Very true and it helps to have friends in the law enforcement biz to sign off on the fix it tickets. I'm going to buy the front plates for both of my trucks just because it looks better (and not because of the law). There are a few repro outfits out there. I don't know if mine is the same as the one in Hemmings. My repro plates feel and seem to be metal.

Do you know which office DDK prefix was issued to? How could I find out?

Thanks, Ilya

 

Non-op vehicle for 7 yrs in CA = paperwork tossed out, so the black plates can't be used. 1955 plates can be used today, you need the plates and one original 1955 metal tag = both the plate number and the tag must clear. Motorcycles use the same sequences that the yellow/black and black/yellow plates used...that's usually the reason the older plate numbers won't clear. DMV clerks aren't rocket scientists. A friendly DMV office manager is a big help. Originally 1955 Olds' would have used the older long 1951 plates with the metal yr tag of 1955. In 1956, the plates changed to the current size, but were yellow with black letters. From memory = My grandma's 55 Olds Super 88 HT = BGS-732. My mom's 55 Olds 88 HT = HDL-984 = both 1956/62 CA plates. (My family owned a Olds dealership in LA). The only plates your 55 Olds can use are the 1951 plates with the 1955 metal tag...unless you go the personal plate route. Then you can run 1956/62 or 1963/68 black plates. I have set of new original correct first yr issue 1963 black plates...when the law changes, onto my 63 Galaxie HT they go.

DDK = Central Valley

 

My california plates are yellow and are 2 separate numbers! Although they are 1956 and were on my father-in laws 2 1956 ford trucks!!!!I wish they were the same! BILL

 

Thank you for all of the intelligent responses everyone! It looks like you have opened up many avenues for this project.

 

The repro plates I bought from the internet site are aluminum and painted exactly like the original black plates except for one thing. They come painted yellow on the reverse. So I painted them silver and now they look completely authentic except for the personalized number. Jag

 

Another PITA CA law. Unless you have a camper shell, you have to have commercial plates on your truck...no ifs ands or buts. Commercial black plates (or any other type of old plates) are hard to find in sets. If you get personal plates, or D/P plates and you don't have that *&^&%^ shell, the personal plates, or D/P plates are automatically commercial plates, also. Personal plates cost more $$ to buy, and more $$ to register yearly...now toss in the commercial plate factor, which is more $$ over regular non commercial plates. The registration yearly costs can be staggering. There is no additional charge for the D/P (handicap) commercial plates, you only pay the commercial plate rate.

 

WHOA!! That's incorrect!!! Original black plates were black on both sides, not silver!! The previous yellow plates were yellow on both sides. 1969 Blue plates were blue on both sides. The first and second issued white plates were white on both sides. Only the current issued white REFLECTIVE plates have a silver back!!!


ALL previous CA plates are the same color, front and back. Even the original 1900-1920's porcelain license plates were the same color front and back. Only the letters are different colors.

 

Oh great, now you tell me! Oh well, I guess I'll be out there painting the backs black this weekend. Jag

 

Oh man. lol!

 

You shooda asked...

I'm old...so I remember back in 1963 when these black plates were first issued, and where they were issued. The first car I put black plates on in 1963 was my 1947 Ford termite infested, dry-rotted woodie = IME-730-Santa Monica. The second = 1950 Olds 88 = IMH-077-Santa Monica. The third = 1955 Packard = JLG-828-Culver City. I've studied CA license plates for years...don't ask...I have no klew as to why.


btw...I was never in Folsom Prison, so I've never made any, either.

 

So what can you say on a 9 6 1 F L J plate?

 

That's not a black plate, as they and the previous 1956/62 plates were three letters, three numbers AAA 111. That's a first issue, non commercial blue plate...the sequence is reversed 111 AAA. Where blue plates were issued I haven't a klew, because in 1968, even the black plates were no longer branch DMV specific. One might be issued a W or X plate from any DMV office. The blue plates reversed sequenced numbers was necessary, because the black plates were NOT turned in. They remained valid, and are STILL valid to this day. The previous 1956/62 yellow/black plates WERE turned in for the 1963 black plates.


The only other time CA issued blue plates (with orange letters) was in 1939 only, and highly desirable, because the plates read CALIFORNIA WORLDS FAIR. Try finding a decent set = good luck.

 

The car sat non-op'd for 2-3 years. The idiots at the DMV took advantage of an unknowing customer.

My 37 Airflow sat non-op'd for over 10 years. It was off the records when I purchased it and had to go through 2-3 months of registration process with the DMV. Had my local PD friend verify it first. Then went to the DMV and told them that I want to register it with the black/yellow plates that came with the car, especially since I had the pair. The clerk told me I couldn't, but I requested that I speak with the manager. She went and told the manager the situation, then came back and said that as long as they're clear, they'd be able to be registered. I didn't know that motorcycles use the same sequence today. I guess I got lucky that the sequence was clear.

I'd like to get a matching pair of 51 COM plates for both of my trucks, but they're a bit too pricey for me at this point. I already have a matching pair of 52 tags to put on one of the plates. The regular 51 matching pair plates are slightly cheaper than the COM plates, but are still pricey. Finding matching year tags are easier than finding matching plates.

More on the DDK prefix. Any idea what office in the Central Valley or the location? Also, do you know if all of the records (prior owners, etc) are purged after 7 years of non-reg?

Thanks, Ilya

 

This sure has been an informative discussion.

Its amazing what can be learned on this site!

Thanks
Bobby

 

Is that a Chrysler or DeSoto Airflow? Just curious, a friend has a 1934 DeSoto Airflow sedan..with black plates. He's in the club, too. The car was purchased from long time local sportscar owner/mechanic Bud Hand, the engine is not stock.


The D and E black plates were originally issued in central CA. Where, I can't say for sure. A B and C plates were NorCal issue. Some B and most of the C plates were originally issued in Baghdad by the Bay = San Francisco, and throughout the SF Peninsula, Marin and Contra Costa County.


Prior owners ...if you know someone, you'd be amazed what info Sacramento has. I traced a 1964 Studebaker Hawk that was for sale in CT several yrs ago (for sale ad was in Hemmings) back to 1964 by using just the VIN, and a local DMV manager friend. The entire process took less than 5 minutes.