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Connections between "Falcon Crest" and Other Productions
 
(revised 10/10/2022)
 
 
 
 
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has been reserving certain license plate numbers for vehicles for decades to be used as props in movies and television productions. These license plate numbers are never assigned to any real car registration, but held back by the DMV exclusively for the use in fictional works. They are, however, in accordance with the usual numbering schemes used by the DMV during the respective era. These fictional numbers are not only approved by the DMV for the use by one single studio, but assigned to many production companies, which is why various studios might constantly use the same numbers. The reason for fictional license plate numbers as props is obvious: they are used to prevent difficulties for a real person who might coincidentally have the same license plate number as the one appearing in a production.
Most license plates in movies and TV shows — at least the ones prominently featured — are fictional for that reason. In some cases, however, real license plate numbers might be visible on background cars driving by or parked or on vehicles that are owned by the studio and used in "real" traffic, but are also visible on film, e.g. trucks and cars of the production company's transportation department used in the storyline.
 
Some fictional license plate numbers for vehicles from "Falcon Crest" were reused in other productions, which is a usual process in the entertainment industry because not everything is bought specifically for a production. Below are a few striking examples of prop plates (in alphanumerical order) that were prominently reused in other shows or came from other shows and were reused on "Falcon Crest".
For LORIMAR's productions, their prop department printed multiple plates with the same number for the use on various of their shows at the same time.
 
More episode-wise details about the use of the following license plates on "Falcon Crest" are available in our Vehicle Database, which is updated with more episodes bi-monthly and will finally also contain an appendix with an index of multiple uses of the same plates on "Falcon Crest" itself. The multi-use of prop plates is also discussed in the respective episodes in our Behind the Scenes section.
 
 
 
 
247 PCE
(seasons 1 and 2):
 
 
This license plate was used on four different cars on "Falcon Crest": Paul Salinger's rental car, a beige / gray 1980 Ford Thunderbird, in # 002; on Lance's 1977 black / gray Chevrolet Corvette C3 Targa in early season 1; on Lance's 1977 red Chevrolet Corvette C3 Targa in # 008 and 010; and on Richard's blue-gray 1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in # 025.
The license plate number also appeared in other productions:
 
 

  • "The Magician":
     
    Much earlier than on "Falcon Crest", this license plate number appeared in season 1 of PARAMOUNT's crime show "The Magician" on the orange Chevrolet Nova used as a getaway car by the assassin trying to kill Max with the crane in "The Manhunters" (# 1; original U.S. airdate: 10/02/1973, NBC).
    •  
     
  • "Grand Theft Auto":
     

    Also before "Falcon Crest", this license plate number was used on a yellow 1975 Fiat X1/9 in the 1977 movie "Grand Theft Auto" — theatrical release date: 07/16/1977 (USA). This movie was produced by NEW WORLD PICTURES.
    •  
     
  • "Knots Landing":
     
    Also prior to "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number was utilized in season 1 of this LORIMAR drama series on Richard Avery's gray 1979 Mercury Capri — the screen capture is from "Let Me Count the Ways" (# 003 <1.03>; original U.S. airdate: 01/10/1980, CBS). The license plate number on this picture car varied from episode to episode though.
    •  
     
  • "Charlie's Angels":
     
    Also before "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number appeared in season 5 of the original "Charlie's Angels" crime drama by SPELLING-GOLDBERG PRODUCTIONS / COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION. In "Angel on the Line" (# 109 <5.10>; original U.S. airdate: 02/14/1981), it was mounted on a black 1980 Lincoln Town Car used by Edward Fox following "Angel" Kelly Garrett (although the model year is falsely referenced as "1979" by Kelly, just as a side note).
    •  
     
  • "Cutter's Way":
     
    Also prior to "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number was mounted on a 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Series III car in the movie "Cutters Way" produced by GURIAN ENTERTAINMENT — theatrical release date: 03/20/1981 (USA).
 
 
 
 
2ABM740
(seasons 4 through 6):
 
 

This license plate was used on Angela's second light beige 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Convertible in seasons 4 through 6.
 
In the preceding TV season, it had appeared on "Knots Landing" on three vehicles: in season 6, on Abby Cunningham Ewing's blue Mercedes-Benz SL Convertible — the screen grab is from "Weighing of Evils" (# 113 <6.13>; original U.S. airdate: 01/03/1985, CBS); later in season 7, on Abby's next Mercedes-Benz 380 SL, a blue-gray one; also in season 6, on Mack MacKenzie's brown Jeep Grand Wagoneer with exterior wood trim — the screen capture is from "Vulnerable" (# 129 <6.29>; original U.S. airdate: 05/15/1985, CBS). Abby's first Mercedes-Benz 380 SL, by the way, had different license plates in the course of the series, and so did Mack's vehicle (see below).
 
 
 
 
2ALE185
(seasons 4 through 6):
 
 

This license plate was used on three different cars on "Falcon Crest": Angela's black 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 in season 4, Cassandra's blue 1984 Lincoln Continental Mark VII in season 5 and Chase's golden Porsche 928 S in season 6.
 
Around the same time of its first use on "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number appeared in season 6 of "Knots Landing" on two different vehicles: Abby Cunningham Ewing's blue Mercedes-Benz SL Convertible — screen capture 1 is from "A Little Help" (# 104 <6.04>; original U.S. airdate: 11/01/1984, CBS); and Valene Ewing's red 1983 Ford Thunderbird — screen grab 2 is from "Love to Take You Home" (# 107 <6.07>; original U.S. airdate: 11/22/1984, CBS).
In seasons 7 through 9, it was used on Laura Avery's dark blue Mercedes-Benz S-Class — picture 3 is from "High School Confidential" (# 152 <7.22>; original U.S. airdate: 03/06/1986, CBS). All aforementioned cars, by the way, had different license plates in the course of the series (see above and below).
 
