How to Clean Dirty Vintage License Plates to Increase Reselling Vale

[@cleawox]

Thanks for taking the time for this video. I like rusty ones and clean ones. I just got some dirty, nasty, old 1937 Oregon plates - and I was thrilled to find them!

[@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter]

That’s the great thing about vintage items. Some damage is valuable!

[@CoolRestorations]

I'm going to do a video of 1942 soon, after a giveaway will follow 👍🏻

[@CoolRestorations]

Restored a 1942 last week giving it away today on my channel 😍 All you have to do is comment something you are grateful for in life

[@hebneh]

For plates of this age, and in this condition, it would be better to wash them under gently running water. Using a soft rag with running water is better because you don't want to be rubbing the surface this hard, when it has anything gritty on it. That will scratch the surface forever. Water will wash the grit away instead of damaging the paint. Don't worry about rust; even if the plate is completely wet, you can dry it quickly once it's clean and there will be no permanent rust damage.

[@agcacustoms2852]

Man that 64 plate is perfect for a 64 mustang

[@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter]

Yup!

[@phelle2]

Question, once cleaned.. what are your thoughts on spraying with a light layer of clear coat? I have one from 1929 that is pretty well Patina’d and I’d like to protect it, as I’ll be using on my 1929 model a Ford.

[@Gr8mom2tac]

License plate toppers are big money makers too - AAA are a biggie (usually oval shapped and roughly 5" across). Some are general, some are more specific to states and/or anniversaries. There's also a big market for vintage (or unique) license plate frames - with years, the make/model of a car, a dealership that may be famous (or infamous). People often don't have any idea what they're worth. The vintage license plates are highly sought after by people who drive classic cars from cars manufacutured in those years - someone driving a 1964 Camaro wants a license plate made in 1964. And they can register their car with that vintage license plate and that vintage number (in most states at least). And some people use them for crafts. And some people use them to hang on the wall as decor!

[@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter]

Laura Cohn Great information Laura! Thank you so much for sharing all these pointers!

[@CoolRestorations]

Restored a 1942 last week giving it away today on my channel 😍 All you have to do is comment something you are grateful for in life

[@hebneh]

Older license plate frames can be extremely fragile. They're made of what's called pot metal, and they will break if you try to straighten them. Be warned.

[@henrys3629]

It's tough to sell plates when vendors want $5-10. Never found plates at Estate/Garage sales except one that was free.

[@mccommas2]

So no solvent or even soap at all huh? I will try that first. I will hose them down and dry them off and see what they look like. They are meant to be outside in all kinds of weather so perhaps....

[@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter]

Yep

[@mccommas2]

@@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter I was tempted to run them through the dish washer!

[@Emergancyintercom]

The ones that don’t have the date, are for the front of the car

[@PrimeTimeTreasureHunter]

Ok

[@antolinpangan755]

I have about 11 plates,from 1956 to 1970,and I want to sell it