[Redtoys]

My dealer was kind enough to not mount the front plate, so I still have a virgin front bumper. They did include the mount which requires pulling out the drill. I even had to sign a waiver saying I would mount the plate and hold them harmless. Can't blame them for it I suppose.


Anyone come up with clean options for mounting the plate that don't require holes in the car? I've been ticketed for no plate once before and would like to avoid that again, but just hate to go poking holes in the car.

 

[SactoSteve]

I asked my dealer for the same consideration. They put the plate holder in the trunk. There a lots of no-drill plate holders on the net. Most are inserted into the tow hook which puts the plate off center, but it saves the bumper. I'm thinking of zip tying mine to the front grill. This is a good thread. I'd like to know what others have done. I refuse to drill the front bumper!

 

[iamz]

I cut the push/lock pins off the back of the plate holder and used a mildly strong double sided foam adhesive in the areas that would touch the paint. I then used zip ties through the lower part of the grill on both sides. Had to drill some holes through the plate holder for the zip ties to go through.

 

[SactoSteve]

Sounds like a good solution.

 

[lordofthewings]

I cut the push/lock pins off the back of the plate holder and used a mildly strong double sided foam adhesive in the areas that would touch the paint. I then used zip ties through the lower part of the grill on both sides. Had to drill some holes through the plate holder for the zip ties to go through.

This is a cautionary tale about adhesive pads. Here in the UK it is a legal requirement to have front and rear plates, and the old-fashioned thin stick-on ones (like used to be fitted to E-type Jaguars) are now illegal. Shortly after taking delivery of my Spider, and having acquired a set of personalised plates, I fitted them front and rear with allegedly special sticky foam pads as I didn’t want to drill more holes. But on the rear, the pads that I used must have lost their “coefficient of stiction”, because the plate fell off ! My wife did comment about a sound like some electric sparks as we accelerated away from a junction. Much to my consternation when I got home and parked, I realised that for the previous hour I had had no rear numberplate. Apart from a BMW that got a bit close to have a sniff,surprisingly no-one even flashed me in a friendly "you've got no rear numberplate" kind of way. I went back the following day to where it had become detached, but no sign, so it was probably comprehensively mashed (UK plates are made of plastic about ¼” thick). I had to buy another set, and suffice to say, the replacements are now well and truly screwed in place !

 

[MotoPete]

I've been ticketed for no plate once before and would like to avoid that again, but just hate to go poking holes in the car.

Being from a country that mandates front plates in all jurisdictions you'll have to forgive me for being a little confused by this thread.

If you're required to mount a front plate, and will receive a fine if you don't, then wouldn't you just always leave it mounted?!

With that in mind, what's the problem with drilling holes to mount the OEM plate holder then?

 

[Newod]

This is a cautionary tale about adhesive pads. Here in the UK it is a legal requirement to have front and rear plates, and the old-fashioned thin stick-on ones (like used to be fitted to E-type Jaguars) are now illegal. Shortly after taking delivery of my Spider, and having acquired a set of personalised plates, I fitted them front and rear with allegedly special sticky foam pads as I didn’t want to drill more holes. But on the rear, the pads that I used must have lost their “coefficient of stiction”, because the plate fell off ! My wife did comment about a sound like some electric sparks as we accelerated away from a junction. Much to my consternation when I got home and parked, I realised that for the previous hour I had had no rear numberplate. Apart from a BMW that got a bit close to have a sniff,surprisingly no-one even flashed me in a friendly "you've got no rear numberplate" kind of way. I went back the following day to where it had become detached, but no sign, so it was probably comprehensively mashed (UK plates are made of plastic about ¼” thick). I had to buy another set, and suffice to say, the replacements are now well and truly screwed in place !

I've never trusted stick-on plates since one came loose in 1978. My spider arrived with stick-on rear plate - 1 hour later is was firmly screwed into place on the rear of the car.

I still don't understand the aversion to drilling the car? The original locations offer the best visual balance and you are fixing to plastic so no problems with rust. Looking very carfully over the car there are numerous holes in the chassis and inner body construction that don't appear to do anything, so 4 more 3mm holes isn't going to cause too many problems.

Danny

 

[iamz]

This is a cautionary tale about adhesive pads....

For my application the double sided sticky foam tape is just to keep the frame from rubbing on the paint - the zip ties are doing the heavy lifting.

 

[Redtoys]

Being from a country that mandates front plates in all jurisdictions you'll have to forgive me for being a little confused by this thread.

If you're required to mount a front plate, and will receive a fine if you don't, then wouldn't you just always leave it mounted?!

With that in mind, what's the problem with drilling holes to mount the OEM plate holder then?

The reason I prefer not to drill holes is that I've had buyers of my used cars in the past be very upset by this. Personally agree that since I have to have a plate, might as well drill holes. But if there's a way to do it and keep the purists happy I'd prefer it. But not comfortable with sticky tape and have had it fail in various applications and/or ruin finished so that's a trade-off. When I've had cars with factory built attachment methods in the bumper, was perfectly happy using those.

 

[Netcruizer99]

I bought this for my corvette. It's pretty cool in a James Bond sort of way. I don't have a 124 Spider (at least not yet ). So I don't know if it will fit on a Fiat or even a Miata, but it might be worth a look.

http://rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1329

 

[vjamison812]

I don't think I have enough front windshield to make this work...but this guy actually has plastic suction cups holding his license plate in place on his front window.

 

[Godina]

Like your sarcasm, not the solution.

 

[Godina]

Sorry, this was supposed to be posted on another thread,

 

[Redtoys]

I bought this for my corvette. It's pretty cool in a James Bond sort of way. I don't have a 124 Spider (at least not yet ). So I don't know if it will fit on a Fiat or even a Miata, but it might be worth a look.

http://rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1329

now that's a bit of engineering for such a "problem". Very cool how it works though.

 

[Netcruizer99]

now that's a bit of engineering for such a "problem". Very cool how it works though.

Cool thing about it, if you ever get stopped and the officer tells you he's writing you up for no front plate, you can tell him "are you sure? You might want to check again." . Just be sure to remember to press the button before he makes it to the front of the car. LOL

 

[AnClar]

I came up with a simple, yet effective solution...I used the stock front plate bracket, but secured it with black zip ties. The bracket is secure, the ties are invisible and all I'll need to do is to periodically check for any deterioration or loosening of the ties. No adhesive pads or bumper drilling required. On a 100-mile drive home on roads with 80 - 85mph speed limits (and I ALWAYS drive the speed limit! ) No movement or loosening of the frame.

 

[DanRodemsky]

i have used heavy duty velcro. Not the wimpy in-home stuff but the kind used outdoors.

 

[Ladnerite]

I came up with a simple, yet effective solution...I used the stock front plate bracket, but secured it with black zip ties. The bracket is secure, the ties are invisible and all I'll need to do is to periodically check for any deterioration or loosening of the ties. No adhesive pads or bumper drilling required. On a 100-mile drive home on roads with 80 - 85mph speed limits (and I ALWAYS drive the speed limit! ) No movement or loosening of the frame.

Did you secure it between the two grills? It will actually fit on the lower grill, but maybe blocks air to turbo cooler?

 

[vandor]

I don't think I have enough front windshield to make this work...but this guy actually has plastic suction cups holding his license plate in place on his front window.

Yup, but that's not legal here in Texas.

 

[AnClar]

Did you secure it between the two grills? It will actually fit on the lower grill, but maybe blocks air to turbo cooler?

I did...I noted that it would fit on the lower grill...but it's blocking less of either grill area putting it between the grills. I'll get a pic one of these days when I have a bit of time.