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After
many inquiries, I have finally decided to add an image
gallery covering the period 1904 to 1948! Many thanks
to Tom Lindner, Alan Betts, and Bill Hobbis for providing
the plate pictures used on these pages. Unfortunately,
they will be confined solely to images for the indefinite
future. I have far too much work to do on the other sections
before I start writing the history of this period.
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CLICK
HERE
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1949
- 1951
Between 1942-48,
the province had only issued single license plates in
an effort to conserve materials for the war, the 1949
base marked a return to motorists being issued pairs.
What is also unique about the '49, and 1950 bases is
that 5-digit plates came in one size, while 6-digit
plates were issued in another size. Due to the outbreak
of war in Korea, motorists were only issued a metal
renewal strip for 1951. |
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CLICK
HERE
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1952
- 1954
The ill-fated
Totem series! One of the most unique license
plate designs ever used in Canada, the Totem
base would last for just over a year before the province
decided to scrap it due to widespread theft of the renewal
tabs, the low resiliency of the aluminum, and the nightmarish
alphanumeric serial used on the plates. |
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1955 - 1963
This period
is noted for some of the wildest colours ever seen on
license plates. Between 1959 and 1962 the province used,
prominently and in varying combinations the colours
Turquoise, Maroon and the green/gold of the Centenary
plate. This series only employed the one to six digit,
000-000 serial format. If I am not mistaken the Centenary
plate is also the only regular issue BC plate to ever
commemorate an event. |
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1964
- 1969
British Columbia
becomes Beautiful, as 1964 is the first year
that the word beautiful appears on a license plate!
This is also the period in which a new, official colour
rotation scheme took effect, and the last years for
the 000-000 format as vehicle registration neared the
one-million mark. |
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1970
-1972
The year 1970
marked a watershed in BC plates. Unlike past years,
the Province adopted the alpha-numeric, AAA-000 system
with these plates. As well, as was happening in jurisdictions
all across North America, BC scrapped the year stamped
plate in favour of the new decaled version. The slogan
"Beautiful British Columbia" was maintained,
but these plates would now have a designated decal area. |
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1973
- 1978
As the first
stage in the transition to an alphanumeric system, the
initial 1970 base was only intended to last three years.
For 1973, the second stage was commenced with a base
plate that held slight modifications, most notably in
the positioning of the decal box, and the use of a dash
separator.
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1979
- 1985
The brand
new 1979 base! This particular style would last all
of seven years, which is a very short period if one
considers the life span of the flag graphic has been
16 years and counting! This series started with: AAA
- KKJ, and experienced a variety of different dies.
Position of the sticker box is also firmly established
in the lower-center of the plates with this series. |
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1985
- 2001
The Flag Graphic.
BC undertook a complete re-issue in time for the 1986
World's Fair held in Vancouver (as testified to by the
validation sticker at right). The 'Beautiful' slogan
is retained, now appearing across the top of the plate.
The sticker box is still lower-center but is now debossed.
And, of course, the highly stylized graphic of the provincial
flag seperating the alpha-numeric serial format. This
specific serial started in the L's and ended in the
K's. |
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2001
- Present
ICBC has run
out of the AAA-000 combinations! Apparently ICBC considered
the option of re-issuing previously assigned, terminated
licence plate numbers but decided to continue its "one
person/one time" policy for assigning plates. To
do this plates now come in the 000-AAA serial format.
Unfortunately, the 'Flag Graphic' will be with us for
a while yet.
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