Number Plate Character Height

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:15 am

Hi,

I have a car built & sold late 62 but registered in January 63. From other threads I have read that if your car is pre 63 you can have the 3 1/2" characters, or post 63 that they are 3 1/8". My understanding is that the smaller digits were introduced to allow for incorporation of the locality prefix and the 1st of these was issued by Middlesex in Feb 63. My car is as yet unregistered and I cannot register until it is up & running & MOT'd. So my assumption is that I will be issued with a plate without locality prefix and thus I should be able to fit a plate with the larger digits to my car. I have a cherished number hence I'm keen to get my plate ordered asap whilst the Ace digits are still available. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Neil

Post by **Heuer** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:19 am

Not much you can do without a V5 as both Tippers and Frampton's need to see them before they will make the plates up. You could try asking them to make up a set of 'display' plates which are not intended for road use or if you have a retention certificate they may accept that. Oddly, the front stick on plate does not require a V5 presumably because it is not road legal although the DVLA have said they are prepared to accept it on the E-Type and no action will be taken against owners.

As regards character size all cars registered before 1 January 1963 should have 3 1/2" characters and after that date 3 1/8" characters. I know Tippers are particularly protective of their remaining ACE characters and will not supply them for cars registered after the cut off date. Framptons seem to take a more 'commercial' view

Tippers ACE peaked characters are matt silver alloy and Framptons are peaked and polished. Tippers are the only place to go for the front plate as they use the old font whereas Framptons use the standard modern font and spacing (computer generated).

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:40 am

Thanks David, I have the retention cert so will give Framptons and/or Tippers a call & see what they can do. I noticed on Tippers website they state the 3 1/2" characters as being for years 1950 to 1964. Fingers crossed as I really do like the polished Ace characters.

Regards,

Neil

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:17 pm

Please can anyone confirm dimensions of the rear number plate so that it completely fills the rear plate recess ? Is it rectangular (with curved or straight corners ?) or does it need to be templated ? I only ask as I don't have the car to hand.

Regards,

Neil

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:06 pm

Depends whether it is a FHC or OTS! I can give you measurements although I had to use tin snips to round two corners to fit correctly on the FHC.

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:10 pm

Doh, sorry, it's for an OTS.
Dimensions would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Neil

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:15 pm

21" x 7"

adam · Post by **adam** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:09 pm

Hi, I brought the digits only from Framptons. I made the pattern for the back plate from cardboard first so as to get spacing as I wanted it, then using this i transfered it to some ally sheet, drilled all the holes and cut to size and sprayed black. I wanted an ace badge in the corner, so I made one using the lost wax technique. I had an old box with the ace script on it, so I made a relief pattern in wax and made a mold and cast it in silver. Polished the top of pattern sprayed it black to fill in round script then removed paint on top of script and then clear coated it. The result is on Framptons web site as plate of the month.
Adam

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:20 pm

Brilliant Adam! Can you put a picture up here of the Ace badge?

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:20 pm

Thanks David.

Hi Adam,

Funnily enough I mentioned your photo as an example of what I was trying to do when I emailed Framptons a couple of weeks ago. Looks good. I've done a bit of lost waxing myself in the past (made my wedding ring). I'm just going for plain black background but would enjoy making up the plate myself. How do the digits attach and then how did you attach the plate to the car ?

Regards,

Neil

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:29 pm

Neil

If you are having difficulty getting the Ace plates made up because of a lack of a V5 you can buy them in Ireland: http://www.eireplates.com/acepeaksamples.asp or http://www.autojumbler.ie/Ace%20Peak%20 ... lates.html because they don't care about such formalities and are not about to impose UK law on their customers! The Ace digits are made in Dublin anyway. The plates from that second link come complete with the Ace badge. The digits are held on with push on clips; you need a flat plate not the ones with a bevel.

adam · Post by **adam** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:06 pm

Here's a picture of the badge. (apologies for the blurriness, I do cars not photos!)
The letters are held on by spring clips, but I put a bit of araldite on there for added security!

Post by **Heuer** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:20 pm

Work of art that is! Put my name down for two when you go into production

adam · Post by **adam** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:10 pm

I will let you know if I do
Adam

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:31 am

David/Adam,

Many thanks for your advice. Ace polished digits now ordered from Framptons - wow they're pricey !

Cheers,

Neil

Post by **Heuer** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 3:57 pm

This shows how the original Ace logo was fixed to their number plates - two slots that a little tin Ace badge was pushed through and folded at the back. Colour is correct as well.

An original 3.5" Ace Silver Peak V profile character marked 'Ace' to the rear:

Up until 1964 the raised letters were 3 1/2" high and the profile of each letter was a sharp 'V'. After 1964 the letter height was reduced to 3 1/8" and the raised plastic letters had a flat top to the raised profile aka Ace Silver Plateau. I understand Tippers have suspended the supply of Ace plates - something to do with the DVLA not being happy. I suggest you get them from Eire as they do not seem to see it as a problem: http://www.autojumbler.ie/Ace%20Peak%20 ... lates.html

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