Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

[David B.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

Anyone happen to know what year(s) this style of plate was issued? I believe it came in several colors. I'm gathering late 50s-early 60s, but wondering if anyone can narrow that down:

[Larry E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

The below is the one I remember the most that was on a lot of the drag cars at Oswego Drag Strip>
Oswego, IL. Larry

[Daniel S.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???


Hi Gents, here is my contribution with pics from my collection. The photo of the Vette is my former '66 L72 BG/Duntov winner with the original 1966 "See America First" with cardboard backing. These plates are very RARE and have a gold luster paint in the U-S-A-1 color. The heavier "See America First" plate [second up from bottom left side] has been seen in original photos of cars in dealers and auto shows from 1967-1970, my first pic of which is on a 1970 Z28 photo taken by someone I know when he was a child. "Putting You First Keeps Us First" is 1969 only and "Putting You First In a Big Way" is 1971. There is a great thread on Yenko.net on Chevy slogans which if I can find, I'll gladly share.

Dan

[Mark E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

"See America First"..."Putting You First Keeps Us First" is 1969 only and "Putting You First In a Big Way" is 1971. Dan

Thanks Dan. I wasn't clear about the variations of the slogan 1969-71.

It seems the Chevy marketing guys thought that updating the "first" slogan virtually every year somehow made a difference. Another piece of evidence GM didn't use their resources wisely.

[Mark E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

Hi Gents, here is my contribution with pics from my collection. The photo of the Vette is my former '66 L72 BG/Duntov winner with the original 1966 "See America First" with cardboard backing. These plates are very RARE and have a gold luster paint in the U-S-A-1 color. The heavier "See America First" plate [second up from bottom left side] has been seen in original photos of cars in dealers and auto shows from 1967-1970, my first pic of which is on a 1970 Z28 photo taken by someone I know when he was a child. "Putting You First Keeps Us First" is 1969 only and "Putting You First In a Big Way" is 1971. There is a great thread on Yenko.net on Chevy slogans which if I can find, I'll gladly share.

Dan

I was shopping for a USA-1 plate, and from this thread it looks like "See America's First" is the right one for 1970.

This made me wonder: What does "See America's First" mean? "America's" is possessive so as written it does not make sense, or at best, it's ambiguous. It does NOT say "See America First", which does make sense. Is the slogan a clever pun I'm missing?

See America's First... what? See America's First Ranked Car (a Chevrolet)? See America's Cars First (vs. an import)? See America's Historical Sights First (instead of touring overseas)?

[Jack H.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

I was shopping for a USA-1 plate, and from this thread it looks like "See America's First" is the right one for 1970.

This made me wonder: What does "See America's First" mean? "America's" is possessive so as written it does not make sense, or at best, it's ambiguous. It does NOT say "See America First", which does make sense. Is the slogan a clever pun I'm missing?

See America's First... what? See America's First Ranked Car (a Chevrolet)? See America's Cars First (vs. an import)? See America's Historical Sights First (instead of touring overseas)?

Was wondering the same thing actually. My interpretation settled into some variation of what you have as "See America's First Ranked Car (a Chevrolet)" above...maybe "first" meaning first production sports car (Corvette, with apologies to Nash/Healey).

[Larry E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

This picture was taken at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show. I was there and sat in
this very car. Brings back a lot of good memories. Larry
P.S. Not sure if Chevrolet put this plate on or one of the Chicago Area Dealers?

[Mark E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

This picture was taken at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show. I was there and sat in
this very car. Brings back a lot of good memories. Larry
P.S. Not sure if Chevrolet put this plate on or one of the Chicago Area Dealers?

Is that a '70 or '71 Camaro?

[Larry E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

Is that a '70 or '71 Camaro?

Mark: It is a 1970. If you look close you can see the
lower headrest. Only 1970 had these. BTW It was not too much
later I bought mine and still have. Larry

[Andrew F.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

A lot of great information in this thread. I was looking in Vette Vue (9th edition) and it show a picture of the plate which has the bottom slogan of See America's First with no exclamation point. Some of the photos and statements in this thread indicate that an exclation point is at the end of the slogan. Can someone provide a definitive reference and possible source for an original plate?

[David R.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

When I ordered my 1972 LT-1 convertible, the '72 Corvettes on the showroom floor had these plates on them:

[Mark E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

A lot of great information in this thread. I was looking in Vette Vue (9th edition) and it show a picture of the plate which has the bottom slogan of See America's First with no exclamation point. Some of the photos and statements in this thread indicate that an exclation point is at the end of the slogan. Can someone provide a definitive reference and possible source for an original plate?

I'm not aware of a definitive source about Chevrolet promotional license plates. But that sounds like a cool theme for a coffee table book.

Try eBay if you're shopping for plates.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

I worked at a Chevrolet dealership years ago and I had one of these also. The originals were Green on the back of the plate.

Jerry,
That is a nice plate but I believe the apostrophe should be after the s, as in Americas'

[Andrew F.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

Mark I appreciate the response

[Mark E.]

Re: Chevrolet U-S-A-1 License Plate Question???

Jerry,
That is a nice plate but I believe the apostrophe should be after the s, as in Americas'

Plural possessive? There's only one America.