License Plate Fonts Do Make A Difference On Classic Cars, Vintage Trucks or Muscle Cars!

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

We've learned in past articles in this series that license plates have been in existence for over one hundred years. We know that license plates have been made out of wood, leather, porcelain and various metals, and that the paint itself has varied from oil-based paints to modern reflective formulas. But did you know that the typefaces, also referred to as fonts, themselves have a history?

Leeward Productions, a company that produces custom promotional license plates, has an extensive library of information on the history of American license plates, and in particular the fonts used on them! Yes, there is an abundance of information on this, and it's fascinating that someone has actually made such a detailed study of this! I've highlighted some of the more pertinent information below, but I certainly recommend you visit their site (listed below) for more detailed information:

Most of us are familiar with the term "fonts" due to how common computers have become in the last twenty years. Once referred to as a typeface, the expression "font" is often intermingled and freely exchanged. But did you know that there is actually a difference? Simply put, a typeface is the letters and symbols within a specific design such as Arial, Helvetica, Times, Verdana, Palatino, etc. A font is one single weight, width and style of a typeface, such as Arial, 10 pt, Bold. Technically, Arial, 14 pt, Bold, would be considered a separate "font".

So what in the world does all this have to do with license plates? To answer this, we need to look back to the early days when license plates were first made. In the beginning, most plates were hand-drawn. Some were very crude renderings drawn by owners or shopkeepers who had no training, and sometimes little education in learning the alphabet! As license plates were mandated and began being prepared by states, draftsmen, engineers or others with training in mechanical drawing were selected to create blueprints for printing, and later for use in tool-and-die machinery. It's easy to see why, in the early years, there was not a lot of consistency in the creation of letters, other than the fact that they tended to consist of straight lines, circular arcs and/or ovals which could be created by the common drafting tools of the day: ruler and compass.

In fact, the United States does not regulate the appearance of license plates on a Federal level, but instead each state is responsible for determining the type style within the standardized size of the plates which is 12" x 6". License plate fonts used in North America tend to be narrower and taller than European license plates which are 20.5" x 4.5".

There are basically four typeface styles that have evolved and now make up the majority of plates used in North America. These are described as Semicircular Curves, Squarish, Oval Curves, and Mixtures/Hybrids. Apparently, many of the letters and numbers use lines that are exclusively straight (A,E,F,H,I,K,L,M,N,T,V,W,X,Y,Z and 1, 4 and 7). Others that contain curves are the ones that can appear quite different (B,C,D,G,J,O,P,Q,R,S, and the numbers 0,2,3,5,6,8,9).


Semicircular Curves have letters/numbers that have straight sides or diagonal lines with semicircular corners at the top and bottom: (Photo Credits following photos: Leeward Productions)

Squarish have letters/numbers that have straight sides, tops and bottoms with slight 90-degree arcs joining them:

Oval Curves use oval or elliptical bowls and arcs in the shaped letters and numbers, while they maintain straight lines only on those letters without curves.

 

Mixtures or Hybrids are inconsistent and may combine any of the above styles. You usually see the difference between letters and numbers, although the variation of styles can exist within either the numbers or within the letters, as seen here:

 

If you are looking to have a license plate replicated by a company such as Leeward Productions or some of the other custom plate manufacturers in the U.S., it's important to research your particular state and year of vehicle so that you can get the correct lettering for your plate. Some degree of consistency has led to better license plate recognition and readability. Other factors, such as embossment and the paint itself have changed and evolved over the years and are an equally important factor to consider when restoring an old license plate or having a new custom plate made for you.

REFERENCES / RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Adobe - Fonts: Type Glossary
Classic Car News - Finding Old License Plates
Classic Car News - The History of Texas License Plates - Part I
Classic Car News - Old Licenses Are Poised To Draw Top Dollar At Upcoming Auction
Classic Car News - Special License Plates for Antique, Classic or Vintage Trucks
Leeward Productions - Fonts/Lettering used on plates
The Floating Frog - What is the difference between a Font and a Typeface?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

Year Of Manufacture License Plates for Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, or Antique Vehicles

By Rod Hemmick
Special Contributing Author
for Motorheads Performance

For many people, part of the pride of ownership of a Classic or Antique vehicle or Street Rod is being able to display license plates on their vehicle that are not the “standard current issue” type that you find on every other car on the road.

Being able to have a special license plate that identifies your vehicle as a “Classic” or “Antique” vehicle is a nice way to show the pride that you take in your vintage vehicle. Many states, including Texas even allow the use of license plates to be registered on your vehicle that are the same year as your vehicle. This is commonly referred to as a Year of Manufacture (or YOM) license plate. For example, if you own a 1932 vehicle, you can register actual 1932 license plates on your vehicle. For many, this is the “ultimate” license plate to display on their vehicle which can be a finishing touch to the authenticity of your special ride.

