After getting a ticket for $115 for no front plate in NY state I figured I should put the plate on the car. All of the brackets I found online cost between $80 - $100 so I decided to make my own. It only cost $19 and looks as good or better.


The hardest part was finding a bolt with the right threads to fit where the tow hook goes. In fact I couldn’t find it. The cheapest option I could find was to buy an aftermarket tow hook on Amazon and modify it. I found this one for $10 shipping included.




The hook on the end unscrews leaving behind a M22 x 1.75 thread which any hardware store should have a nut for. I cut about half the thread off the end to get the desired length. I bought some 1” aluminum strap from Home Depot and bent it in my vice so that it followed the contours of the bumper. I used a couple thick washer to space it away from the bumper so that it rub. I then attached the two vertical strips for the plate to attach to.


Sorry the car looks like crap but we've been getting snow the last few days here in Buffalo, NY.

 

+1 I am going to do this I've been looking for a bolt to fit but this is perfect

 

Looks very similar to the one I made for my s2k. Super easy and cheap to do. And better than drilling into your bumper.

 

Just ordered mine but dam Chinese will be a whole month before I revieve it

 

Was supposed to be here the 23rd of February and came the 20 th of January lol

 

I like your style, I've been meaning to get around to something like this for awhile now. Thought I was going to "repurpose" the OEM tow hook, thanks for the amazon find!

 

They have the same hook on ebay but amazon was where I found the best deal this time. It seems who you buy from and even the color makes a difference on the price. I bought the blue one because it was the cheapest and I wasn't going to use the hook so color didn't mater to me.

 

Ya the blue was like 3 $ cheaper I just need the aluminum straps I used some scraps I had here but just not right

 

The aluminum strap came from home depot. Around $7 for a 4' piece. It's easier to bend and won't rust. Also light but still strong enough for this application.

 

Was it with the plumping ?

 

I think it was between plumbing and hardware. Just ask them for metal strap and if you're lucky they'll know.

 

At Lowes they have a bin full of various steel/aluminum rods, square tubing, small plate, etc. Typically in the hardware aisle.

Sent from my phone using NAMotoring

 

Ya gotta be real lucky lol somethines I feel like I know more about there products than they do

 

Nice build. I feel your pain. But I must admit after receiving my one and only ticket for no front plate in ALMOST 20 years I still don't run with one. And when I did get it I just paid $15 and supplied a pic of my car with the plate on it. This ticket is generally called a "fix it ticket" and the summons was dismissed. You have 24 or 48 hrs to provided evidence that you " fixed" it.

My other car was a miata and both the miata and mini look hideous with a front plate so I just won't run with them. I keep the second plate in my trunk if mr officer wants to see it.

YMMV. and I don't pontificate to breaking the law but it is what it is. The way I look at it is. I didn't kill anybody, just made my car look better. I can live with that.

Ps lived in NY all my life.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

a lil' story about a front plate incident


When I bought my 79 I lived in Virginia, a state that required two plates. It was my first 'classic car' and I read up on classic versus regular plates b4 I applied for the title and tag. I got 'collector' tags ....


I'd been driving the car on weekends for over a year when I was pulled over by a young constable in a small town in the Portsmouth area. "Where's your front plate?"


"In my garage."


"well, I'm gonna have to write you up for that."


"OK, but I thought I was OK since there is an exception in the Virginia code for cars with collector car tags."


WELLLL .... he went to his car, got out his book and altho it TOOK a while, he eventually came back ..... "Sorry sir, they didn't teach us that one in cop school."


I WAS pushing the rule as it says 'if no provision for a front plate, one is not required'. I have no provision for a US tag .... but DO hang a EURO style . . .





I fixed the issue permanently by moving to Florida! But I spent a couple more years in VA b4 that, and this was the only time I was questioned about the tag . . .


just sharing a story that always makes me smile . . . .


The 'officer' eyeballed the car for several minutes from behind and aside giving me a big grin and thumbs up, then pulled ahead. And as he got about 20 feet ahead of me I saw his brake lights and bubblegum come on and knew "he's gonna stop me for no front plate"

 

Nice ride ! Like I said were not killing babies. I'll be a man and take it in the wallet if I have to but until then.





No front plate for me !

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring