I don't have a front license plate on the '65 and use a custom "CRUISIN" corvette plate. In Maine, we must have front plates but with cars that are 25 years and older, state inspections are not required and they are liberal on the front plates on them as long as you have the front plate in the car. We can even have a vintage front and rear plate on them as long as we have both actual registration plates in the cars.
For the 2002, I figured if I was going to have the front plate, then I'd go with a vanity "C5R". To me it makes it much more tolerable.
Chuck M