Omnibus Vanity Plates (Entry 1383.EC1208)
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Mar 7, 2024 Explore the world of personalized license plates and their evolution into multimillion-dollar commodities. Delve into the cultural significance of vanity plates, the allure of unique numbers, and the extravagant world of license plate symbolism. From the fascination with single-letter plates to the challenges of selling high-priced plates, the episode offers humorous insights into personalized car expressions.
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Driving Cross-Country With No Plate
- John Roderick recounts Massachusetts plate number one issued to Frederick Tudor in 1903 and his descendants still using it.
- He also tells of driving a New Hampshire-bought truck across the country with a notebook-paper sign until Washington issued him registration.
Plates As Early Identity Signals
- Personalized license plates began as a quirky way to express individuality and status on cars.
- Seeing a clever plate signaled early-adopter status and social identity decades ago.
The 'CASH' Plate That Attracted Offers
- Ken Jennings shares a California story of a driver with the plate 'CASH' who regularly got offers from strangers.
- The plate became a long-lived personal symbol because it was rare and recognizable since 1970.