Black & White Plate to White/Yellow Changeover
Discussion
Quick question for anyone who would have remembered the late 60s/early 70s.....
I know that the changeover from a legal point of view happened in 1973, but White & Yellow Plates came in during the 1960s.
What I want to know is, what would a new vehicle registered in the UK in November 1970 have been more likely to have been fitted with from new, a set of the old fashioned a black and white numberplates or the new style white/black & yellow/black numberplates?
Vehicle in question is a Volkswagen, if that would potentially have made any difference.
I know that the changeover from a legal point of view happened in 1973, but White & Yellow Plates came in during the 1960s.
What I want to know is, what would a new vehicle registered in the UK in November 1970 have been more likely to have been fitted with from new, a set of the old fashioned a black and white numberplates or the new style white/black & yellow/black numberplates?
Vehicle in question is a Volkswagen, if that would potentially have made any difference.
Whatever the dealer / number plate supplier had to hand or whatever the customer asked for. Some dealers would have probably used up the old b&w stock before ordering the newfangled reflective plates.
By 1970 I'd say it was about 50 / 50 judging by photos of the period, the earliest advert I've seen for the reflective plates was from March 1968.
By 1970 I'd say it was about 50 / 50 judging by photos of the period, the earliest advert I've seen for the reflective plates was from March 1968.
When I was young, we always looked out for the new registration on August the 1st.
Pretty much every new car I saw from a J plate onwards had reflective plates and my father's 1967 Cortina GT that he bought in 1971 had reflective plates and his 1971 Firenza 2000 had reflective plates. A friend's father's brand new Celica ST had reflective plates.
In general, they were touted as safety plates that made the car more visible and, by and large, just about everybody specified them. I can't honestly recall anyone specifying black and white/silver plates in the early 70s, they were associated with "old cars" and old-fashioned.
Pretty much every new car I saw from a J plate onwards had reflective plates and my father's 1967 Cortina GT that he bought in 1971 had reflective plates and his 1971 Firenza 2000 had reflective plates. A friend's father's brand new Celica ST had reflective plates.
In general, they were touted as safety plates that made the car more visible and, by and large, just about everybody specified them. I can't honestly recall anyone specifying black and white/silver plates in the early 70s, they were associated with "old cars" and old-fashioned.
It's strange how fashions have changed!
In the 1970s, people would have fitted the reflective type to appear 'newer.' Now owners fit black and silver plates to make their car appear more 'classic.' Often illegally too
It's only allowed on cars 40 years old. The DVLA also issued guidance that it will not roll forward ay more with the 'historic' status so only allowed on pre 1980 cars.
In the 1970s, people would have fitted the reflective type to appear 'newer.' Now owners fit black and silver plates to make their car appear more 'classic.' Often illegally too
It's only allowed on cars 40 years old. The DVLA also issued guidance that it will not roll forward ay more with the 'historic' status so only allowed on pre 1980 cars.I would say most, except perhaps for the odd fleet where saving a few shillings was more important, were opting for the new reflective plates and probably the raised black digits on aluminium were the most common. It was, after all, the latest thing and an easy way to look 'new'.
I can only think of a few people who I knew of buying new cars in 1970/71 and they all had reflective plates; not the biggest sample-size in the world, though
I can only think of a few people who I knew of buying new cars in 1970/71 and they all had reflective plates; not the biggest sample-size in the world, though
Most of the 16 Capris @ Brands Hatch FordSports Day, on May 28th 1972, were fitted with black / silver plates. All of the cars were registered in late March 72.
( two cars in this shot, have yellow plates.
I can’t quite tell if their plates are pressed alloy, or alloy, with the raised riveted on letters.
Any supplier recommendations for a pair of 73 on yellow pressed plates ?
( two cars in this shot, have yellow plates.
I can’t quite tell if their plates are pressed alloy, or alloy, with the raised riveted on letters.
Any supplier recommendations for a pair of 73 on yellow pressed plates ?
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 9th February 18:45
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 9th February 18:48
Thanks for all the knowledge.
It’s for a 1970 Bay Window VW T2 I’m restoring on behalf of a friend.
I want the exterior to look as OEM and period-correct as possible, but with a more contemporary interior.
Most seem to have black and silver retro pressed aluminium plates fitted or modern reflective plates, but I wanted to go down the route of riveted raised letters on an early-style reflective plate. Partly because it’s different from the norm these days and partly because it suits the colour scheme better than black plates. I didn’t want to fit them if it didn’t feel authentic and how it would have been from new though, so I’m glad it sounds like it would be authentic for the period.
It’s for a 1970 Bay Window VW T2 I’m restoring on behalf of a friend.
I want the exterior to look as OEM and period-correct as possible, but with a more contemporary interior.
Most seem to have black and silver retro pressed aluminium plates fitted or modern reflective plates, but I wanted to go down the route of riveted raised letters on an early-style reflective plate. Partly because it’s different from the norm these days and partly because it suits the colour scheme better than black plates. I didn’t want to fit them if it didn’t feel authentic and how it would have been from new though, so I’m glad it sounds like it would be authentic for the period.
neutral 3 said:
Most of the 16 Capris @ Brands Hatch FordSports Day, on May 28th 1972, were fitted with black / silver plates. All of the cars were registered in late March 72.
