Great question and here is my experiences in exactly the same senerio... The Black Plates (as well as the yellow, Blue) are going to potentially be reissued as a Vanity plate for guys like us. Some DMV offices are still trying to take the old Non reflective Black plates In (they are no longer required to do this but not everyone reads the up-dated rules. Simply, Do not let them have them under any circumstances!. I would try to simply go in and register them with their existing "Black" plate. When the fellow ask's you if the car has plates, simply say "Sure" and let the registration go through. Put the stickers you receive back on to your plates and Viola! You are in business! I have had this experience perhaps three or four times over the last two years. The fact that the car has been yours and in your name for so long will really help you to pull it off. If they Try to take them or issue new plates (Reflective whites) simply say "Oh I forgot my wife wants me to pick her up!" Leave before the deed is done and go back another day. If all else fails Keep the Black plates and bolt them on to your car when you go to shows. Lastly if this happens, fill out the "Black Vanity Plate" document and have them make your new "Vanity Plate" in the same numbers as your original one! Good Luck!

Unless the license plate number has been reassigned you shouldn't have a problem. Particularly if the plates were the last set registered to your car and in this case, an old registration or title showing the plate number will be helpful when dealing with the DMV. I sure like the look of period correct plates on any old car. The information given pertains to the California DMV, I am unfamiliar with other states policies. Good luck, Chris