Jump to content
TEAM SHELBY FORUM

Front plate law


ShowCar

Recommended Posts

Who has drilled their front bumper to put on a front plate?Here in Illinois its the law.Ive seen some designs for plates that swivel out of site for shows and such,but I figure if Im gonna put holes in the bumper I should just put the plate on.Ive talked to a few vette owners and some put on Plates because they got pinched by the Local law enforcement.Any thoughts before I make some speed holes in the bumper?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who has drilled their front bumper to put on a front plate?Here in Illinois its the law.Ive seen some designs for plates that swivel out of site for shows and such,but I figure if Im gonna put holes in the bumper I should just put the plate on.Ive talked to a few vette owners and some put on Plates because they got pinched by the Local law enforcement.Any thoughts before I make some speed holes in the bumper?

 

 

 

 

I will never put my front plate on my bumper. I purchased a plate bracket that's made out of stainless and mounts to the underside of the front fascia. I have only put it on a couple of times.

 

I will PM you the user id of the guy that makes them.

 

There have also been a couple of other styles that have popped up on ebay.

 

At least if you seek one of these solutions out, you won't have to put holes in your car.

 

Take care.

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have the same silly law in Ontario. I've been stopped 3 times. 3rd time was my last warning.

 

I have managed to fit the front plate dead centre under the front bumper. I needed to bend the lower portion of the plate to a 90 degree angle about 1.25 inches. Then the plate slides nicely between the lower skirt and plastic grill. Using the top two holes on the plate, I tie stapped it with black nylon ties, cropped the ends and it was solid. For winter storage I cut the ties and remove the plate. ZERO damage.

 

I hope this helps. OH, it looks o.k. too and I haven't been stopped since. DON'T DRILL!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am in IL and drove the car more than 6000 miles since June all over. I never got stopped. I did get asked about it at a drunk driving checkpoint and I just said, "it's a Shelby and I really don't want to go drilling holes in the bumper." The cop just nodded and said have a good night! :happy feet:

 

I have a bracket that fits under the fascia and doesn't require any drilling which I may move to or I will buy the lower grill maybe, but if I get a ticket even once a year it will be worth it to me NOT to drill.

 

IMHO!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder if putting the plate there hurts the cooling?

 

And the bugs... no prob...a nice wet terry towel with some baking soda made into paste....gently put it on and let it set for a minute and they wipe right off. Then rinse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been running mine with the front plate bracket. But having a front plate really detracts from the appearance of the car so it is coming off this winter and I am going to run it without a front plate when it comes out of seclusion next spring. I might get stopped but hopefully it will just be a warning ticket the first time. No way I am drilling any holes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I received a 'Talkin' to' from the local police in the town where I work because of the missing plate. But my car already had the holes drilled from the previous owner so I put my plate on. I'm not sure what I'd do if I had a Shelby. When I do get mine, buying an extra bumper cover for future restoration use comes to mind at this time because I will be driving it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder if putting the plate there hurts the cooling?

 

And the bugs... no prob...a nice wet terry towel with some baking soda made into paste....gently put it on and let it set for a minute and they wipe right off. Then rinse.

Nope, not a bit. It does not effect cooling on the main grill either which is where I originally had it zip tied. Hated the look though....

l_a51dac5911bbe924bc9cd41fde77e08e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:idea:

rig a bracket under the skirt where u can't see the holes and make the bracket that swivels 90 degrees down to where it shows the plate. put a small numatic piston on it to accuate it... when a cop pulls you over and tells you' "hey you need to put a plate on your front bumper." then you can tell him, "I already have ociffer. check again." then flip the switch as he's walkin around to the front of your car and see the puzzled look on his face when he sees the plate. :headscratch: Then when he looks up at you, just nod your head and smile. :yup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

California Mustang has a bracket that mounts to the passinger side of the bumper and also folds up. I don't have any personal experence with this bracket but I thought that I mention it in anyone here was interested in checking it out as another option.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

California Mustang has a bracket that mounts to the passinger side of the bumper and also folds up. I don't have any personal experence with this bracket but I thought that I mention it in anyone here was interested in checking it out as another option.

 

SoGT

Good to see you around again

Where have you been?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Texas, we are legally required to have a front plate, :banghead: although I have a theory: If there is a non-moving violation wrong with my car (like no front plate) & I can say something interesting to the officer before he writes me a ticket for the moving violation he just pulled me over for, I'll take the non moving violation any day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The ultimate I ever saw was an electromechanical contraption that hid the plate horizontal under the facia. With a flick of the switch the plate came down on a tray with wire like things to the vertical position. I saw it at a car show and it was like something out of a Bond film. Very cool. Would love to see the cops face when he walks around to the front after pulling you over only to see the plate there.

:hysterical2:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought about buying R/C car servos and making a electric plate that swivels out of site.The problem is the lower grille opening size is to small.Ive seen the mechanical swivel plates on the side that California Mustang sells..Im probably going to look into that.SLP used to sell a lower bracket for the Camaros back in the day Ill check to see if they carry it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was pulled over in Utah for not having the front plate on. My bumper is not drilled and it never will. When the cop pulled me over he asked if I knew why. I said not really. He then told me about the plate missing from the front, informed me of the law. Here is the best part. He asked me "do you know where you plate is" I said "yep it's at home on my wall" He looked the car over real slow, like he was appreciating the car. Then he says... You don't plan to ever put it on do you. I shrugged my shoulders and told him the truth... No Sir I do not plan to put the plate on this car. I explained that I understood that it was the law and that I should get a ticket and that I would gladly pay it. -But I am not going to put my front plate on. He kind of laughed and then said. Ok, enjoy your Mustang you are free to go.