( two cars in this shot, have yellow plates.
I can’t quite tell if their plates are pressed alloy, or alloy, with the raised riveted on letters.
Any supplier recommendations for a pair of 73 on yellow pressed plates ?
Try these, scroll down to styles 6 and 7....( two cars in this shot, have yellow plates.
I can’t quite tell if their plates are pressed alloy, or alloy, with the raised riveted on letters.
Any supplier recommendations for a pair of 73 on yellow pressed plates ?
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 9th February 18:45
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 9th February 18:48
https://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp
The number Plate Centre in Brum are good too, I've used their products many times, with the last set I bought I asked specifically for them to be made with 'square cut' typeface and black borders and they happily obliged....
https://www.numberplatecentre.com/products.html
Or Tippers in Cornwall....
https://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/
Edited by P5BNij on Tuesday 9th February 19:28
P5BNij said:
Try these, scroll down to styles 6 and 7....
https://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp
The number Plate Centre in Brum are good too, I've used their products many times, with the last set I bought I asked specifically for them to be made with 'square cut' typeface and black borders and they happily obliged....
https://www.numberplatecentre.com/products.html
Or Tippers in Cornwall....
https://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/
Thanks P5, il check them out. https://www.classicplatesonline.co.uk/plates.asp
The number Plate Centre in Brum are good too, I've used their products many times, with the last set I bought I asked specifically for them to be made with 'square cut' typeface and black borders and they happily obliged....
https://www.numberplatecentre.com/products.html
Or Tippers in Cornwall....
https://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/
Edited by P5BNij on Tuesday 9th February 19:28
My father bought a brand new Austin 8 cwt van in November 1970. It had black, pressed steel number plates with silver plastic letters attached. (Manufacturer: Hills?) They were soon changed for modern, reflective pressed metal plates, again with plastic characters, black this time, attached.
I still have both sets of these original plates.
And the van!
I still have both sets of these original plates.
And the van!
My July 73 registered car still has the original yellow & white dealer supplied aluminium plates with separate black letters and numbers.
Its an L plate Ford.
I plan to refurbish them and refit them, when the car is restored.
I'm sure that the latest cars I saw earlier plates on were K plate, until the mid 90's when people started to put them on much later cars as a 'design' feature.
Its an L plate Ford.
I plan to refurbish them and refit them, when the car is restored.
I'm sure that the latest cars I saw earlier plates on were K plate, until the mid 90's when people started to put them on much later cars as a 'design' feature.
Edited by Hol on Thursday 11th February 09:23
LuS1fer said:
When I was young, we always looked out for the new registration on August the 1st.
Pretty much every new car I saw from a J plate onwards had reflective plates and my father's 1967 Cortina GT that he bought in 1971 had reflective plates and his 1971 Firenza 2000 had reflective plates. A friend's father's brand new Celica ST had reflective plates.
In general, they were touted as safety plates that made the car more visible and, by and large, just about everybody specified them. I can't honestly recall anyone specifying black and white/silver plates in the early 70s, they were associated with "old cars" and old-fashioned.
I hadn't even considered the phased changeover as a possibility, for years I just assumed that it was a big bang type change.Pretty much every new car I saw from a J plate onwards had reflective plates and my father's 1967 Cortina GT that he bought in 1971 had reflective plates and his 1971 Firenza 2000 had reflective plates. A friend's father's brand new Celica ST had reflective plates.
In general, they were touted as safety plates that made the car more visible and, by and large, just about everybody specified them. I can't honestly recall anyone specifying black and white/silver plates in the early 70s, they were associated with "old cars" and old-fashioned.
But, i based that on seeing loads of K plate cars with the old plate, but nothing newer when I was growing up and still more interested in Lego, than cars.
mbwoy84 said:
Most seem to have black and silver retro pressed aluminium plates fitted or modern reflective plates, but I wanted to go down the route of riveted raised letters on an early-style reflective plate. Partly because it’s different from the norm these days and partly because it suits the colour scheme better than black plates. I didn’t want to fit them if it didn’t feel authentic and how it would have been from new though, so I’m glad it sounds like it would be authentic for the period.
Wasn't uncommon in those days to see an old (maybe pre-war) car or van where the rivets had failed on a letter or number - usually due to impact - and the owner had badly painted in a replacement. Legal then and cheap!Hol said:
My July 73 registered car still has the original yellow & white dealer supplied aluminium plates with separate black letters and numbers.
Its an L plate Ford.
I plan to refurbish them and refit them, when the car is restored.
I'm sure that the latest cars I saw earlier plates on were K plate, until the mid 90's when people started to put them on much later cars as a 'design' feature.
Any photos of the front and rear of it ? Just part of the plate will do. Its an L plate Ford.
I plan to refurbish them and refit them, when the car is restored.
I'm sure that the latest cars I saw earlier plates on were K plate, until the mid 90's when people started to put them on much later cars as a 'design' feature.
Edited by Hol on Thursday 11th February 09:23
|https://thumbsnap.com/FPwFDbP7[/url]Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff