plates colors and years is not correct?
Genuine DMV rules from their own website
They won't know their own rules, but now you do!
from the DMV website at:
V C Section 5004.1 Model Year Date License Plates
V C Section 5004.1 Model Year Date License Plates
Model Year Date License Plates
5004.1. (a) (1) An owner of a vehicle that is a 1969 or older model-year vehicle or the owner of a commercial vehicle or a pickup truck that is a 1972 or older model-year may, after the requirements for the registration of the vehicle are complied with and with the approval of the department, utilize license plates of this state with the date of year corresponding to the model-year date when the vehicle was manufactured, if the model-year date license plate is legible and serviceable, as determined by the department, in lieu of the license plates otherwise required by this code.(2) The department may consult with an organization of old car hobbyists in determining whether the date of year of the license plate corresponds to the model-year date when the vehicle was manufactured.
(b) A fee of forty-five dollars ($45) shall be charged for the application for the use of the special plates.
(c) In addition to the regular renewal fee for the vehicle for which the plates are authorized, the applicant for a renewal of the plates shall be charged an additional fee of ten dollars ($10). If payment of a regular vehicle renewal fee is not required by this code, the holder of license plates with a date corresponding to the model-year may retain the plates upon payment of an annual fee of twenty dollars($20) that shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the plates were last assigned under this section.
(d) If a person who is authorized to utilize the special license plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another vehicle, a transfer fee of twelve dollars ($12) shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 497, Stats. 2007. Effective January 1, 2008. Operative July 1, 2009.
Amended Sec. 216, Ch. 179, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
Also:
Appendix 1ECalifornia License Plate Data (1914 – 1972)
Commercial Plate Information— For commercial plates use the automobile plate chart with the information below to verify plates issued during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1970s.
Year
Plate Symbols
Comments
During the 1930s and 1940s commercial vehicles used the following symbols:
BE
SC 7890
Solid tires on a commercial vehicle operating on a Board of
1930 Equalization (BOE) Permit.
through
1949
BE
PC 5432 Pneumatic tires on commercial vehicle operating on a BOE Permit.
P Commercial vehicle with pneumatic tires.
C 78901
S Commercial vehicle with solid tires.
C 23456
Year Pate Color Character Sticker Sticker Placement of Sticker on
Color Color Character Plate
1970 Black or Blue Yellow Orange Black Plates will be either black
or blue with six yellow characters.
1971 " " Green Black 1970 through 1972 year
1972 " " Yellow Black stickers will be placed on
the right well of plate.
1E-5 REVISED (DECEMBER 2009)