Restoring a 1970's License Plate?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'd like to entertain restoring my 1972 Texas plate to, at least, a better condition than it is in today. The coloring is a bit faded and yellowed.

Getting the base color is easy but painting the letters is something I am trying to generate a strategy around.

For the letters, the best I can come up with is brushing or pouring a thin layer of paint onto a rubber mat and "stamping" the plate into it. Anyone have a better method for painting letters? I do NOT have a steady hand to attempt brushing.

[RacerX]

In the same boat with my '71... 

I have seen videos of how they were originally painted, and your suggestion is pretty close to what they did but duplicating that process at home won't be easy. 

I guess the upside is the penalty for error is just stripping the plate and trying again...

Some folks hand paint them but it doesn't look good at the end, so like you I am looking for a better strategy.

I have heard about a guy here in San Antonio that deals with old plates and I am told he does restorations.   Will try to find the contact info I had for him.

Definitely interested if you come across any other ideas...

[Cuda Cody]

Some of those "faded" paints were actual not white to begin with.  In WA they used that same off white on the plates in the early 70's and then it changed to bright white one year.  I collect old plates from the 70's for WA and I can tell you most collectors pay more for the original off white than a restored one.  I like the way your plate looks now. 

[RacerX]

Some of those "faded" paints were actual not white to begin with.  In WA they used that same off white on the plates in the early 70's and then it changed to bright white one year.  I collect old plates from the 70's for WA and I can tell you most collectors pay more for the original off white than a restored one.  I like the way your plate looks now. 

Mine has a little bit of "patina" and the rear plate I would probably be ok leaving as-is.

However, the front one has a big chip out of the white background and the DMV doesn't like it.

I would also prefer that it not have the chip.    A full repaint would be good but I figured I could probably feather the edges of the chip and spray some eggshell or off-white in there and maybe be done with it.   

[71vert340]

 Here's my before and after on the 1971 plate. I left the 72 as is. I hand painted the black.
Terry

[cudamadd]

Nice job on that plate 71vert340 

[Solarguy]

There's a current thread over on Moparts on the subject.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2799846/does-anyone-restore-old-license-plates.html#Post2799846

Here in Florida, You CANNOT restore the plate and use it.  I don't know how it's enforced but a sharp eyed cop may give you a hard time. 

[71vert340]

 In Washington state, restored Washington state plates can be used on a collector vehicle. Reproduction plates cannot be used. The plate has to be the same year the car was manufactured. The plate has to be inspected at a state licensing office and the plate number is then registered to that car permanently. The plate must be mounted on rear or front and rear if you have two plates. Only the one time fee is paid to assign it to the car. Or, you can be assigned a permanent modern Collector Vehicle plate.
Terry

[Rich G.]

I would mask off everything around the numbers and letters then spray paint them and clear over it. Might take a few hours to mask but it would look great when you're done.

[RacerX]

In Washington state, restored Washington state plates can be used on a collector vehicle. Reproduction plates cannot be used. The plate has to be the same year the car was manufactured. The plate has to be inspected at a state licensing office and the plate number is then registered to that car permanently. The plate must be mounted on rear or front and rear if you have two plates. Only the one time fee is paid to assign it to the car. Or, you can be assigned a permanent modern Collector Vehicle plate.
Terry

Texas is pretty much exactly the same...

[Mrbill426]

 

[Mrbill426]

@71vert340  Maybe I am thick headed but how can you tell the date of a plate when they use the same color scheme on plates for several years running?  Or do you simply mean the plate must be the same color scheme as was used when the car first sold?
Thanks



[quote author=71vert340 link=topic=17562.msg228332#msg228332 date=1596112243
In Washington state, restored Washington state plates can be used on a collector vehicle. Reproduction plates cannot be used. The plate has to be the same year the car was manufactured. The plate has to be inspected at a state licensing office and the plate number is then registered to that car permanently. The plate must be mounted on rear or front and rear if you have two plates. Only the one time fee is paid to assign it to the car. Or, you can be assigned a permanent modern Collector Vehicle plate.
Terry
[/quote]

[71vert340]

  The older plates had the year date stamped into the plate. Starting about 1970, a little decal was put in the corner each year. There's a 1971 Washington license plate on ebay right now that has not been restored that has the 71 decal on it still. Here's a link to the Washington regs. Section 5 has a link to what restored plates are.
Terry
link: https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/spcollector.html

[RacerX]

Yea look at the pictures...  the year is stamped into the plate...   mine is 1971 (with TEXAS in between the 19 and 71) and the OP's is 1972.

Texas went with the year of manufacture plates a little longer, at least to mid 70s.   I have a set for our 1974 roadrunner also.

[Mrbill426]

Thanks I will have to look at mine, the ones I bought about 10 years ago and now can't find    I don't recall of they were embossed of just have stickers.

  The older plates had the year date stamped into the plate. Starting about 1970, a little decal was put in the corner each year. There's a 1971 Washington license plate on ebay right now that has not been restored that has the 71 decal on it still. Here's a link to the Washington regs. Section 5 has a link to what restored plates are.
Terry
link: https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/spcollector.html