The 'E' Type Forum

Hi All,

What is the best way to fix the Rear Classic number plate to the 1961 OTS car?

I have just received the ACE plate from Framptons which obviously is metal with the raised letters.
Can you use the usual double sided tape, or for originality is there another method to adhere too.

Also, is it compulsory to wear the front number plate on the vehicle.
Just don't want to spoil the looks !!!

Thanks...

Rear plate is held on by two screws into the body. I used a couple of s/s screws and rubber washers behind the plate to lift it clear. I also used the small black plastic pop covers found on new number plates to hide the screw heads.


Front number plate is compulsory except some US states. If you are in the UK even the stick-on front plate is technically illegal but the DVLA has agreed it is now custom and practice. Besides it is part of the iconic look of the car. Make sure you get a front plate with the correct 3 1/2" characters and the period font (need to be hand cut). Most of the stick on ones generally available are modern 3 1/8" font and look horrible!:




More info here: viewtopic.php?p=41625&highlight=number+plate+ace#41625

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.
It looks like I'm off to Tippers for the correct front plate now...

splosh wrote:Hi All,

What is the best way to fix the Rear Classic number plate to the 1961 OTS car?

I have just received the ACE plate from Framptons which obviously is metal with the raised letters.
Can you use the usual double sided tape, or for originality is there another method to adhere too.

Also, is it compulsory to wear the front number plate on the vehicle.
Just don't want to spoil the looks !!!

Thanks...

I believe the small round rare earth magnets as used in cabinetry drawers would work well. Glue soft cloth to both sides. Very tenacious grip.

Wow, I like that idea of using earth magnets.
Ill get some off eBay and try that its before any drilling takes place.

Was thinking of layering up some double sided number plate tape, but I do like the idea of being able to remove the plate for cleaning behind.

A cunning plan Baldrick, but a flawed one! The Ace plates have an aluminium base plate and the characters are themselves alloy castings. So unless these magnets come from a parallel Earth they are not going to work.

And why the hell would you worry about drilling two holes in the bodywork to hold the plate? Jaguar did it!

Doh ...
Anyway, where did you get that smart rear "GB" sticker from for the rear plate ????????

Found it on eBay as I wanted something small and unobtrusive. They don't seem to be available any more but if I had to do it again I would buy one of these and fix it to the plate: http://tinyurl.com/kebsgg5 You could cut off the Barbour bit if you are picky:


EU law says you should display a plate identifying the Country of registration - they make no mention of the size

Cheers - just bought one...

Heuer wrote:A cunning plan Baldrick, but a flawed one! The Ace plates have an aluminium base plate and the characters are themselves alloy castings. So unless these magnets come from a parallel Earth they are not going to work.

And why the hell would you worry about drilling two holes in the bodywork to hold the plate? Jaguar did it!

OK...if you insist on holes, drill them in the base plate...insert very short shank chrome or cad plated steel bolt/screw/button head....stick magnets to steel stubs....stick assembly to the car. No unsightly (out of sight) holes in the car. Or...if the characters are thick enough, drill blind holes for screws from the back side...attach magnets to screw heads...no unsightly holes in either the car or the plate. Or perhaps simplest of all...epoxy two thin gage steel strips to the back of the aluminum base plate....proceed with (parallel) rare earth magnets....no holes anywhere and the plates magically float in the anti-gravity parallel universe.

Good morning,
Mine has been fixed last Friday, made by Paul Macnaughton at http://www.autojumbler.ie and fixed by ATS Le Mans who is looking after a mechanical restoration of my 1961 OTS.

No holes in the plate of course !

Small self adhesive GB plate like Heuers is available from Halfords.

Not shown on-line, but they are available in store - certainly in our local store and I've seen them in other Halfords.

Cheers,

Dave

Louis, I followed your idea for fixing the number plate to the car at the rear.

I arraldite'd some of those studs to the rear of the plate corresponding to the existing holes in the cars plinth and put some rubber washers in between the plate and the plinth.
No holes necessary in the plate.

Brilliant idea and thank's.

Nice way to provide a fixing - not sure the digits are the right dimension for a 61 plate - they look too small?

It is my choice to fix 80mm digits because we have in France 7 characters plus 2 mandatories dots...

Lovely photographs Louis....more please..!
Regards
Jonathan

Louis, very nice looking car and well taken shots.
I like the clip-on mirrors, can you share the reference?
Cheers,

Those mirrors has been fixed only a few days ago after a major mechanical restoration. I did not like mirrors on the wing and if you look at early E Type's pictures...they are not outside mirrors fitted. Another reason : I did not want to drill !
We found those competition mirrors (see Lightweights like 4WPD), they can be height adjusted and that's what I have to do with the passenger's one, it will look nicer when both at same level.

I will tell you the ref, the car has been restored at ATS Le Mans (owned by well known collectors Robert and Fabien Sarrailh).

More pictures here : https://www.facebook.com/louis.monnier.1238

Merci Lataud pour le message personnel mais j'en avais envoy? un il y a quelques jours...que vous n'avez apparemment pas lu.

Thank you Lataud for your personal message, I have sent you one a few days ago, obviously you did not read it...