[OG68]

Yes to all the above. The black plates were available from 63 to 69 and have come to signify the 'Sixties' in California.

Starting in 1963 California plate issue is for the lifetime of the vehicle. So if your car was initially registered from 63 to 69 it is possible to still use your original black plates as well as the blue and the white plates in later years
California also allows owners of 56 to 69 vehicles to purchase a set of black or yellow background plates (which were available from 56 to 62), for registration purposes as long as they are clear in the system.

The third option is to buy the updated Black plates. The font is slightly different from the originals and the black background is reflective, but they can also be personalized. A yearly fee tacked on to your registration.

Other states are jumping on the bandwagon. Oregon sells the blue 'Pacific Wonderland' plates popular in the early sixties.

But it's truly a "California Thing" lol.