Vehicle registration plates of the Canal Zone
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Current series | |
---|---|
Slogan | Funnel For World Commerce |
Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
Material | Aluminum |
Serial format | 12345 |
Introduced | January 1, 1979 |
Availability | |
Issued by | U.S. Canal Zone Territorial Government |
History | |
First issued | 1910 |
Last issued | December 31, 1979 |
The former U.S. territory of the Canal Zone first issued license plates in 1910, and this continued until the Canal Zone was returned to Panama in 1979.[1] A single plate was issued for all years. The country of Panama also issued Canal Zone license plates for United States citizens that lived in Panama but worked in the Canal Zone, but these plates have the country name "Panama" clearly showing on them.[2] Since reciprocity for license plates between the Canal Zone and Panama did not exist until 1950, old photos often show local vehicles with two different license plates mounted on the vehicle.[3]
Passenger baseplates
[edit]1910 to 1955
[edit]1956 to 1979
[edit]In 1956, the United States, Canada and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[4]
Image | Date | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12345 | 1956 | Black on yellow | None | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1957 | Yellow on black | None | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1958 | Black on yellow | None | 12345 | ||
![]() | 1959 | Yellow on black | None | 12345 | ||
![]() | 1960 | Black on yellow | None | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1961 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce[5] | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1962 | Black on yellow | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1963 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1964 | Black on yellow | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1965 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1966 | Black on yellow | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1967 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1968 | Black on yellow | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
![]() | 1969 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1970 | Black on yellow | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1971 | Yellow on black | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1972 | Green on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | First year for reflective background. | |
12345 | 1973 | Blue on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1974 | Green on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1975 | Blue on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
12345 | 1976 | Green on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
![]() | 1977 | Blue on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | ||
![]() | 1978–79 | Green on white | Funnel For World Commerce | 12345 | 1978: Base plate only | |
![]() | 1979: Rectangular black on red validation sticker with small "Canal Zone" at top, "79" in center, and small "No" and serial number at bottom |
Non-passenger plates
[edit]Image | Type | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1971 Motorcycle | Yellow on black with border line | M-123 | ||
![]() | 1979 Trailer | Green on white with border line | T-123 | Sticker on 1978 base |
Miniature automobile license plate
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Canal_Zone_1953_Wheaties_Miniature_License_Plate.jpg/150px-Canal_Zone_1953_Wheaties_Miniature_License_Plate.jpg)
Miniature automobile license plates were included in boxes of Wheaties cereal in 1953, and they are oftentimes called bicycle license plates. Included in one of the sets issued by General Mills was a Canal Zone license plate. Other plates in this set included the following locations: Alaska, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, Guam, Hawaii, Italy-Military, Philippines, Virgin Islands, and the Maharajah plate with a golden double headed eagle.[6] Note that all of the license plates issued for each state, province, territory, or country had the same serial number (Canal Zone plates all have the W3966 serial number).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Fox, James K. (April 1984). "License Plates of the Canal Zone and Panama". ALPCA Newsletter. Vol. 30, no. 2. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 81–88.
- ^ Sentiford, Tim (April 2002). "A Graphic History of Panama". The ALPCA Register. Vol. 48, no. 2. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 40-41.
- ^ Sentiford, Tim (June 2005). "Puente del Mundo". Plates. Vol. 51, no. 3. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 37–43.
- ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ^ Sentiford, Time (June 1997). "World View". ALPCA Newsletter. Vol. 43, no. 3. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 131.
- ^ "Wheaties License Plates". hobby db. Retrieved January 9, 2019.