British Columbia Prototype License Plates

In an early era, the Province would experiment with a number of different colour schemes before settling on a final combination for a plate. As a result, there exist plates from earlier years with the colour combinations that were eventually used on a later plate, or plates that display colours that were never seen on a BC plate.

*Paint Tests*
1958 (actual)	1956 (test)	1957 (test)
1964 (actual)	1963 (test)	1963 (test)	1963 (test)
1967 (actual)	1966 (test)
1969 (actual)	1968 (test)	1968 (test)	1968 (test)
1974 Motorcycle (actual)	1974 (test)

When the 000-000 serial was abandoned after 1969, the existence of wildly coloured prototypes generally ceased as the new base plates were intended to last for multiple years. In the place of the alternate colour schemes, there emerged new and different designs for both the base plate, as well as the decals. At times, ICBC would request these prototypes and in other instances manufactures such as 3M would simply forward new designs to plate issuing authorities in an attempt to drum up some business.

*Prototypes*
	An early 1980s prototype of a license plate, made by a plate manufacturer for the consideration of ICBC and the Motor Vehicle Branch.
	One of the slogans that was being tossed around prior to the introduction of the "Flag" graphic plate in 1985/86 was "SUPERNATURAL.". Although this is just a guess, I would suspect that the following series of three plates might have been prodcued by a manufacturuer for consideration of ICBC and the Motor Vehicle Branch in the early 1980s.

CLICK HERE	This is thought to be a manufacturer's specimen (or something along those lines) prepared in prior to the introduction of the 1979 base. The really interesting part, however, can be found o the rear of the plate by clicking the image at right!
	A pre "Flag Graphic" prototype from the early 1980s.
	From time to time, ICBC orders plates from alternate manaufactures, as they did with Waldie in the late 1990s. This plate is such an example that never made it onto the streets. Apparently this plate was made with "Manitoba" dies.
	Test Plate.
	The following series of plates are from the collection of ALPCA Member # 6662 (Paul), and represent a surprisingly nice design concept for BC plates, too bad none of them ever appear to have made it past the design stage.

	I would tend to think that this plate belongs with the series above, except for the slight modifications with the abscence of an debossed decal area, the round (instead of slot) bolt-holes, and the use of "ABC123" instead of "SAMPLE." I would still guess it to be a mid-1990s prototype.