Since each State has different laws regarding what type of license plates can be issued to Antique and Classic vehicles, there is no one single set of rules on how to get specialty (including YOM) license plates for your vehicle. Furthermore, it is always best to check with the proper authorities in your state as the final authority on these laws.

We continue this series of articles with the laws governing the issuance of Antique or Classic license plates for the State of Texas. In future articles, we will be covering these same laws as they apply to classic car license plates, truck license plates, and plates in other states, as requested by our readers. It is important to keep in mind that this group of articles will be applying to the laws for the State of Texas only and should not be considered as a guideline for requirements for other states. (Editor's Note: As part of this series on old license plates, Guy Algar and I have compiled a list of resources for every state in the country, along with other valuable and helpful links and resources. We hope you join us!)

In the State of Texas, your vehicle must be at least 25 years old in order to qualify for special license plates and can be registered as a “Classic” or “Antique” vehicle, depending on your plans for driving your vehicle on public roads. The types of vehicles that qualify are passenger cars, trucks and motorcycles, and you can even register a vintage travel trailer with “Classic” plates.

In this article we will begin by explaining the requirements for registering your vehicle as either a “Classic” or “Antique” vehicle. This will include how to get YOM license plates registered on your vehicle as well. To clarify, Year of Manufacture license plates are not a third category but rather you can opt to use YOM license plates under both the “Classic” and “Antique” registrations instead of using the currently issued Classic or Antique specialty plates. Links to Texas Department of Transportation website for forms and additional information are listed below.

Antique Vehicle Registration – A passenger car, truck or motorcycle that is 25 or more years old and is used exclusively for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest. The vehicle will in no case be used for regular transportation and will not carry advertising. A vehicle in route to and from a location for routine maintenance is allowed.

Applicants that have license plates, which are the same year as the vehicle may use those plates in lieu of Antique License Plates issued by the county. If the application is mailed, the applicant MUST have the license plates examined at their local County Tax Office before submitting the application. The license plates must be Texas license plates, the same year as the year model of the antique vehicle, be in good readable condition, and have the correct color scheme. A current valid inspection sticker is not required on your vehicle if it is registered as an Antique vehicle. Antique license plates are issued for five year periods. If your application is approved, you will receive a set of Antique License plates or a tab to attach to your YOM plates.

Classic Vehicle Registration - A passenger car, truck, motorcycle or travel trailer that is 25 or more years old may be registered as a Classic Vehicle. Vehicles must be fully registered like any other vehicle, which includes having an annual safety inspection done on the vehicle and displaying a current inspection sticker. Vehicles registered as Classic Vehicles may operate on any roadway just as a normal modern vehicle and may carry advertising. The same rules apply for YOM license plates for Classic Vehicle registration as described under the Antique Vehicle registration section. Classic Vehicle plates must be renewed every year the same as standard license plates.

YOM - Year of Manufacture license plates – May be used in lieu of Antique or Classic plates and must be in good readable original condition or restored and must be the original color scheme and be the same year as vehicle.

Original 1936 license plate in good readable condition:

License plate professionally restored in correct color scheme as original:

The following link for the Texas Department of Transportation has information on special license plates for vintage vehicles. There is a separate “Antique and Classic” link on this page for each type of registration (i.e.: Classic Auto, Classic Motorcycle, etc.). Costs for each type of plate are listed as well as a link to download the necessary form for registration as well as address information for each County if you plan to mail in your registration paperwork. A fax number and instructions are also listed.

Under the links for Classic Auto, Classic Truck, Classic Motorcycle and Classic Travel Trailer, there is an option to order a personalized plate and even a search box to determine if your desired personalization is available. If ordering by mail, there is a section to include the standard fee and also the fee for a personalized plate.
http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=10
Forms for these plates may also be downloaded from the following Texas Department of Transportation link. Click on the “Antique and Classic Vehicles” link at the top of this page:
http://www.txdot.gov/txdot_library/forms/citizen/drivers_vehicles/specialty_plates.htm#antique
If you have a specific question or problem you can reach the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Specialty License Plates” office at 512-374-5010. Be sure to get the name of the person that you spoke with, especially if they were helpful and/or knowledgeable about the registration process.

