I just recently got this plate from a seller on ebay. It was just labeled as an oldsmobile license plate. I don't think they knew its historical value. These plates were used by dealers on showroom cars. There is no doubt in my mind that this is an original stamping. The bolt holes show it would only have been mounted once. It will be the new front plate on my car from now on. The rear plate will be a 1972 registered YOM plate the car was originally licensed with. (Dad and I used to save our old license plates on nail pegs stuck into the garage wall.)

I've seen these with variations of gold/silver and black. Some have the Olds rocket done in black. The center finish has a "brushed steel" look.

Does anyone out there know conclusively what year these would have originally been stamped? It's more for information than anything else.

OldsFrontDealerPlate.jpg?t=1267307867

OldsFrontDealerPlate3.jpg?t=1267308329

Sorry for the slight blur, I didn't have my tripod.

 

Hey Allan, I remember seeing those around the Olds dealership I worked in. That was in the mid-70's to late 80's.

I couldn't give you an exact time-frame they were produced or used, but that is a very cool item to have! Thanks for sharing.

 

Man how did that sneek past me nice find looks to be in great shape.

 

Yes, nice find! And that will be a sharp addition to your car!
John

 

Nice score Allan.

 

Here is another one!!!!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/OLDER-OLDSMOBILE-...item255910de72

 

Sweat.

 

Here are 2 I have. I may have more, but these are the only 2 I could put my hands on quick. One is like yours. I can't tell if the other one was redone or not. The basic plates are exactly the same. I don't know if they came in different versions or if they were later changed to suit individual tastes. I don't know the years, but early '70s seems to be a good guess.

 

Although close, they are not exactly the same. Well, the basic stamping is except for one thing. Did you notice the perforations for mounting are different? One has round punchouts and the other has an elongated slot. Maybe one was intended to be on the A Bodies and the other for B/C Bodies?

Probably doesn't matter. It's nice to see that there are others out there who remember and know these memory lane items too. Glad to see they weren't thrown out.

BTW Kurt, your plate like mine looks absolutely mint. I bet it never made it onto the car. Do you take them to shows and set up a booth? Just curious what the market price for them is down in OH?

 

Wow, didn't notice the difference in the holes, I just was carefully checking the main part of the stamping impression which *is* the same. So apparently at least 2 different versions were made. No, though nice, they're not mint and have both been mounted.
No booths at shows for me, I'm just a collector. Been known to sell something every so often.....but not often enough.
Years ago, I'd infrequently see one of these plates pop up for sale and they didn't sell for much. Seems recently I've seen quite a few of these surface and most of the time have a big price tag on them now.
But a quick check of Ebay "sold" show:
1. two like yours from the same seller that sold for $30 and $24
2. one like yours (yours?) that sold for $21.
3. one like my other one asking $249.99. Didn't sell, obviously.

Of note was an NOS 1976 Olds license plate *holder* that sold for $408.00

 

I have an all brushed steel one, my Dad got a new 1972 Toronado

 

Old thread I know but my dad has a 71 toronado restored and it has a brushed steel with black letters and rocket that came on the car new. I wish I could find one for my 71 cutlass s.

 

i bought an old 73 toro that had one under the front license plate