 

I drove off and never looked back! He was a very cool cop. -My front plate is still mounted on my garage wall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was pulled over in Utah for not having the front plate on. My bumper is not drilled and it never will. When the cop pulled me over he asked if I knew why. I said not really. He then told me about the plate missing from the front, informed me of the law. Here is the best part. He asked me "do you know where you plate is" I said "yep it's at home on my wall" He looked the car over real slow, like he was appreciating the car. Then he says... You don't plan to ever put it on do you. I shrugged my shoulders and told him the truth... No Sir I do not plan to put the plate on this car. I explained that I understood that it was the law and that I should get a ticket and that I would gladly pay it. -But I am not going to put my front plate on. He kind of laughed and then said. Ok, enjoy your Mustang you are free to go.

 

I drove off and never looked back! He was a very cool cop. -My front plate is still mounted on my garage wall.

 

Great story and great 1st. post kelljs. Welcome to the family. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ive decided Im going to drive as long as I can until I get pinched.The funny thing is I was measuring the bumper for all kinds of ideas,Then I just didnt have the heart to put anyholes in the bumper.Its to PRETTY.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some guys on here made a small under the splitter bracket that works great. I'll see if I can find the old thread.

 

I actually printed out the page that had the bracket on it and if I get stopped, I'm going to show it to them and tell them I'm still waiting to get it. Most officers are more than understanding. The first 3 times I was pulled over in the Shelby, it was just so they could see it up close. Very nice, and never even a thought of a ticket.

 

The big thing for them (I used to ride patrol with my best friend for years) is when they pull you over, you turn off the car, turn on the dome light, roll the window down and have both hands at the 10 oclock on the steering wheel, so they can them in your side mirror. That makes all the difference in the world when you are walking up on a car, especially at night. And NEVER reach in your console or glove box until they are at the car, and tell them you are doing so, before you do it.

 

I'm telling you, that right there, will get you off with a warning about 50% of the time, as long as you weren't doing something stupid, racing, or speeding in a school zone.

 

And if the officer is in a good mood, try to make up the biggest fattest lie you can and smile...We've actually let some go just because thier lie was so outragous, we'd laugh all the way back to the car....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And if the officer is in a good mood, try to make up the biggest fattest lie you can and smile...We've actually let some go just because thier lie was so outragous, we'd laugh all the way back to the car....

 

One time I got pulled over and honestly didn't realize I was speeding and I knew it was a speed trap area. When the cop came up I was yelling at myself saying lots of 4-letter words. I was hitting the steering wheel etc., and he walks up, and I'm like #$#@! $#!% :banghead: how fast was I going officer? He's said 55 in a 45. :banghead: I was like $@#! $!@!. :banghead: He held both hands up and said "calm down...calm down! I'll give you a warning!" I was like...oh.. :happy feet: thanks! And that was that!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have the same silly law in Ontario. I've been stopped 3 times. 3rd time was my last warning.

 

I have managed to fit the front plate dead centre under the front bumper. I needed to bend the lower portion of the plate to a 90 degree angle about 1.25 inches. Then the plate slides nicely between the lower skirt and plastic grill. Using the top two holes on the plate, I tie stapped it with black nylon ties, cropped the ends and it was solid. For winter storage I cut the ties and remove the plate. ZERO damage.

 

I hope this helps. OH, it looks o.k. too and I haven't been stopped since. DON'T DRILL!!

 

soniam, I'm in Ontario as well. How much is the fine? Is the fine the same each time or does it go up each time? Also can you post some pictures of the front plate solution you did to see what it looks like.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i hate it for you guys that have to have front tags. just ruins the bumper. glad someone has come up with a new way to do it.

michael morris

We have that law in NJ too, so what? We all speed too and that is against the law. If you get pulled over for either one you get a ticket, but that does not stop us from speeding, so why should it make you put on a front plate?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was pulled over in Utah for not having the front plate on. My bumper is not drilled and it never will. When the cop pulled me over he asked if I knew why. I said not really. He then told me about the plate missing from the front, informed me of the law. Here is the best part. He asked me "do you know where you plate is" I said "yep it's at home on my wall" He looked the car over real slow, like he was appreciating the car. Then he says... You don't plan to ever put it on do you. I shrugged my shoulders and told him the truth... No Sir I do not plan to put the plate on this car. I explained that I understood that it was the law and that I should get a ticket and that I would gladly pay it. -But I am not going to put my front plate on. He kind of laughed and then said. Ok, enjoy your Mustang you are free to go.

 

I drove off and never looked back! He was a very cool cop. -My front plate is still mounted on my garage wall.

 

Good for you. As long as you can get away with it, I'm happy for you. The front end looks much too good to drill holes in it. Even if you can mount the plate without drilling holes it would just look awful :banghead:

 

Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...
...