Early license plate mounting - help (pic)

[racemor]

Hello, I'm starting to rebuild my '73E after it's repaint and I need some help on getting my license plate bracket figured out. Mine has always been mounted incorrectly, hanging too low on the rear valence instead of up near the decklid like it should be. But I have never know if it is because I have the wrong bracket or if it was mounted in the wrong place. Please take a look at the pictures below and tell me what is wrong. And if this is the wrong bracket, what should it be?


Here are the mounting holes on my newly painted valence.


This is the bracket that was on the car when I bought it.

As always, thanks
Tom

[kcope]

I have the same bracket. but the holes on the license panel are located over the circle. I had to look twice just to see the stamped design. my plate covers it completely. Hope this helps.

[T Bird]

Tom
As near as I can tell, there never was a factory bracket for attaching the rear license plate for early (pre 74) cars. (However, I have seen a two-piece unit for pre-74 cars, allegedly from the factory, for installing the front plate that angles the plate forward.) Most rear plates are attached with the simple bracket that you have, which is available from almost any autoparts store for a few bucks.

If you don't like the height that your plate hangs, just redrill the holes a bit further up the panel. I would dress the edges of any new holes with a little paint to prevent the formation of rust.

Good luck.

[pwd72s]

Same bracket as on my '72...your holes are too low. Too bad they couldn't have been filled by the body shop before the repaint... Hindsight, always crystal clear, right? The holes in mine are drilled on a line with the slight horizontal crease of the upper panel. This results in the bottom of your license plate lining up just above the crease that curls the panel forward toward the muffler. Hope this description makes sense? (edit)Forgot to add...there are rubber washers between the panel and the bracket, designed to cushion, I suppose...I'd guess them to be about 3/4" diameter, maybe 1/8" thick...they are wider than the bracket..

[bob tilton]

glad to hear you have your car back. did you get it last wed as scheduled? are you pleased with the job? pics?
bob
68L silver

[racemor]

Thanks guys. I have seen this bracket on other cars too but wanted to see if others had a different set-up.

pwd: Yes, they were supposed to take care of the holes but missed it. Strange thing is, even though the holes are in the wrong place, the panel seems dimpled like it was stamped that way. I know it is wrong and I'll make it right. Thanks for your description, I can picture what you are saying in relation to the creases.

Bob: I don't actually have the car home yet. There was a snag in getting the glass reinstalled. I'll have it soon though. Here is a shot from last Wednesday.

Tom

[KevinP73]

This is from "911 & 912 Porsche" by Dr. B Johnson

[47silver]

i searched and could not find .

In any case would anyone have the measurements (or take them for me) for the holes that need to be drilled to mount the bracket that is shown above?
distance from top or some other reference would be great.