Hinged front number plate

[steve_t]

Hi,

 

I’m looking for a hinged front number plate bracket for my FW

 

Cheers 

Steve

[Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator]

Do they actually do one as mine was just screwed to the nose?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

39 minutes ago, marcusb said:

Do they actually do one as mine was just screwed to the nose?

No.

 

There’s no official front number plate mount, the way there is for the rear on some body versions.

 

Its just what people have come up with themselves.

 

Just be very careful with hinged mounts that they make more than just a token effort to not fold back at speed!

[Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator]

29 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

not fold back at speed!

@Paul Hurdsfield 🙂

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

I used some small stainless steel cabinet hinges for glass doors from a company called Hafele, I've just looked on their website and they don't seem to do them anymore.

They have been there a very long time now, this is on my old car that was written off in 2008, they are now on my current car and have been on some quite long continental tours, without any issues.

Front view

 

Close up

 

Rear view

 

Close up

 

Oh and err I think they might fold back once you are moving, very helpful when going over speed humps 

This may give you some inspiration to look outside the box for something off the shelf that can be adapted. 

 

 

 

[Richard (OldStager)]

Would a 'piano hinge' affair work ?, I have never hinged mine - just relying on the plastic screws and nuts, I did snap plates some years ago when the car was lower, but as long as you are careful parking, a hinge shouldn't be required - mind you I was cutting it fine today with a kerb, so maybe I should think about this some more 😃

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Yes it would but it would have to be a bigger 'open' size than the run of the mill cheapo stuff DIY shops sell, you would really need to go to an architectural ironmongers. Remember when you are reversing it also needs to be able to swing the other way a little to avoid ripping it off.

[Alan France]

I used small threaded anti vibration rubber mounts like this. Survived almost three years use so far.

[steve_t]

Thanks for the ideas. Yeah it’s a tricky one as with my nose hinge on the front, when you open it, it wants to knock the plate off. So it’s a double reason for it… speed bumps and getting access to the engine 

[Alan France]

23 hours ago, steve_t said:

Thanks for the ideas. Yeah it’s a tricky one as with my nose hinge on the front, when you open it, it wants to knock the plate off. So it’s a double reason for it… speed bumps and getting access to the engine 

 

With my FW front the rubber mount allows the plate to fold underneath as the bonnet opens, same with speed bumps.

 

It also folds under automatically when it senses a speed camera.

[steve_t]

5 hours ago, Alan France said:

 

With my FW front the rubber mount allows the plate to fold underneath as the bonnet opens, same with speed bumps.

 

It also folds under automatically when it senses a speed camera.

Hahaha what have you got for the back plate???

That setup looks great if it allows it to open fully, thanks.

[Paul Aspden (MoFast)]

Got something on the design bench at the moment for this at the moment. Just trying to find the right actuator so it can be flipped up and down from the cabin. All a bit Smokey Yunick.  

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

1 hour ago, Paul Aspden The 2nd said:

Just trying to find the right actuator so it can be flipped up and down from the cabin

Just be very, very, very careful of this. Used jokingly off the road, at shows etc is one thing, but on the road…

 

Similar set ups, (ie hinged with a pull cord etc) occasionally appear on shall we say the more enthusiastic bikers machines. I know of at least one biker localish that was prosecuted for attempting to pervert the cause of justice, after being spotted by the Police using it on the road to avoid a camera trap. (Unfortunately for him, a copper recognised the bike and riders description over the radio, and knew where he lived!)

 

The biggest irony is that the penalties for the perverting the cause of justice charge would have been way higher than the speeding charge!

[Paul Aspden (MoFast)]

@Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretarythanks for the sobering warning 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Oh, and the story is not a friend of a friend "heard" this. It's from the arresting officer, who I've known for years, that recognised the bikers description! (However he did also warn me that it was far from an isolated incident with bikes.)