License plate mountings

[MrBlimp]

What have some of you done about mounting your front plate after removing the bumper?

[RRoller123]

This doesn't directly answer your question, but it does....

I kept the front bumpers, but the front license plate (required in MA) lives in the trunk, with mounting hardware. I have never been pulled over or even questioned by any authority about the lack of a front plate, but if it were to happen, I am pretty sure they would either let it skate, or let me just put the plate on and be on my way.

Having an "Antique" category plate probably helps, too.

Pete

[MrBlimp]

One thing you were sort of right about is that

This doesn't directly answer your question, but it does....
Pete

But it didn't

I kept the front bumpers, but the front license plate (required in MA) lives in the trunk, with mounting hardware. I have never been pulled over or even questioned by any authority about the lack of a front plate, but if it were to happen, I am pretty sure they would either let it skate, or let me just put the plate on and be on my way.
Pete

In NY it is both required and you would get stopped by a cop.

Having an "Antique" category plate probably helps, too.
Pete

I have regular plates (with the much lower classic car insurance) as "Historic" category plates in NY are only good for driving in a parade.

Besides, the way I drive I don't need any other reason for a cop to want to pull me over.

[RRoller123]

We are required to show both plates here too, but on an old hobby car, they just look the other way. Can't speak for NY though. Carrying it in the trunk is fine, plus the damned thing interferes with cooling air flow up front.

[baltobernie]

Marylanders are also required to display both tags, and I know of several instances where violators were ticketed. But I've been lucky without a front tag. We're allowed to use period-correct tags on Historic vehicles, and I guess that's why I haven't been stopped. The 1973 tags are a completely different color and style, and today's officers probably weren't even born then, let alone driving. They probably figure we only used the rear tag 45 years ago (nope).

While we're on the subject, if you can use period-correct tags in your state, you can get "replicas" made by these guys:
https://www.licenseplates.tv/usa-state-plates.html A few states have persuaded this company not to offer tags of their jurisdiction, including CA. The Maryland tag I got to replace a salvage pair looks darn near perfect.

[Texafornian]

I use zip ties through the lower grill and pull the bottom snug up against the air dam / chin spoiler.

[Nanonevol]

Hope you don't have to eat those words Pete. I'm with Mr. Blimp, I don't want to give a cop any reason to pull me over.

[RRoller123]

Had a nice chat with a MA State Police officer at Nantasket about the car; no problems, but I bet it would vary from officer to officer.

[MrBlimp]

Had a nice chat with a MA State Police officer at Nantasket about the car; no problems, but I bet it would vary from officer to officer.

One day I was going to the DMV to transfer title, return plates related to same, and get new set under new title.

I parked the car in the street in front of the DMV and removed the plates.

As i did so I noticed a cop parked a short distance down the street so I went over and told him what I was doing and asked if it would be ok.

He replied "I won't bother you but that is just me. I am not speaking for anyone else."

[RRoller123]

WELL! I just discovered one time when you absolutely do need to have your front license plate attached; MA State Safety Inspection! Hahahahah! I forgot all about not having the front plate on. Good thing I had it and the mounting brackets in the trunk, or my long trip to my inspection mechanic would have been wasted.

[TX82FIAT]

+1 for zip ties to lower grill. The plate sits just above the spoiler. I'm in the process of converting to bumperless (sort of) and just need a couple items to properly secure T-Bar Style (VW hot rod) bumpers.

[RRoller123]

FWIW: With my license plate center mounted, low, blocking only the bottom grille (directly behind) the car ran ~10 degrees hotter this morning coming home from the inspection station, and took a lot longer to get back down to normal temp after leaving a red light. Usually it drops back to normal within less than a minute, but with the plate there, it took 2-3 minutes. At times I put on the defroster heater to bring it down. The car normally runs about 170F, steadily. I have AR's aluminum radiator in there.

FWIW: Similar results a few years ago when I ran without the front spoiler one Summer for a week or so while I was doing some work up front. The car consistently ran about 10F hotter.

Pete

[MrBlimp]

FWIW: With my license plate center mounted, low, blocking only the bottom grille (directly behind) the car ran ~10 degrees hotter this morning coming home from the inspection station, and took a lot longer to get back down to normal temp after leaving a red light. Usually it drops back to normal within less than a minute, but with the plate there, it took 2-3 minutes. At times I put on the defroster heater to bring it down. The car normally runs about 170F, steadily. I have AR's aluminum radiator in there.

FWIW: Similar results a few years ago when I ran without the front spoiler one Summer for a week or so while I was doing some work up front. The car consistently ran about 10F hotter.

Pete

I was expecting something like that to occur if I were to remove the bumpers and mount the front plate on the lower grill. I was thinking of a mounting between the grills - but it would have to be something that looks good.

[RRoller123]

Saw this installed on a modern car at the Herb Chambers C&C last week. If I could make this work for the Spider I would do so immediately. Works on a key fob, remotely. Very smoothly flips the front plate up to horizontal position and retracts it inside. In the case of the car I saw it on, it completely pulled it back inside the bumper cover, through a slot, 100% hidden. Wickhud pissah. For the Spider, just getting it to the horizontal position while driving, to keep the airflow up, might be an advantage, but it needs to be somewhat hidden or it would be an eyesore in and of itself. Maybe mounted to the left or right of center, under the black rubber bumper pad on the post '74 Spiders?

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Powered ... ate+holder

Or this manually operated one for a lot less, and certainly more reliable:

https://www.amazon.com/Show-Go-License- ... ate+holder

[Nanonevol]

That's James Bond cool!