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1943 Windshield Stickers 

The severe metal shortages of World War II necessitated substituting a small paper windshield sticker in place of metal license plates in 1943. By 1944 the shortages had eased enough to allow the use of a single metal plate, but not the two metal plates that had been in use before the war. Only three types received metal plates in 1943. These were: trailers and motorcycles, which typically did not have windshields, and Dealer plates because of the requirement to move them from one vehicle to another when they were being demonstrated. Similar stickers were used during part of 1951.  These stickers are exceedingly rare because once affixed to the windshield they could not be removed without destroying them. Indeed, Claim 3 of the original April 17, 1934 patent (No. 1955569) for these stickers proclaimed them to be “A license tag for a motor vehicle, comprising a frangible film, provided with identifying serial numerals, and adapted to be secured to a glass part of the motor vehicle against removal without destruction.” We at NMplates.com know of only four examples, plus one Sample, all of which survived only because their owners never put them on a windshield in the first place. The NMTHP needs additional examples of 1943 windshield stickers for Passenger Cars, Trucks, and all other types of vehicles. If you have any you would like to donate or sell to the NMTHP, please Contact us!

Photo credit:  1943 Sample windshield sticker courtesy Matt Thompson.  All others by Bill Johnston.

Alice Sharp of Portales appeared in the 1943 Eastern New Mexico College (now ENMU) yearbook, the Silver Pack, leaning against an automobile bearing both its 1942 plate and the corresponding 1943 sticker. Author’s collection.

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