Just to be clear , Ca. historical plates are NOT year of manufacture ("YOM") , you can drive your YOM plated vehicle anywhere anytime at all .
The ' Historical vehicle ' plates are for buggies and such although the rules allow you to put them on your 50's vehicles too , they have significant use restrictions to them that allow you to save over 50 % on your insurance but woe betide the person who wrecks during rush hour with historical plates .
Back when vanity plates first hit California , I had a few but now I run the old black & yellow plates issued in 1963 when they dropped the older yellow & black ones , vehicles so equipped are beginning to thin out as stupid DMV clerks don't want to bother with the additional 1 minute (really!) it takes to keep that lovely black plate in service at NO COST to the vehicle owner , preferring instead to issue the ugly reflectorized modern plates in lieu .
I saw one fellow who figured out how to reflectorize the yellow paint on his black & yellow plates , they looked normal in sunlight but the letters & numbers lit right up at night when a light shone upon it .
