What colors were they when you were a little kid?

[JPR]

I always hate to exclude anybody, but unfortunately, this poll is for Californians who have lived here for the most part of their lives since they were little kids. It is kinda silly trivia, but I thought the trivia category wasn't the best because this subject is uniquely Californian.

Additional trivia: I'm old enough to remember when there were no registration stickers. We got a brand new plate each year.:D

[pulicords]

I remember the first "personalized" license plates (three numbers and three letters only)! My dad worked for CBS Television and through the company got a "CBS" plate. It was a big deal at the time and it wasn't until at least ten years later that the regular folks could get plates with combos of numbers and letters. I recall an employer of mine complaining in 1974 or '75 that he wasn't going to get a personalized plate, "because all the good ones are taken!" Very creative!

[WannaBeSheriff]

I came out to Ca. in '87. I'm pretty sure I recall mostly all blue plates

[pkagel]

Born there in 71 so all I recall are the blue ones though I've seen many of the others at hot rod shows.

[willowdared]

Ha! My Ex-Husband remembers his Dad going to every DMV office in the county to get the specific plates he wanted for each of his kids....I don't know if he was looking for a sequence or not, but thought it was interesting that they used to have the plates at the office.

I moved out here in '74, and I remember most plates were black/yellow, but the blue/yellow were just coming out.


I remember the first "personalized" license plates (three numbers and three letters only)! My dad worked for CBS Television and through the company got a "CBS" plate. It was a big deal at the time and it wasn't until at least ten years later that the regular folks could get plates with combos of numbers and letters. I recall an employer of mine complaining in 1974 or '75 that he wasn't going to get a personalized plate, "because all the good ones are taken!" Very creative!

[DOAcop38]

first car I drove- a '71 volvo 142S had the blue plates- the car I most wanted( a '67 slant back mustang my grandad owned still had its Blk and ylw plates),but then again we only had traffic at certain time of the day/night-now its traffic 24/7

[pkagel]

They had plates at the office when I got out of the Navy in 98 and moved back to CA. Now, with a new car they will mail them to you but coming in from out of state you just walk in, stand in line for half the day, fill out a ream of paperwork, hand them your plate and they hand you two shinny new ones and some stickers.

[deputy x 2]

I remember black with yellow raised letters/numbers!

This might be a local thing but how about the telephone numbers that started out like Tuxedo 5-0699...which meant 885?

[JPR]

I remember black with yellow raised letters/numbers!

This might be a local thing but how about the telephone numbers that started out like Tuxedo 5-0699...which meant 885?

I remember that.....I think it was at least a national thing because if I remember correctly, I believe my wife said they had the same thing back on the East coast where she grew up.

I think that was back in the time when tobacco was ok and marijuana wasn't.:D

[DOAcop38]

I think that was back in the time when tobacco was ok and marijuana wasn't.:D

..and sugar was OKAY, and drum brakes,no safety glass,and no seatbelts were just part of driving. anytone rmember when we could "SEE" the brown air of "sunny So.Califronia"???........:eek:

[JPR]

..and sugar was OKAY, and drum brakes,no safety glass,and no seatbelts were just part of driving. anytone rmember when we could "SEE" the brown air of "sunny So.Califronia"???........:eek:

And I thought I was old. I think safety glass started back in the 1920's:eek: :D All laminated including the side windows. I'm not sure when they changed to tempered glass on all windows except windshield.:confused:

I almost forgot about 4 wheel drum brakes. I do remember not only seeing the brown haze but smelling the raw gas fumes coming out of the tailpipes.

I also remember reading back then of some people who died of carbon monoxide poisoning when they sat in their car when it warmed up with the garage door closed. Based on my last smog check, I think my car now would burn a whole tank of gas before producing even enough CO to make me nauseous.

I also remember bias plied tires. Lucky to get 12,000 miles out of a set. Of course being 17 with a '65 Mustang GT didn't help.:D Wish I still had that car. Remembering that I sold it for $ 800 makes me nauseous.:(

[SgtCHP]

When I was a little one the plates were black with all numerals - no letters. The letters were not added until 1956 when the black on yellow plates were issued.

Here is a site for those who enjoy a little history of the California License Plate.

http://www.calpl8s.com/

[willowdared]

..and sugar was OKAY, and drum brakes,no safety glass,and no seatbelts were just part of driving. anytone rmember when we could "SEE" the brown air of "sunny So.Califronia"???........:eek:

I remember when you could see LA from San Diego....that brown patch to the north! :D

I also remember when they used to do smog alerts as part of the weather.

I like seatbelts though. My Mom got rear-ended once and I got to kiss the dash board....not fun!

[L-1]

When you say yellow background with black raised characters, are you talking about the 1947 series plates or the 1956 series plates? (I remember seeing both as a kid).

Damn kids, get off my lawn! Where's my Geritol?

[JPR]

When you say yellow background with black raised characters, are you talking about the 1947 series plates or the 1956 series plates? (I remember seeing both as a kid).

Damn kids, get off my lawn! Where's my Geritol?

Your memory is better than mine. I had to reach inside and grab every neuron just to remember seeing the black characters on yellow background.:)
To answer your question.....I have no clue. :) ( to the plate question that is....not the Geritol.):D

[Kieth M.]

Yeah I remember my dad attaching the plates.

I can remember when we moved to El Monte in '68 not being able to see one block away, due to the smog. My eyes burned. It really irks me when they (the AQMD) say the air isn't "clean enough" these days and screw with people's cars, and the gas prices. If they only know what we used to live with, they'd shut their cake holes.

But, I've fled to Colorado now, so you guys enjoy. I'll watch from a very comfortable distance!:D

[SgtCHP]

But, I've fled to Colorado now, so you guys enjoy. I'll watch from a very comfortable distance!:D

The last time I went to visit my brother in Colorado Springs and we traveled to Denver, I was amazed to see a familiar BROWN haze settling in around the mile high city. As we ventured back to the south towards Colorado Springs, there was that familiar haze. When I pointed it out to my brother he said it was the "methane release from all the cattle ranches and chicken farms" :eek: Yeah, right!

Now that I think it over :rolleyes: , it could be the rise of gases from all of the BS that people in Colorado want to spew about the "clean mountain air!":D

[Kieth M.]

You know, as I recall, Denver has always had that. Because like L.A. it gets trapped in by the mountains and can't blow west.

[Garbage Man]

Black plate with yellow letters on my 65 dodge van (what a chick magnet that was) :cool:

[JPR]

Black plate with yellow letters on my 65 dodge van (what a chick magnet that was) :cool:

Did ya have the popular bumper sticker back then, "If this vans a rockin don't bother knockin?";)