Rear Number plate lights!!!
Discussion
Folks, I've pulled the old girl out of hibernation with the intention of driving it all year in all weathers. This started off yesterday with a blast over to wales in awful conditions.
The car was fine, but I happened to notice the rear. It was dark, I couldn't see the number plate. The number plate is BS standard size....the lights to illuminate it were INSIDE, ie behind the plate.
Am I the only one, surely this isn't generic, lights where you can't see them when they are on, behind what they should be illuminating
The car was fine, but I happened to notice the rear. It was dark, I couldn't see the number plate. The number plate is BS standard size....the lights to illuminate it were INSIDE, ie behind the plate.
Am I the only one, surely this isn't generic, lights where you can't see them when they are on, behind what they should be illuminating
Mike,
The numberplate is specific to TVR because of the backlight.
Have a look in the Griffith Parts List wiki where you will find a section about Number Plates which includes what they are and where to get them.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The numberplate is specific to TVR because of the backlight.
Have a look in the Griffith Parts List wiki where you will find a section about Number Plates which includes what they are and where to get them.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If the Chim ones are like those on the Cerb I have a recollection of them being Triumph Stag likes and reproductions being available from Ebay far cheaper than the TVR parts world.
Edited to add: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag-MK2-TR6-TVR...
Edited to add: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag-MK2-TR6-TVR...
silverback mike said:
...The number plate is BS standard size....the lights to illuminate it were INSIDE, ie behind the plate.
That's correct so need to banghead 
However I see you only just bought the Chimaera so have you changed the plates or what? Either way it's a pretty cool way of illuminating the rear plate without cluttering up the outside of the bodywork. Transparent plate and back lighting.
The back story to this is that the Griffith was intentionally designed with as few as possible external appendages; door handles fully recessed, no boot hinges or handle, fuel filler cap hidden under the boot lid (also good for track use) and of course, the hidden rear number plate lamps. A lot of this design ideal was carried over to the Chimaera which followed the introduction of the Griffith. Then in some countries (not sure which) the rear number plate illumination method failed to pass scrutiny and so the rear plate was set back at an angle into a recess and the lamps moved to the outside. Hence most later Chimaeras also have this style of rear plate mounting. 
Tinfoil looked a bit too blue peter to me, so I have one of these.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-12V-Waterproof-30C...
I stuck 2 behind there at first but it made the plate brighter than the tail lights, I also stuck the top and bottom of the plate down with a double sided sticky foam strip to stop the light bleeding and illuminating the boot lid and bumper.
I stuck 2 behind there at first but it made the plate brighter than the tail lights, I also stuck the top and bottom of the plate down with a double sided sticky foam strip to stop the light bleeding and illuminating the boot lid and bumper.
Steve_T said:
If the Chim ones are like those on the Cerb I have a recollection of them being Triumph Stag likes and reproductions being available from Ebay far cheaper than the TVR parts world.
Edited to add: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag-MK2-TR6-TVR...
Yep. I used the Stag ones when I replaced mine. Straight swap.Edited to add: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag-MK2-TR6-TVR...
I used chrome sticky back plastic for the full Blue Peter effect 
First of all I replaced the two SV8 5w incandescent festoon bulbs with 10w ones, which made a big difference.
I then switched the 10w festoon bulbs for two of these:
http://www.dx.com/p/d13011502x-t10-festoon-12w-110...
No picture but at a total of 2200 lumens behind the number plate the effect is even brighter than the the 10w festoon bulbs, so combined with 80W Cree stop/tail light bulbs the car is much more visible from behind on these dark winter nights.
First of all I replaced the two SV8 5w incandescent festoon bulbs with 10w ones, which made a big difference.
I then switched the 10w festoon bulbs for two of these:
http://www.dx.com/p/d13011502x-t10-festoon-12w-110...
No picture but at a total of 2200 lumens behind the number plate the effect is even brighter than the the 10w festoon bulbs, so combined with 80W Cree stop/tail light bulbs the car is much more visible from behind on these dark winter nights.
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