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Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:27 am
by Brad Ripley
Mike, move out of LaLa Land over to Nevada where there's no sales tax on private party car sales nor state income tax.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:37 pm
by Mike Wilson
Too far from the beach, Brad! Ha!

Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:49 pm
by Mark Pribanic
Thank goodness Florida does not require a front plate. I really think it detracts from the style of the car.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:30 pm
by Mike Wilson
I totally agree, Mark. I fabricated a mount that I can easlity attach the front plate to if stopped. "Oh! I forgot to put it back on after I detailed the car. I can put it on right now in less than a minute!" Front plate in the trunk if needed.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:47 pm
by Dave Erickson
Mike Wilson wrote:A search of California's vehicle code indicates no provision for cars without a front plate mounting location. Simply, two plates are issued and two must be displayed, front and rear.
Yes, but what percentage of 356's licensed in California have the front plates mounted? I think it is pretty low. I drove my 64 for 15 years without a front plate and was never stopped by the CHP. What is the risk, a fix-it ticket?

Re: front license plate

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:58 pm
by Mike Wilson
I've driven my current 356 since 1999 without a front plate and never been stopped for it but I've heard some cities enforce it. Way back in the day, early '70's, I was heading towards the Sierras for a backpacking trip in my '58 coupe. A CHP pulled up behind me then passed then dropped back behind me and hit me with the lights. He saw the backpack, asked where I was going, etc. and then asked where my front plate was. I told him I didn't think you were supposed to display it if it was beat up. "Show me." I actually had it in the trunk so I showed him the beat up black plate. "Well, when you get back home, you can swap them for the new blue plates. Have a nice trip." Of course, I didn't swap them out and they went with the car to the next owner. Funny, though, the car has never resurfaced.....

Re: front license plate

Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 12:06 am
by Dave Erickson
Mike, good story. I wouldn't have been so lucky. My 64 had its front plate stolen during a visit to a body shop in 1990, so I only have the one plate.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 1:10 am
by Mike Wilson
I've been lucky. Aside from my license plate stop, the only other time was by a local officer for my Euro tail lights. He said the brake lights need to be red. I thanked him and said I have some red lenses at home that I can swap out. Once home, I researched the topic. He was in error. The California Vehicle Code essentially states that up to a certain year (1974 I think), you can have whatever the car originally came with. I keep a copy of the CVC section in my glove box but haven't been stopped since (knock on wood!)

Re: front license plate

Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 5:05 pm
by Mervyn Hyde
Australian cars must have front and rear plates. Mine were painted on. They were quite old and from South Australia. I made the decision to leave them there and fit my new plates (another State) "TYP356" on using the holes under the front bumper and at the rear with some decent 3M tape. So both front and rear vintage 'plates' are there for posterity.

I have covered the "SA" part to not confuse our extremely valuable speed cameras.

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Re: front license plate

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:24 am
by Helge Tielker
Guys, thanks to you all and the idea's - I will quick fix it for now (cause we have to have a front license plate) but I will take a look on the pieces Jon Bunin has shown us (even Stoddard writes for cars starting 356C) .
Thanks for sharing information and ideas.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:21 pm
by Martin Bruechle
Mike Wilson wrote:Too far from the beach, Brad! Ha!
Hey Mike, I live at Rat Beach up from Torrance Beach.
You'll have to stop by sometime and check out the 53 project buried in the garage.
Martin

Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 12:18 am
by Mike Wilson
Hey, Martin! I remember seeing your car quite a while ago. Send me a PM with your address we'll coordinate a meeting of the Porsches.

Mike

Re: front license plate

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:51 pm
by Doug McDonnell
Or you could mount a front badge bar and attach the plate to it.

Re: front license plate

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 2:55 pm
by Thomas Sottile
I havent had the front plate on in years on my 356 and traveled all over the country never had a problem however riding my Tesla in Mass, I was stoped by a trooper on a very busy highway and scolded you think he would not waist his time and mine not to mention the danger of getting hit,

Re: front license plate

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 12:28 am
by Eric McKinley
Helge, you could make this for a few dollars, and use the original holes in the bumper to mount it.

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