In summary, the basic guidelines for registering your vintage vehicle with “Classic” “Antique” or “Year of Manufacture” license plates are as follows:

1. Vehicle must be at least 25 years old.
2. If you are registering “Year of Manufacture” license plates, they must be the same year as the vehicle being registered and must be authentic license plates that were made by the State. (Reproduction license plates are not allowed).
3. Passenger car and truck license plates were issued in pairs for all years except 1945 and 1946 when only a single license plate was issued. This means that if you are registering a vehicle with “Year of Manufacture” license plates, you must have BOTH plates (unless the vehicle is a 1945 of 1946 vintage vehicle).
4. The license plates must be in good readable condition and they can be restored if they are not in good enough condition. The license plates can have some holes in them and/or some rusted areas, but the readability of the plates cannot be compromised by these holes or rusted areas.
5. The license plates must be the same color scheme as they were when originally issued.
6. If you are registering your vehicle as a “Classic Vehicle” for daily use, the vehicle must carry a current safety inspection sticker and proof of insurance is required.

If you are planning on using original “Year of Manufacture” license plates for your vehicle and you do not have your plates yet, here are some guidelines to consider when looking for a suitable set of plates:

1. The “straighter the better” – plates that are badly dented or bent can be more difficult and costly to restore and generally will not look as good when restored as a nice “straight” pair of plates.
2. Avoid plates with serious rust damage if possible – Light surface rust is fine, but plates that are rusted to the point of being brittle or have parts missing due to rust damage (i.e.: one corner rusted off) can be a real challenge and very costly to restore. Also if the State feels that this rust damage can compromise the plate’s readability, they will not register the plates. Plates with “saw toothed” rust damage along the edges of plate are hard to repair and can cause problems when restored.
3. Extra holes in a plate are okay as long as they do not compromise the plate’s readability. These can be left alone or repaired during restoration.
4. If the plates need to be restored you can do them yourself (if you are up to the challenge) or you can have a professional restoration service do the plates for you.

If you elect to have your plates professionally restored it can be well worth the cost as a nicely restored pair of license plates can be the finishing touch to a nicely restored vehicle. A poorly done or very “amateur” set of restored plates, while they may be able to pass the State’s registration requirements, may not look so good and can even detract from the looks of a nicely restored vehicle.
  
About our Contributing Author:
Rod Hemmick has been providing professional restorations of YOM license plates for over 18 years. Rod has been member of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) since 1981, and has even been used as a reference by the State of Texas in one of their publications on the History of Texas License Plates. Guy Algar and I have been using Rod as an expert resource for the restoration work we do at Motorheads Performance, and he's always been able to come through with the best of information and help for our customers. Rod's knowledge is extensive, and the quality of his restoration work is truly outstanding. For historical information on Texas License plates, contact Rod at ustexas66@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note:
We hope you have enjoyed the first installment of articles on classic car license plates. Our next article will appear next week. If you've missed any of my previous articles, here are links for your convenience:

The History of Texas License Plates - Part II
The History of Texas License Plates - Part I
Finding Old License Plates
Old License Plates Are Poised To Draw Top Dollar At Upcoming Auction

Please feel free to contact me via e-mail if you have a particular question that you'd like answered.

We've discussed finding old license plates in a previous article, but sometimes you may find it necessary or more desireable to have an old plate restored, whether for sentimental value, the uniqueness of the plate, or some other reason. If you're looking for someone to restore old plates for you, I can tell you that we've used Rod for our license plate needs. He is very knowledgeable about the types and colors of Texas license plates, and what is needed in order to have them accepted by the Department of Transportation for use. The costs to restore plates correctly is an investment just like the restoration process for your classic car or truck. Just keep that in mind when you contact a professional who does this type of restoration work. It's not cheap, but I've come to learn that much time and effort goes into the process so please consider that before questioning a craftsman with why it costs so much!  - Andrea L. Algar, Editor

Finding Old License Plates

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

As I announced a few days ago, our friend Rod Hemmick, who is an expert when it comes to old, vintage license plates for classic cars, antiques, old trucks and muscle cars has prepared some great information for Classic Car News on the history of Texas license plates and information on obtaining and using old license plates for your ride. The series of articles will start next week!

Motorheads Performance has benefited from Rod's expertise since 2008 or so when we first got together to talk cars. We were so impressed with his knowledge about old license plates, as well as his skills in restoration of old plates. Guy Algar and I learned that there's a lot that goes into the process of restoring old or vintage plates. It requires great detail, use of correct paints and colors, and it's not cheap, but for those who have a set of plates that may have been original to the car, or perhaps plates that were owned by a father or grandfather, sometimes it isn't all about the price. Rod's work has been sold to collectors and enthusiasts from all over the country.

