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.