76 Illinois License Plate Page

Illinois

Illinois issued a Bicentennial themed plate for 1976. The standard numbering style appeared to be AA 0000. In 1974 Illinois began allowing AAA 00 and variations. The numbered serial plates were probably numbers requested by Illinois auto owners who had those numbers on previous issues. The designer of the plate is shown below on a postcard that was sold at the time.

Click on card for larger image.

1976 Illinois design transparency

The 1975 Illinois plate was still in use during a grace period for updating registrations which was the first two months of 1976.

Shown here are two of four types of 76 Illinois sample license plates. According to the Polk Guides and ALPCA archive there are two others. The other two have SAM PLE and 000 000 in the embossed blue area.

This paper sample plate was sent to people writing to the Illinois DMV in 1976 requesting a sample license plate. Whit Whitworth, ALPCA #1000, of New Boston, Michigan obtained a similar paper sample in that manner. He graciously sent it to me for the collection of 76 plates.

1976 Illinois vanity plate.

76 Illinois truck plates expiring on June 30, 1976

Weight classification suffixes for Illinois trucks
A = <3,000   B = 3,001-8,000   C = 8,001-10,000    D = 10,001-12,000   E = 12,001-14,000
F = 14,001-16,000   G = 16,601-20,000   H = 20,001-24,000   J = 24,001-28,000   K = 28,001-32,000
L = 32,001-36,000   N = 36,001-41,000   P = 41,001-45,000    R = 45,001-50,000   S = 50,001-59,000
T = 59,001-64,000    V = 64,001-73,280

Illinois truck plate used from July 1976 to June 1977.

1976 Illinois Tax Mile Truck License Plate.

76 Illinois municipal plate.

1976-77 Illinois State Owned vehicle plate as noted by the U prefix.

76 Illinois trailer plate. The R/T means it was for a recreational trailer. 1976 Illinois trailer dealer sample license plate on right.

1976 Illinois funeral home plate as noted by the F/H on the left.

1976 Illinois Governor's license plate.

76 Illinois plate for trailer greater than 3,000lbs expiring on June 30. 1976.

1976 Illinois Recreational Vehicle plate.

Illinois Conservation semi trailer license plate expiring on June 30, 1976

1976/77 Antique Vehicle plate.

Illinois farm plates used during 1976.
The F under the V indicates it was for a vehicle in the less than 12,001 lbs weight class, while the H under the V is for the 20,001 to 24,000 lbs weight class.

1976 Illinois amateur radio plate.

1976 Illinois taxi and limouasine license plates.

1976 Illinois State House of Representatives and State Senate plates.

Sample version of the 1976 State Senate plate from Illinois

1976 State House and Senate General Assembly plates.
I am assuming these are front plates.

1976 Illinois dealer plate. The plate on the right without a suffix is a master dealer plate.

1976 Illinois manufacturer's plate.

1976 Illinois Driver Education plate

1976 Illinois pro rated interstate trailer license plate, as noted by the stacked P/R. The last letter indicates a weight class.
The ALPCA archive notes that earlier issues come with a T, D, F or L weight class indicator.

1976 Illinois farm machinery license plate.

1976-77 Illinois State Police

1976 Illinois school bus plate

1976 Illinois ambulance license plate.

1976 Illinois handicapped license plate.

1976 Illinois repossessor license plate

1976 Illinois motorcycle license plate.

1976 Illinois motorcycle dealer plate with sample version shown on right.

1976 Illinois special event plate for the opening of the New Salem-Springfield Post Road. Sample version is on the right.

1976 sticker used for pro rated fees paid in Illinois for Interstate commerce. The stickers were placed on waffle plates that were carred by large commercial trucks delivering goods across state lines.