Front Plate mounting on Longhoods – Pics needed!

Sam 69 Gulf · 01-31-2008, 02:47 PM

I need to mount a front plate on the fiberglass bumper of my 69 (top pic). I have seen a couple of examples in threads and wondered if anyone had ever had issues (of the blue light type) with the plate being at such an angle. I posted a couple of examples I plagiarized…

JMatta · 01-31-2008, 03:30 PM

Must you mount a plate? Your car is so beautiful, I hate to see the front lines messed up with a plate. Front plates are a nuisance and you can't read it anyway at the angle it's mounted. Is the law requiring you to mount the plate? Around here, nobody cares unless your stopped for a violation and then they write up everything they can.

Somewhere in the garage I have the factory piece that came with my car....I ditched it long ago and it's sitting on the shelf, if you need it (just cover shipping).

PCA7GGR · 01-31-2008, 04:20 PM

In sunny CA, we are required front plates so that the photo radar and bridge Fastrak cameras can take a pic and mail you a ticket. So.. I bought some brackets from Stoddards that follow the contours of my cooler equipped fiberglass front bumpers.

ianc · 01-31-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

In sunny CA, we are required front plates

Not sure if that's true or not. If it is, it's certainly not enforced. I've been driving around for the past 13 years in two different 911's without front plates and haven't had an officer mention it to me, even when being stopped for speeding.

ianc

kucharskimb · 01-31-2008, 05:46 PM

this backing plate is just a $10 cheapy from autozone. it is held on with two bolts/nuts through the top portion that go through the bumper. (Hard to force yourself to drill holes through a perfectly good bumper...) Then the license plate is screwed into the backing plate. it is probably at a 50-60 degree angle to the ground. never had any issues.

RSBob · RSBob's Garage

Original plate mount - back in the old days....

TargaFlorio · 01-31-2008, 06:43 PM

I'm pretty sure you need a front-mounted license plate in CA.
A friend of mine got a ticket at the LAX parking lot for not having a front license plate. Evidently they sweep the parking lot (while you're out of town). Not a nice surprise for when you come home...

Especially now, with all the camera-enforced traffic lights, they want you to have a front license plate.

Cheers,
http://nicolashunziker.com

jtkkz · 01-31-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianc

Not sure if that's true or not. If it is, it's certainly not enforced. I've been driving around for the past 13 years in two different 911's without front plates and haven't had an officer mention it to me, even when being stopped for speeding.

ianc

It probably depends on the officer, My friend in SF got a ticket for no front plates......

Chilling in VT · 02-01-2008, 04:37 AM

I went through this dilemma a couple of years ago. In VT, you could not get your car inspected without the front plate. I tried the brackets from Stoddards but always had a problem with the plate "hanging" out there. My car cover always snagged on it, it sometimes hit on driveways etc. I then came up with my solution. I went to a friend who is a signmaker. He scanned my plate into his computer, and made an exact copy on Scotch reflective vinyl (it's the same material used by our state to make the real plates). I then applied the sticker to the front bumper. It follows the curves and works slick. There is a spot on the corner that I apply the annual registration renewal to. I have had this for the past 3-4 years and have no problems with inspections or police since.

Not the best picture but I think you get the idea.
Joe

Axiom · 02-01-2008, 05:21 AM

No need to take chances in California

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

It may have changed, but when I lived in SJ in the 80's - 90's the law was that if your car had a provision for a front plate you must mount one, but if never provided for you were not required to modify the car to mount a plate.
I remember this because the 5 series BMW that I bought new there came with a dealer installed plastic cover for the front bumper plate mounting area which they claimed made the car essentially legal with only a rear plate. I drove it there for a few years like that and had no problem.
Many municipalities have revised their laws to work with toll roads, red light cams, etc... so this may no longer be the case, but should be a good argument with an antique car at least, IMHO...

JTO · 02-01-2008, 06:51 AM

So Rudy,
On my backdate you are working on, how would you install a front plate? Now the car doesn't have one and I would hate to ruin the beauticul clean look!

I've seen some folks put their front plate under the windshield.

The "sticker" plate that Chillin has is pretty cool.

Thanks,
Troy

dimeified · 02-01-2008, 06:53 AM

Ive been driving my carrera for 2 years, no front bumper. No problems so far (knock on wood).

If i were you, i'd just leave it off, and if you get a ticket, then you can put it on.

Axiom · 02-01-2008, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTO

So Rudy,
On my backdate you are working on, how would you install a front plate? Now the car doesn't have one and I would hate to ruin the beauticul clean look!

I've seen some folks put their front plate under the windshield.

The "sticker" plate that Chillin has is pretty cool.

Thanks,
Troy

Hi Troy: We didn't install any brackets on your bumper, being that your car look so clean without a front license plate, but the blue one in the picture has the same bumper, I mounted it as straight and visible possible, I am not familiar with the laws in Oregon, but here, it's better to have one.

If you want one, it will easier now that I have the bumper off, we can mount it anywhere you would like, and we can ask Dave if he has any ideas for a bracket Personally, I think it looks better without it, That picture that you took in San Diego proofs it.

By the way, we are done with all the details that Dave suggested, and we are close to assembly, I was preparing an update for him this morning, and I'm sure he will forward it you.

Jay Laifman · 02-01-2008, 08:23 AM

It depends where you are in California. If you are in a high density area where they have the red light ticket cameras, you are at more risk. I know that in Santa Monica, they do sweeps now and then looking for just that. But, out in the horse 'burbs of Ventura where I am, nobody cares.

That said, I too have the factory front spoiler with that little split in the lower edge, as seen on the very first car above. The license plate blocks that feature. I wonder if anyone has any idea what the reason for that split is and what the impact is of blocking it. I figure it's not much for street driving.

JTO · 02-01-2008, 08:30 AM

Hi Rudy,
That's good news!

I think I will skip the front plate. It's required by law here in Oregon but I see a lot of cars without. If I get cited for the missing front plate, I will deal with it then!
Thanks for all of your hard work on my car.
Troy

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

It is a Class D traffic violation - the lowest, "cheapest" one. They might try to double it if you go thru a construction zone tho. Yo never know what they are going to try...