Vehicle Registration Plates of Illinois - Annually Issued Passenger Baseplates Through 1978

Annually Issued Passenger Baseplates Through 1978

Image First issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1914 Green embossed serial number and border on white base with slats between numbers (rear plate shown.) "ILL 14" on right side. none 123456
1916 Black embossed serial number and border on silver base. "ILL 16" on right side. none 123456
1920 Black embossed serial number and border on orange base. "ILL 20" on right side. none 123456
1924 Deep yellow embossed serial number and border on black base. "ILL 24" on right side. none 123456
1925 White embossed serial number and border on brown base. "ILL 25" on right side. none 123456
1927 Black embossed serial number, border, and state shape on orange base. "ILL 27" in orange base incused within state shape. none 123456
1928 White embossed serial number and border on maroon base. "ILL 28" on right side none 123456
1930 White embossed serial number and border on black base. "ILL 30" on right side none 123456
1931 Black embossed serial number and border on light green base. "ILL 31" on right side none 123456
1933 White embossed serial number and border on blue base. "ILL 33" on right side none 123456
1934 Yellow embossed serial number and border on black base. "ILLINOIS-1934" on bottom. none 123456
1937 Black embossed serial number and border on yellow base. "19 ILLINOIS 37" on top none 123456
1939 Yellow embossed serial number and border on black base. "ILLINOIS 39" on top none 123456
1940 White embossed serial number and border on dark brown base. "ILLINOIS 40" on bottom none 123456
1943 White lettering on green base none 1234 567 First year plates are made of fiberboard due to WWII steel rationing
1944 White lettering on brown base none 1234 567
1945 Orange lettering on black base none 1234 567
1946 White lettering on red base none 1234 567
1947 Off-white lettering on green base none 1234 567
1948 Black lettering on orange base none 1234 567 Last year plates are made of fiberboard due to WWII steel rationing.
1949 Off-white lettering on dark blue base none 1234 567
1950 Black lettering on yellow base none Plates are manufactured out of aluminum for the first time
1951 Maroon on unpainted aluminum none 1234 567
A123456
123 456		 Only year plates manufactured with unpainted background.
1952 Blue lettering on orange base none
1953 Red lettering on cream-colored base none License plates placed under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State
1954 White lettering on black base Land of Lincoln First year the "Land of Lincoln" slogan appears on plates
1955 Orange lettering on blue base Land of Lincoln Colors selected to honor the state's flagship university, the University of Illinois
1956 Black lettering on white base Land of Lincoln Size of license plates standardized to national standard of 6" by 12"
1957 White lettering on red base Land of Lincoln Colors chosen to commemorate the centennial of the state's oldest university, Illinois State University
1958 Purple lettering on white base Land of Lincoln Colors chosen to honor Northwestern University in Evanston
1959 White lettering on brown base Land of Lincoln Colors chosen to honor Quincy College
1960 Gold lettering on royal blue base Land of Lincoln Colors chosen to honor the centennials of both Augustana College and Wheaton College
1961 White lettering on red base Land of Lincoln The system of pure numeric numbering of plates is modified; plates with two letters and four numbers are added to the available combinations.
1962 White lettering on orange base Land of Lincoln
1963 Yellow lettering on dark green base Land of Lincoln Colors chosen for the quasquicentennial of the founding of the John Deere company in Moline
1964 White lettering on purple base Land of Lincoln
1965 Green lettering on white base Land of Lincoln
1966 Red lettering on yellow base Land of Lincoln First-ever issue of reflective license plates
1967 Black lettering on yellow base Land of Lincoln
1968 Red lettering on yellow base Land of Lincoln To honor the sesquicentennial of Illinois admission to the Union, "1818" is incorporated in the upper corners of all license plates
1969 Black lettering on orange base Land of Lincoln
1970 red on reflective yellow Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
1971 black on reflective white Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
1972 blue on reflective white Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
1973 Black lettering on reflective yellow Land of Lincoln Total license plates issued exceeds five million for the first time
1974 Red lettering on reflective yellow Land of Lincoln First ever license plates with three letters and three numbers; also, first handicapped plates issued
1975 Black lettering on reflective yellow Land of Lincoln Colors chosen to honor the 50th anniversary of the Caterpillar Company of Peoria.
1976 blue on reflective white with red and blue United States Bicentennial graphics Land of Lincoln AB 1234
various		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Bicentennial plate design contest won by 10-year-old Kelley Jordan of Normal, Illinois
1977 green on reflective white Land of Lincoln AB 1234
various		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Plates issued reach the six million mark
1978 black on reflective white Land of Lincoln AB 1234
various		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Last single-year plate, and last year that all license plates in the state expire on the same date.

Read more about this topic:  Vehicle Registration Plates Of Illinois

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