License plate restoration?

BLUPORT

Carpe Diem Cras
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So, while digging back through the box of stuff I pulled out of my Newport, I found the original license plate that was put on the car when it was bought new.

It looks like hell. The metal is great, but the past 50 years haven't been kind to the paint. As much as I like my BULPORT plate, I'm considering having the plate changed to match the original numbers, and restoring the 1968 plate to its original glory.

It's a tough decision, get rid of the BLUPORT tag, or just keep it, and leave the original hanging around somewhere?

Thoughts and opinions? Leaving the original plate in its current condition is not an option.
 
I think Bluport is a cool plate. Maybe you can hang the original in your garage or display it on your dash or rear package shelf.
 
I have refrained from using a year of manufacture plate because I figure there's at least one dumb *** cop around here that won't know the law. Especially my '65 that would only have one (rear) plate.
 
Put the vintage tag on and be cool like the rest of us.
upload_2019-6-10_20-44-47.png

Mine is a '65 Dealer tag

If you do go with the old tag then you will just be throwing your "Blueport" tag under the seat, so you'll still have it.
 
I would restore the original. The original I presume was hand painted so match your colors first and work on your brush strokes.

Tip if you haven't lettered with paint, keep a fluid motion, if you look at an orginal they aren't perfect, but are consistent in brush width. My wife is much better at this than me with letters and numbers, but I can lay a pretty straight line. It takes practice.
 
Throw them in the trunk.
Great conversation piece as you pull a cold beer out of the cooler...
 
There are restoration services out there. That's what I would do.

Here in Cali, we can order 'legacy' plates...old style black with yellow letters. These are what came with older 60s cars back in the day. Last year was 1969, then in 70 I think they switched to blue with yellow letters. There was a sequence I believe you could tell what year the car was by the letters in the plate. I believe a "Z" in first spot was for a 1969. ZYX 345 for example. It was three letters/numbers, a space, then another 3 letters/numbers. So I made up some letters and numbers that made sense to me. Once I got the plates, I took some 0000 steel wool and a screw driver, and 'aged' the plates back to 1969 lol.
 
This is the old plate. I already have the restoration process covered, just trying to decide if I actually WANT to do it.
plate.jpg
 
I am, just can't access it at work.
ok, well if you want to phrase the question, I'd be glad to add the image and post for you, then send you comments as they come in. Up to you. Didn't know how big of a rush you were in.
 
ok, well if you want to phrase the question, I'd be glad to add the image and post for you, then send you comments as they come in. Up to you. Didn't know how big of a rush you were in.
Oh, I'm just trying to decide if I want to keep my vanity "BLUPORT" plate, or have that changed to the same plate # as the original, then I can run the original plate on the car, after it's restored.
 
Oh, I'm just trying to decide if I want to keep my vanity "BLUPORT" plate, or have that changed to the same plate # as the original, then I can run the original plate on the car, after it's restored.

I'm no expert, but I don't think you have to register your antique tag, you just have to carry a registered tag in the vehicle. So basically just restore the old tag, slap it on and throw "Blueport" under the seat, if that's what you decide to do.

I could be wrong about that, so if anyone has proof that the old tag has to be registered I'm interested as mine has never been.
 
I'm no expert, but I don't think you have to register your antique tag, you just have to carry a registered tag in the vehicle. So basically just restore the old tag, slap it on and throw "Blueport" under the seat, if that's what you decide to do.

I could be wrong about that, so if anyone has proof that the old tag has to be registered I'm interested as mine has never been.
I would just request a vanity plate with the old numbers on it, and run the old plate.
 
All of my vintage vehicles carry YOM tags. Even Connie. One time registration, and a easy way to ID what year the car is.
BLUPORT is a great tag, if you know what it signifies. The casual observer will say "WTF" and go on. I have no clue what most of the personal tags I see mean.
 
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