 
 
 
2AQO518
(seasons 4 and 5):
 
 
This license plate was used on two different cars on "Falcon Crest": Lance's red 1981 Porsche 928 S in season 4 and his white gold 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Sport Convertible in season 5.
 
In the preceding TV season, it had appeared in season 6 of "Knots Landing" on Gary Ewing's anthracite gray 1982 Jaguar XJ-S Convertible — screen grab 1 is from "Weighing of Evils" (# 113 <6.13>; original U.S. airdate: 01/03/1985, CBS).
In season 10, it was mounted on Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner's gray Mercedes-Benz 560 SL; screen capture 2 is from "Dial M for Modem" (# 241 <10.22>; original U.S. airdate: 04/06/1989, CBS).
Both aforementioned cars, by the way, had different license plates in the course of the series.
 
 
 
 
2BLA629
(seasons 4 and 5):
 
 
This license plate was used on "Falcon Crest" for Greg's gray-brown 1976 BMW 633 CSi Coupé in season 4 and his blue 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC in season 5.
 
Around the same time of its first use on "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number appeared in season 6 of "Knots Landing" on Mack MacKenzie's brown Jeep Grand Wagoneer with exterior wood trim; screen capture 1 is from "We Gather Together" (# 109 <6.09>; original U.S. airdate: 12/06/1984, CBS). Mack's car, by the way, had different license plates in the course of the series (see above).
Later, in season 7, it was used on Peter Hollister's light beige 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country Convertible with exterior wood trim; screen grab 2 is from "The Legacy" (# 155 <7.25>; original U.S.- airdate: 04/03/1986, CBS).
 
 
 
 
2CAN296
(seasons 4 and 5):
 
 
This license plate was used on "Falcon Crest" for Melissa's white 1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa in season 4 and her red Chevrolet Corvette C4 Targa in season 5.
 
Around the same time of its first use on "Falcon Crest", the same license plate number appeared in season 6 of "Knots Landing" on two vehicles: Ben Gibson's red Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 Convertible (which continued to use it for two more seasons) — screen capture 1 is from "Ipso Facto" (# 105 <6.05>; original U.S. airdate: 11/08/1984, CBS); and Valene Ewing's red 1983 Ford Thunderbird — screen capture 2 is from "The Long and Winding Road" (# 130 <6.30>; original U.S. airdate: 05/23/1985, CBS). Val's car, by the way, had different license plates in the course of the series (see above).
 
 
 
 
2EAK705
(seasons 7 through 9):
 
 

On "Falcon Crest", this license plate was mounted on Angela's limousine in seasons 7 through 9, an anthracite 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood 75.
 
LORIMAR used the same number on "Knots Landing". Before "Falcon Crest", it was mounted on Greg Sumner's blue 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC Coupé in season 8; screen capture 1 is from "Pressure Points" (# 168 <8.08>; original U.S. airdate: 10/30/1986, CBS). After "Falcon Crest", the same number was seen on the black 1988 Lincoln Continental owned by the real estate agent who presented Mack MacKenzie his new office; screen grab 2 is from "Mrs. Peacock in the Library with the Lead Pipe" (# 231 <10.12>; original U.S. airdate: 01/19/1989, CBS).
 
 
 
 
963 XUJ
(seasons 1 through 4):
 
 
This license plate was used on Angela's first light beige 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Convertible in seasons 1 through 4 (except # 027).
Besides, it was also mounted on a blue-gray 1981 Datsun 310 (type N10) in front of the Tuscany Valley Hospital in # 042.
The same license plate number was also used in the following TV shows:
 
 
  • "Dan August":
     

    This crime drama, a QUINN MARTIN production, had previously utilized the same license plate number (albeit a different prop plate) in "The Law" (# 17; original U.S. airdate: 02/04/1971, ABC) on Art Lewis' black 1970 Lincoln Continental.
    •  
     
  • "Cannon":
     
    The license plate is probably best known for its long-time use on this QUINN MARTIN crime drama, which regularly (with a few exceptions) had utilized it (albeit a different prop plate) on Frank Cannon's cars, which were all Lincoln Continental models throughout the series. The screen capture is an example from "Scream of Silence" (# 005 <1.05>; original U.S. airdate: 10/12/1971, CBS) when Cannon drove a black / silver 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III before he switched to later generation models in each of the consecutive seasons.
    •  
     
  • "Knots Landing":
     
    LORIMAR's drama series about life in the suburban cul-de-sac also used this prop license plate number on various cars: It was mounted on Sid Fairgate's red / yellow 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupé in "Aftermath" (# 034 <3.03>; original U.S. airdate: 11/26/1981, CBS; screen grab 1) — although previous episodes had used different license plate numbers on that vintage car. In the same season, it was used on Richard Avery's blue-gray 1981 Buick Regal at least in "Silver Shadows" (# 47 <3.16>; original U.S. airdate: 03/25/1982, CBS; screen capture 2) — despite other license plate numbers being used on the same car in earlier and later episodes. Later, the number in question was also used on Andy Moore's gray-brownish Porsche 924 in "Abby's Choice" (# 064 <4.11>; original U.S. airdate: 12/16/1982, CBS; picture 3).