Prices for a good set of YOM plates can go for $250 or more, while nice NOS plates might be found for $50 or more. Prices can vary between states, the year of the plate, and because of the condition of the plate itself. Some years and states are more difficult to find than others because of their current popularity for example.

Sets, or pairs, are usually always more desirable, and more expensive. Sometimes, you can find a random, single plate at a car show or on-line for short money, but in general those who handle old license plates know the value and price them accordingly. A really inexpensive plate may not have a match to make a pair, or be in too rough a shape to be approved for use on the road. It's value may be primarily for wall art. Rod will address many of these issues in his articles.



1954 Michigan Plate

Take a look at this recent rare California license plate, listed on eBay, which looked like it was settling to sell for $177.50 for the single plate. Meanwhile, the Michigan plate had a Buy It Now price of only $4.99, but it was certainly not road-worthy in it's present condition. And, as we wrote in our article, Old Licenses Are Poised To Draw Top Dollar At Upcoming Auctions, prices can go very, very high!

Rod offers up this advice, "The best place to find a set of license plates for your ride is eBay or an automotive swap meet. One of the biggest automotive swap meets held in Texas is the Pate Swap Meet in April which is held at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.  The 2013 Pate Swap Meet will include a classic car auction in addition to the swap meet!"  I offer that if you can't make it there, consider the New Braunfels Swap Meet in April each year.  Nationally, and probably best known is the Pomona Swap Meet, in Pomona, California, which has 7 events each year specifically for classic car enthusiasts! Mark your calendars and we'll see you there! 

Since we're right in the middle of a very active swap meet and car show season, I wanted to be sure to get information you can benefit from right away. We just published a list of August 2012 Events this week. We will continue with this event listing, and we look forward to bringing you Rod's informational series on old license plates and information on how you can contact Rod with any questions you may have on the history of old license plates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

Old License Plates Are Poised To Draw Top Dollar At Upcoming Auction

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

Part of the pride in owning a Classic or Antique Car is being able to display license plates on your vehicle that are not the "standard current issue" type that you find on every other car on the road. If you own a classic '55, a '29 pickup truck, or even a '69 muscle car, it'd be great to proudly display an original license plate from the same year it rolled off the showroom floor!


Photo courtesy Bonhams.com
as reprinted from Hemmings Daily

  Anyone who collects old license plates will certainly be interested in an upcoming auction where two 1948 Illinois license plates with the numbers "1" go up for sale. These plates reportedly were issued to Tucker Corporation because the low number plates back then were usually always issued to the "big names" in the state. The August auction will take place in Carmel, California by Bonhams, who has estimated that the pair of plates will go for somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000! Previous sales for low-number (although not as low) plates have sold for as much as $5750 according to an article in Hemmings Daily this week. The auction will also include a pair of rare art renderings by a designer hired by Preston Tucker himself.

This news led me to get back in touch with an old friend, Rod Hemmick. Rod has been providing professional restorations of YOM license plates for over 18 years, and has even been used as a reference by the State of Texas in one of their publications on the History of Texas License Plates. Guy Algar and I have been using Rod as an expert resource for the restoration work we do at Motorheads Performance, and he's always been able to come through with the best of information and help for our customers. Rod's knowledge is extensive, and the quality of his restoration work is truly outstanding.

Rod first provided me with permission to publish a series of articles he wrote specifically for people looking for old plates, and following our conversation this week, he has once again graciously agreed to allow us to reprint the articles in our newly revised Classic Car News.

- Information Series on Old License Plates -

We will be running articles on period license plates, and how you can get them for your ride. Different states have different requirements and laws governing the use of plates, and we're grateful to have an expert who has shared his knowledge with us. We begin this series with the laws governing the issuance of Antique and Classic license plates for the State of Texas. In upcoming articles, we will cover the history of license plates, proper colors, how to find YOM plates, etc. If you'd like information about another state, or any non-price questions, please contact me so we can publish the information for you or get you in touch with Rod directly.

One thing we noticed following our first discussion of plates back in 2009 was that many contacted Rod concerning his prices for obtaining plates. He cannot generally help in that area. The cost of getting old plates which are in good condition are continually going up. And, if restoration has been done, the cost is even higher. If you've done your research on-line through eBay, specialty sites or car shows, note that they are usually listed at the going rates. Your chances of finding them elsewhere for a lot less money, especially from an experienced collector/restorer, are very slim. Here, the old adage, "You get what you pay for" is especially true. If you really want the plates, don't exhaust yourself trying to save a few dollars. These sellers generally know the accurate value of the pieces they have. It's not at all unusual for vintage plates to sell for $250 or more. If you find what you're looking for and can afford them, buy them, as there are a lot of other people in line looking for the same plates!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.