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 Starting in 1961, the plates were changed every year. Even numbered years were white letters/numbers on a blue background, and the color scheme was reversed for odd numbered years. This practice continued until 1980.
Instead of being replaced in 1981, the 1980 plates were revalidated with decals expiring in February 1982. There are no dated 1981 Repair plates. These plates were used through 1984.
In 1985, the colors were reversed, and revalidated with decals through 1988. In 1989, the colors went back to white on blue, and these plates were used with decals through 1997.
In 1996, Repair plates once again carried embossed expiration dates (this time with the month as well). Colors reversed yet again back to blue on white. These plates were used for two years, and a dot was introduced between the letters and numbers.
For the 2000 and 2001 expirations, the lettering was changed to black, still with glass beading for reflectorization of the numbers/letters (reflective BLACK?), and the little map graphic was added to the plates - located next to the word "Connecticut" - which is at the bottom of Repair plates. Colors of the numbers/lettering has changed every two years since.
With the general reissue taking place starting in 2000, Repair plates were changed as well. New narrower (and harder to read) dies were used. The background became a fully-reflectorized silver-grey.
Colors continue to change every two years, though for 2010 and 2011, they were back to black lettering - same as was done 10 years earlier for 2000 and 2001. 2012 and 2013 are green on silver while 2014 and 2015 are maroon on silver.
Dealer and Repair plates can now be seen with a letter suffix, e.g. R-123B instead of RB-123. It appears that these may be replacement plates for lost or damaged ones.
Click the photo above to see this type in use.
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| 1970 |
1971 |
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| 1972 |
1973 |
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| 1974 |
1975, with a very high number |
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| 1976 |
1977, with the new narrower dies. |
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1978. This is actually a '76.
Some no doubt crooked mechanic got another
year out of this plate with a screwdriver, a hammer, and some white paint. What really makes this plate stand out is that the number/letter dies for the 1978 plates were completely different. I wonder how many people this actually fooled.
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Close-up of the '76-to-'78 |
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| A genuine 1978 |
1979. The last of the annual issues. |
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| 1980 |
There were no 1981 plates.
The 1980 plates were used through 1984. |
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1980 with 1982 decal.
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1983 |
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Another 1983.
This is actually an error plate - note the dot separator. |
1984 |
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1985
The colors were reversed for 1985. |
1986 |
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| 1987 |
1988 |
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| 1989 |
1990 |
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| 1992 |
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| 1998 |
1999 |
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| 2000 |
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2001, with the new, narrow dies. These dies came into use for the '02 expirations, a very few '01 Dealer and Repair plates, such as this one, have them. This was probably a replacement plate made later on.
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Another 2001 with the old, wide dies common for '01 plates.
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2002
Beginning with 2002 expirations, the entire plate was reflectorized, not just the numbers. Narrower dies were used as well.
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2003 |
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2004 (and 2005)
Green on silver. |
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2006
Orange on silver.
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2007 |
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2008
Purple on silver. |
2009 |
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2010, 2011 - Black on silver
2012, 2013 - Green on silver
2014, 2015 - Maroon on silver
2016, 2017 - Light blue on silver |
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