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Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:29 pm

Been looking for one on eBay and they are hard to find, why so? I believe they were issued in the '80s?

Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:21 pm

Late 80's to early 90's it was the first change over from the blue/yellow config. They didn't last very long.

Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:03 pm

waxhead wrote: Been looking for one on eBay and they are hard to find, why so? I believe they were issued in the '80s?

California ran the "sunset" plates from 1982-1986. Im not sure if you are looking for a set, or a plate within a certain number range, or maybe a certain personalized plate, but I see them all the time. They seem to be pretty much a dime a dozen.

Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:28 pm

stale air wrote: waxhead wrote: Been looking for one on eBay and they are hard to find, why so? I believe they were issued in the '80s?

California ran the "sunset" plates from 1982-1986.

I have a set of these on my 87' Wolfsburg Weekender Vanagon.

Are you sure that those production years are correct?

Oh.... and why would one be looking for them, (ie, a set of these plates)? Can they be reassigned to another vehicle, even?

Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:01 pm

Busryder wrote: stale air wrote: waxhead wrote: Been looking for one on eBay and they are hard to find, why so? I believe they were issued in the '80s?

I have a set of these on my 87' Wolfsburg Weekender Vanagon.

Are you sure that those production years are correct?

Oh.... and why would one be looking for them, (ie, a set of these plates)? Can they be reassigned to another vehicle, even?
Actually, I didn't ask, but I was wondering the same thing. Even if you have a matched set you are not able to register them to your vehicle.

Busryder, the Dmv's were allocated a certain number of plates that also contained a certain number/letter sequence. It could be that whatever Dmv your vanagon was registered at when new still had some unissued leftover plates from the earlier batch. That could be why you have a set of "sunsets" on your 87.

Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:17 pm

From the Cali DMV website:
Quote:
1982 is the year when the standard plate was changed to a white background with blue characters with a sun graphic and CALIFORNIA in red block letters. It was also the last year any blue/yellow plates were issued.

1987, reflectorized plates with CALIFORNIA in red block letters were issued. The sun graphic was discontinued.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:37 am

KTPhil wrote: From the Cali DMV website:
Quote:
1982 is the year when the standard plate was changed to a white background with blue characters with a sun graphic and CALIFORNIA in red block letters. It was also the last year any blue/yellow plates were issued.

1987, reflectorized plates with CALIFORNIA in red block letters were issued. The sun graphic was discontinued.

you mean you can find that sort of information ONLINE? HOLY SHIT! That means no more DMV questions?

Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:04 am

that and an 87 could very easily have been built and first sold from Aug to Dec 86, and therefore would have whatever plates were issued in 86.

In fact your door jamb sticker should tell you the exact date of manufacture

Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:15 am

Busryder wrote: Oh.... and why would one be looking for them, (ie, a set of these plates)? Can they be reassigned to another vehicle, even?

You'll notice he lives in Philadelphia. If hes like me he just collects license plates and pairs are always nice to have. Some are a bitch to find depending on where you live and even on ebay for whatever reason.

Waxhead, I'll look in my boxes of plates and see if I have one. I know I have a few different Cali plates. If I do I will PM you.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:36 pm

probably less of them going around since most of the 80's cars were POS and ended up in the scrap yard

Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:02 pm

Wow I can't believe they were issued that long ago. Damn I'm feeling older every day.

Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:55 pm

Good info on the "Golden State" base:

Quote: This plate was introduced in 1982 as an alternative to the blue plates for a small additional charge and then finally exclusively for the first 9 months of 1987, when a law was passed that all new CA plates had to be reflectorized. The fact that it was optional and then its short exclusive period makes it rarer than the other modern bases.

More:

http://web.archive.org/web/20061105060300/http://w...oldenstate

I moved to CA in April of 1987 and was issued one for my '69 Bug. I might still have it.

Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:34 pm

Always hated those things. It's good that they're rare. That way I don't have to see them very often.

Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:46 pm

i got a couple hanging on my garage wall. the last one i got was a freebie at a swap meet. they are out there.

heres one on fleabay. kinda cool, its an exempt plate

http://www.ebay.com/itm/License-Plate-Sunny-Califo...336f6149dc

Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:44 pm

Thanks for the info. Yes, I'm just looking for one to hang on my garage wall - I have a collection of license plate frames and I like to match the frame with a state-specific and date-specific plate.

They are definitely less common than the others, just do a search on eBay and usually only a few come up for sale.

Mike

Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:21 pm

It's always the crappiest things that become collector's items. I remember when they came out thinking they were so ugly and people paid extra for them.

Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:33 pm

I still have mine on my Ghia, ordered a set back in 1985:

A bit worn...but I'm still rollin' with them on:

Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:28 am

I have an 87 iroc and an 88 chevy pickup, both with sunplates. I like them.

can kinda see it here