CA DMV Policy

["Gordon & Jacquelyn Parr" <parr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Fellow CA digesters, help me out if you can.  I bought a 73 Bavaria that
was in long term storage and am currently attempting to bring it out of
hibernation.  Attempting to register the car last week, I was
told that I was going to be given new plates.  The car was registered non
op over ten years ago and I was told that CA drops all records in the DMV
system after several years.  After arguing to no avail with the DMV clerk,
that I wanted to keep the existing plates  (old style and color) rather
than be given new plates. Since I have been dropped from the DMV system,
it's like my car never existed (even though my CA title and current plates
say differently).  I will be given new plates on my next visit back to the
DMV office.  I have a tii that is now registered non op and I plan on
putting it back on the road one of these years.  It too has the old style
plates (blue and yellow) and I am wondering  if I should attempt to
register it soon before it gets taken out of the DMV computer.  Makes me
wonder why I am paying non op fees.  For originality, I would like to have
old plates for an old car.  Cars are given plates in CA that are
sequentially numbered so you can look at the plate and get an idea of the
age of the car (unless it was brought in from out of state or dropped from
the records).  I have seen ads for 60's muscle cars here in CA that
emphasize that
they have black and gold plates (very rare).  CA plates for newly
registered auto's
now start with 4.  The idea of having an old 2002 or Bavaria with new
plates that all the new Civic's, Camry's etc. have, does not please me to
say the least.  Any ideas on convincing the DMV to allow me to keep my
current plates or do I have to live with it.  Dealing with the DMV is one
of my favorite things in life, like getting my teeth pulled, yea right.


Gordon Parr
74 2002
74 tii (current parts car)
73 Bavaria

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