The G1187 Page

The (not so) Hidden G1187 Page

UPDATED 9/10/2007


As it appears on my Miata today.	Me at 9 years old.	Me at 43 years old.

Ahh, so you found it! The hidden G1187 page. So many people at Miata events and even just driving around, stop me to ask what the significance behind this G1187 plate is. So here's the story: Back in 1964 my father Herb worked for the City of Boston. At that time, some city employees were granted "reserved" license plates that allowed them to park on city streets and exempted them from being ticketed by the cops and meter maids. Having a reserved plate, meant that it stays with you forever. When you get a new car, the plate get transferred. When the state issues new plates in a different color, everybody else got a different number, they sent a shiny new G1187.

The original '64 plate was a brown with white numbers on steel.

This is the same plate pictured above.

It was replaced in '66 by a green and white, also on steel.

Also, the first year they split the letter from the numbers.

The state went high tech in 1967 with it's first reflectorized plate that had an ivory white background and blue numbers with MASSACHUSETTS embossed on aluminum so they wouldn't rust. They got new registration stickers every year which I always looked forward to sticking on.

The next change came in '73 when they switched to red, thick looking numbers on a creamy white reflectorized background with MASSACHUSETTS under the numbers.

In '83 came green on white, followed in '91 by the current "Spirit of Massachusetts" Red, White and Blues.

Then the inevitable happened. I moved to California my parents decided to move to Florida. Since I had already moved, the plate was given to a family friend with the understanding that, if I ever decided to move back to Mass, G1187 would be returned to me. Since I had been so used to seeing that number on a car since I was a kid, I decided to have the California DMV make it for me as a "vanity plate". It's a comfort thing for me. Paying special attention to spacing, the California version looks very much like the original, and very different then a normal current issue California plate. It has a very "official" look that causes people to question what it all means. My parents applied for G1187 as a Florida vanity plate but were rejected because "G" series plates were reserved for government issue. However, EC-G1187 (my mothers initials) was acceptable so it lives on my mothers 2000 Accord.

This is my mother Ethel with her Florida G1187

So there you have it in a nutshell... Three states, three G1187's, spanning almost fourty years.

Well now the story gets even better!

Back in 1996, we went to Key West for vacation. While we were there we went sailing on this catamaran.

We had a nice day out on the ocean.

And Roberta even got friendly with the crew!

After a day of sailing we went to this restaurant called the Half Shell Raw Bar. I was taken with the place because the walls are literally covered with license plates. Being a license plate geek, I thought to myself, "Gee, it would be really cool to have one of the old G1187's hanging in here." But I never sent one because... who knows? I didn't know if they'd actually hang it up. I'd never have any proof!

Me in 1996

Fast forward to April 2002. I was talking to this guy about stuff for his Miata and somewhere during the conversation he tells me he lives in Key West. I tell him that I've been to Key West and proceed to tell him the story of the catamaran ride and the bar with the license plates. He then tells me that the boat we were on was probably his. And he knows the people at the bar! The very next day a vintage G1187 plate wings it's way to Key West.

About a week later, "Captain" Sean (pictured above) hangs the now famous G1187 plate in the bar fulfilling a six year dream.

The Day Manager gets in on the Plate Hanging ceremony.

I don't know her name yet but something tells me before too long I will.

Now, remember that picture of Roberta with the crew back in 1996? That was indeed "Captain" Sean (in the tank top)!

The moral of the story: "What goes around comes around".

Updated September 10, 2007

On a recent trip to Florida, I made the pilgrimage to the Half Shell Raw Bar to visit the G1187 shrine.

It's been moved from it's original spot to a lower area of the same wall. After locating it, I sat down at the bar and ordered up a dozen fresh oysters and a beer. I began chatting with the bartender who looked vaguely familiar. I asked how long she'd worked there. "14 years", she groaned. Her name is Judy, the unnamed Day Manager from 2002.

Judy and Larry, 8/24/07

Sean and Larry, 8/24/07

Just by chance I wandered into another bar

(there are lots of them in Key West)

called the Hog's Breath Cafe

and there on the wall was another 1187 plate!

Someone from New Hampshire who was awarded The Purple Heart.

If anyone knows this person, I'd love to hear from them.

The G1187 saga continues to captivate and amaze us...

Got your own 1187 story? Let's hear about it!

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