The license plate is not original. Cal. lic. plates in the 70s are essentially as follows (the first letter is the key).
An original plate from 76 would be an N or P plate. So if not original plate, it was probably issued in the 1980s and has been original since then. Unless the current owner found the "1A" plate and had it issued under the DMV reuse of old plate program they now have. In Cal. at least these days, if you sell a car they take the old plates and issue new current one's. So if you see an old car with a white plate, then it was transfered in the last 10-20 years for sure.
[Also, is that a Ford Truck steering wheel, or did that come stock on a 76?]
Theses are roughly the years (why?? because the state sent plates to all 50 plus counties, and some would use them all up in a particular year, while some would have extras issued in the next year)
Example AVT 123 = 1970. Look at the first letter to determine the year.
Correction. The 70s plate letters are the second bank e.g. 123 AKF
The 60s plate letters are the first bank e.g. EKX 123
Forgot to mention.
I think it was the 1979 or 1980 Cal plates that they switched from steel to the softer metal (aluminum????).
1970 (A, B).
1971 (C, D)
1972 (E, F)
1973 (G, H)
1974 (ahhh, there is no I plate because probably looks too much like a 1 - so J, k).
1975 (L, M, and maybe N)
1976 (N, O maybe P)
1977 (P, Q, maybe R)
1978 (R, S maybe T)
1979 (U, V and maybe W)
1980 (W and X if I recall)
Then they ran out of the blue and yellow plates, so they started adding the "1 before the letter" as with this 1976 model. I did not study the 1980s to know if the letter after the 1 also governs the year, or if it is some other tell tale sign.
Then the plates turned white and blue in the 90s.
When 5-10 or so years ago Cal. started allowing the reuse of the blue and yellow plates. Nobody likes the ones from the 80s. But you could buy and old blue and yellow plate from the 70s, and make sure it was "off the system." You can call DMV orig license plate phone number, and they will call you back so dont have to wait on hold.
Since I also have a 76 vette, the plate is a N or P plate if I recall correctly.
My 73 bronco is an H plate.
My 70 chevelle is an A plate.
I discovered all this by looking at photos of alot of 70s cars, and this is how they issued plates each year. The 1960s black and yellow plated were the opposite. The second bank of digits e.g. 123 AHP governs the year.
If bumper is leaning up, then maybe frame horn repair (or worse) issues looming. Definitely would want to test drive first.
