1975-1982 Red Letter Passenger Bases
1975 First in Freedom Base
Four bases of these plates have been identified by variants of the embossed "75" date in the center of the plate which is used as a divider between letters and numbers. The different bases seem to have been made inconsistently throughout their production. Despite several inquiries, there have never been any dated "76" plates issued. Plates were issued for 1975 as replacements for 1974 plates and were renewed with stickers up until 1987.
Type 1- Square Date "75"

Single plate issued 1975-1978. Used through 1987.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial:AAA-101 through at least PLE-436 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial:AAA-101 through at least PLE-436 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Type 2- Small Curved "75"

Single plate issued 1975-1978. Used through 1987
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Earliest known number DXM-951 through at least PLY-498 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Earliest known number DXM-951 through at least PLY-498 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Type 3- Large Curved "75"

Single plate issued 1975-1978. Used through 1987.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: About EAC-968 through at least NSK-224 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 2 (1975)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: About EAC-968 through at least NSK-224 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 2 (1975)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate.
Type 4- Squared "75"

Single plate issued 1977-1978. Used through 1987.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: About PFR-685 through at least PMS-842 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: About PFR-685 through at least PMS-842 with stacked "75" used as divider. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956)
"FIRST IN FREEDOM" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate.
1978 Plain base

Single plate issued 1978-1979. Used through 1989.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed Aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: PNA-101 through at least SXF-805. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) and Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed Aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: PNA-101 through at least SXF-805. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) and Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Controversy on the subject of being "First in Freedom" caused the removal of the slogan which made for a bland plate. These plates continued on from there the Freedom plates left off in 1978 although there seems to be more of these
plates with a natural issuance in 1979.
plates with a natural issuance in 1979.
1980 dated base
1980 base plates were issued to new registrants in 1980 and as replacements for older First in Freedom plates in 1981.These plates had 3 different fonts for the date 1980.
Type 1- Small "1980"

Single plate issued 1980-1981. Used through 1990.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: SYA-101 through at least TFM-104. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: SYA-101 through at least TFM-104. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Type 2- Large Rounded "1980"

Single plate issued 1980-1981. Used through 1990.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified TCM-213 through at least WDD-547. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified TCM-213 through at least WDD-547. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Type 3- Large Squared "1980"

Single plate issued 1980-1981. Used through 1990.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified TYA-372 through at least XAY-208. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum with tab borders in top corners 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified TYA-372 through at least XAY-208. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"1980" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate
1981 dated base

Single plate issued 1981. Used through 1991.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified XHA-894 through at least YJV-275. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) and Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1981" on bottom center of plate
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified XHA-894 through at least YJV-275. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
Dies: Type 1 (1956) and Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1981" on bottom center of plate
1982 dated bases

Single plate issued 1982. Used through 1994
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified YKK-749 through ZRZ-999. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
DIES: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1982" on bottom center of plate.
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: Verified YKK-749 through ZRZ-999. G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
DIES: Type 1 (1956) & Type 2 (1975)
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1982" on bottom center of plate.