registration digits grille

[plasticpig72]

I have a Lotus Elan Sprint with reg digits fixed to Grill.
OK i'm a little greedy and also have a 1976 3000M.
I'm going to fix reg Digits to the Grill also.
Here in France the Font of the Digits is different so i've ordered from a French company "Belles anciennes".
They are in polished cast aluminium and look very good on my Elan.
in England they always seemed to be the plastic ones which break very easily.
What have you guys been using in UK.
cheers
Alan

[SRT Hellcat]

pre 1973 you can use pressed steel black number plates with silver lettering.
Post 1973 plastic white front and yellow rear number plates.
Depends on how friendly the police are.
I've been stopped by the police for running black and silver plates running a 1978 dated plate on a 1989 car.
On the Griff it helps to get air into the radiator.

Edited by SRT Hellcat on Monday 25th May 21:50

Edited by SRT Hellcat on Tuesday 26th May 07:20

[timelord]

I have had plastic letters on the mesh of my 72 1600M for over 30 years, never any problem with them, although the car hasn't been out of the garage for years!;)

[TCTVR]

[quote=SRT Hellcat]pre 1973 you can use pressed steel black number plates with silver lettering.
Post 1973 plastic white front and yellow rear number plates.

I believe this may have been updated. DVLA "Information on registration numbers and number plates" item INF104 seems to say it is now 1980, as below


Traditional number plates for vehicles made
before 1 January 1973
Vehicles made before 1 January 1973 may display traditional
‘black and white’ number plates (for example, white, silver or
grey characters on a black plate). From April 2020 vehicles
manufactured before 1 January 1980 are also able to display
traditional ‘black and white’ number plates. You must:
• have applied to DVLA
• be registered within the ‘historic vehicles’ tax class
The 40-year exemption date rolls forward automatically each
year on 1 April.

[V8fan]

When the VED exemption was introduced, it was at 25 years old. Gordon Brown froze it in 1998 so it stopped at pre-'73 cars. It's a bit of a coincidence that this was the last year of silver on black plates.

When the VED £0 rate was brought back in in 2013, for 40 year old cars, and set to roll over every year, the number plate rule rolled forward with it. Whether this was a coincidence or deliberate I'm not sure.

[plasticpig72]

Still waiting for delivery of the polished alloy digits. I'm sure they will go very nice with the polished "T" slots and chrome bumpers.
On my 1976 3000M.
Alan

[Moto]

Alan,

I presume these are the type of digit you've ordered. The ones on the Vixen are a white(ish) plastic and look to be either original or very old. None are broken though and they do add to giving the car the correct age related look. They also should improve cooling compared to a modern plate placed over the grill.

Moto

[plasticpig72]

Hi Moto,
yes they are nearly like that but are polished cast alloy.
Here in France the Font of the Digits are a little different.
You can get cast finish, smooth or polished. They have little pegs at the back and are attached with small round clips.
I like the look and also want max airflow to Rad.
Alan

[Slow M]

SRT Hellcat said:

pre 1973 you can use pressed steel black number plates with silver lettering.
Post 1973 plastic white front and yellow rear number plates.
Depends on how friendly the police are.
I've been stopped by the police for running black and silver plates running a 1978 dated plate on a 1989 car.
On the Griff it helps to get air into the radiator.

Edited by SRT Hellcat on Monday 25th May 21:50

Edited by SRT Hellcat on Tuesday 26th May 07:20

Oh my.

[Andrew Gray]

These are readily available
However the pegs at the rear are usually to short to go through the mesh and get the fitting on behind.
I have used these on a number of cars and cut off the peg and drill and tap so they can be attached with a larger washer to make positioning easier.






http://www.acepeakplates.com/

Available powder coated or polished



Andrew

[plasticpig72]

Hi Andrew,
thanks very nice. I know of "Framptons" in the UK but not this other supplier.
Alan