Removable Front License Plate Clip | FerrariChat

Removable Front License Plate Clip

Discussion in '308/328' started by kman369, Jan 15, 2015.

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  1. kman369

    kman369 Karting

    Nov 21, 2014
    99
    Winnipeg, MB
    Full Name:
    Barry
    Does anyone know where you can actually purchase a removable Front Plate Clip for a '83 308. I've been trying to find this. Thanks in advance for your help.
     
  2. Toonfosi

    Toonfosi Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2014
    210
    Valley Village, CA
    Full Name:
    Chad Woods
  3. 360gtracer

    360gtracer Formula 3

    May 18, 2004
    1,022
    I also have one, custom made for the old Jag. Very nice product.

    gp
     
  4. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

    May 16, 2011
    723
    South of Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    I made my own, very simple and effective. No scratching wood.
     
  5. Rich S

    Rich S Formula Junior

    Nov 30, 2013
    501
    Monterey, California
    Full Name:
    Rich Saylor
    Why have a front license plate at all?

    Cheers,
    Rich
     
  6. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    It's the law in California?
     
  7. Rich S

    Rich S Formula Junior

    Nov 30, 2013
    501
    Monterey, California
    Full Name:
    Rich Saylor
    So? There are great many laws not only in California other states, too- but frankly after owning many, many sportscars in California for over 50 years, only one- my Morgan- sported a front plate, simply because it didn't block much of anything, same for my current Moggie. The rest did without, owing to their low front profile and lack of dedicated space for such a plate (Lotuses, E-Types and so on, ditto for the 328). In the UK E-Types had the numbers pasted right on top of the bonnet! Ugly, ugly, ugly!!! I've never had a problem but I try not to tempt fate, either. I'm not advising anyone to flaunt the law, but on cars like Ferraris, lotuses, and so on without any really good place for a front license plate they look a lot better without one, and it rarely causes problems, unless someone decides to write you up for anything they can find, which is usually if you've been uncooperative, rude or whatever. Much worse than no front plate! Anyway it's just a fix-it ticket, if you get one at all. What price beauty?

    Here's an idea: Since CA loves getting money for nothing (vanity plates, lotto, whatever) why not have a law exempting exotic or rare cars with low profile front ends (hard to see a front plate anyway!) from front plates, for a minor annual fee?

    Cheers,
    Rich
     
  8. Dr Kananga

    Dr Kananga Formula 3

    Apr 20, 2011
    1,222
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Buonapart I. Gallia
    I'm in CA.
    I often run the car without a front plate BUT I do keep it in the car with me so, if an officer of the law has a bug up his/her ass, I just say 'oh... it's here: I took it off when I washed the car blah blah blah... I can put it on right now'

    It's worked in the past.

    I also have the plate clips so it goes on and off pretty easily.

    SIDENOTE-
    Unfortunately, Chairpilot - the FChat user who designed and sold those Plateclips - passed away last year so I am not too sure if they're fulfilling orders still as he made them, by hand, one at a time.

    If you can get one, I highly recommend it in places where you're required to run a front plate.
     
  9. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    I would pay it.
     
  10. Dr Kananga

    Dr Kananga Formula 3

    Apr 20, 2011
    1,222
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Buonapart I. Gallia
    NOPE!
    Makes too much sense.
     
  11. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,812
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Same here, I alway keep my front plate and already attached to Chairpilot plate clip ready to mount just in case.

    Chairpilot (Bob) son in law Greg, is now taking over the Plate Clip business.
     
  12. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

    May 16, 2011
    723
    South of Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    It is also law in MA and your car will not pass inspection without the front plate. Having said that, there are some inspection stations that are more friendly to classic cars and may pass you.

    There is an interesting history as to why there is no front plate bracket on the 308s. Turns out the original importer did not think there was a need for them and thus the requirement was never passed to the factory when the requirements for the US market were being set. The state of the importer (I believe is was PA, actually a commonwealth) did not require a front plate and thus the importer did not believe there was any need for such a thing.
     
  13. NoGoSlow

    NoGoSlow Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 29, 2014
    641
    Republic of Texas
    Full Name:
    Mark Jacks
    You can get a classic plate (singular) for cars older than 25 years here in Texas. The good news is that a front plate is not required, and registration is good for five years. The bad news is that the classic plate has a picture of a Model T on it, so it looks weird on a sports car.
     
  14. kman369

    kman369 Karting

    Nov 21, 2014
    99
    Winnipeg, MB
    Full Name:
    Barry
    I've sent several emails to them with no reply. Any thoughts?
     
  15. miked

    miked Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2001
    899
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Ohio has a 2 plate law, historical plate excepted. There have been several attempts to change to a 1 plate rule but the LE lobby has vigorously opposed any change especially with the plate data mining that they do now.

    That being said I live about 3 miles from Indiana (1 plate) and 25 miles from Kentucky (1 plate) so not having a front plate doesn't stand out at all. I have never mounted the front plate and haven't had a problem.....yet.
     
  16. FerrariMan1981

    Mar 17, 2015
    2
  17. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,310
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
  18. marklintott

    marklintott Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 13, 2005
    585
    Taipei Taiwan / Somerset UK
    Full Name:
    Mark Lintott
  19. kman369

    kman369 Karting

    Nov 21, 2014
    99
    Winnipeg, MB
    Full Name:
    Barry
    I needed a front plate clip, and never heard back from Greg (tried over a dozen times), so I found a local company that does custom aluminum work. They made me one that locks on perfectly. I'm sure I can have more made if anyone is interested. Paid $100 CDN for it.
     
  20. FrannyB

    FrannyB Formula Junior

    May 20, 2014
    293
    Arvada, CO
    We have that same plate here in Colorado. A little trick is to order a personalized classic plate with a lot of letters (7). They have to go right over the Model T so they remove it from the background. Worked great on the 356!

    Franny
     
  21. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

    May 16, 2011
    723
    South of Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    If people are interested, I can have some front plate holders made up. They are pretty simple to make out of aluminum.
     
  22. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,150
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    We're probably poster children for bad luck; my wife was cited in the Bay Area for not having a front licence plate on her Honda Pilot and my daughter was cited in San Diego for not having a front plate on her (/my) Honda Accord. Both were situations where the front plate had been lost. Both were low fee "fix it" tickets requiring a cop sign-off that the plate had been replaced (although both also required getting new plates since the front plate was lost).

    I have the original rear California blue plate on my Ferrari. I also have the original front plate still in the original DMV envelope. It is 32 years old and has never been mounted on the car. So far so good. If I get a fix-it ticket, I will need to mount the front plate, get a cop to sign-off and then pay the fine.

    I think things are a bit more complicated in the modern world with more camera-based plate readers for parking patrols and freeway toll systems. Front plates may be more heavily enforced in the future.
     
  23. rkljr

    rkljr Formula Junior

    May 16, 2011
    723
    South of Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Richard
    There is definitely greater enforcement in MA in the past few years. Not only having a front plate but ensuring none of the plate is obscured by frames/holders/etc. From what I have heard much of the concern is because of "Amber" alerts and being able to locate vehicles that may be of interest.
     
  24. wberner

    wberner Karting

    Aug 17, 2010
    53
    MA
    Full Name:
    Wade

    If it fits a 328, then I would be interested. I have been reaching out to Plateclip for quite some time now. Let me know and I will PM you. Thanks.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  25. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,310
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    I wish one of you could make one that has a round mount to the front shock on a US 308/GT4 this would be a very strong mounting position an it could have a metal piece going down below the bumper???
     

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