76 New Mexico

1976 New Mexico Official Road Map

New Mexico issued tabs in 1976 to update its 1972, 74 and 75 plates
There were two types of tabs issued, as shown above
Both were prone to fading badly in the New Mexico sun

These plates were first issued in 1972
Both are shown, as they have used the two different types of expiration stickers
In 1974, this type of plate was reissued made of aluminum instead of steel
The 1974 series began with BFD*000 and ended with BTN*000

Early 72 bases were made on steel
Later issues are aluminum

The 1974 embossed plates were issued to replace paper plates
The paper plates had originally been issued to new registrants in 1974 when the State Prison ran out of steel
The 74 base had a short life span, as the New Mexico DMV returned to a 72 type base as noted below

1974 base used to 1977

The plates were redone again in 1976 with new dies and a new plate format (shown below) with space provided for a county sticker at top/center
The 1976 series began with BTN*001 and ended with CCX*000.

72 style New Mexico base plate sample with 76 tab on left
On right is an undated New Mexico sample plate with a 76 expiration sticker

Below is a New Mexico sample plate issued on July 15, 1976 to a Ronald H. Penrod of Glendora, California

Undated 1976 New Mexico Mobile Home sample plate with 76 tab
Undated New Mexico freight trailer sample plate with 76 expiration sticker

1976 New Mexico sample tab placed later type of New Mexico sample plate
These sample plates were set to be issued in 1977, while some may have been issued in late 1976, according to Michael Wiener, ALPCA #1517, of Albuquerque, New Mexico

The 1975 Light Duty Truck plates updated with a 1976 tabs
Notice the difference in the placement of the 75

1975 Recreational Vehicle base with both types of the 1976 expiration stickers

1976 New Mexico type 1 vanity or prestige plates.

According to the ALPCA archive, this plate comes in three variations
The WNMU on the plate on the top left stands for Western New Mexico University
I am told that it was once owned by the President of the university
1976 NM plate was used in Santa Fe in 1976 on a 1972 Thunderbird

Below is a war veteran's type 2 vanity plate without the zia symbol, along with one with a zia symbol.

1976 New Mexico pro rated license plate

New Mexico issued this front booster plate in honor of the Bicentennial.

This originally started as a prototype for a New Mexico Bicentennial plate to be issued in 1976.
When it wasn't issued, the Federation of Police bought them and sold them as booster plates for $6.00 a piece.

The plate on the left was used from 1969 through 1976 by the New Mexico State Police
In 1976, the New Mexico State Patrol issued their own plate for the US Bicentennial
The State Police and New Mexico were not embossed and the plate included a sticker noting the Bicentennial on the left
The maroon on reflective turquoise are hard to scan for accurate colors
The image in the middle of the sticker is a yucca plant, the state flower of New Mexico
Around the circle of the zia it states, New Mexico*State Patrol*Bicentennial*1776-1976