Fitted a Retractable Plate
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Fitted a Retractable Plate
I have to run a front plate in England. I'd last minutes on the road before being pulled over if I drive without one. I tried the fill-in piece from Kewl Auto but it still never looked as good as the no plate look I had in Vegas.
I got hold of one of the retractable plates from Indy Motorwerks and just fitted it today. The plate holder has a sliding arm and a swivel joint so it can be tucked away under the front of the nose. It attaches with a bracket and two screws which need two small holes under the nose.
I didn't want to drill through the plate and show 4 ugly bolts so I used velcro to stick the plate onto the holder. three strips of industrial strength thick velcro should do it.
Once its fitted I can remove the plate to clean it if needs be.
It's only marginally better with the plate on show
But its a big improvement if I stow the plate
I would have liked it a little further outboard but it fouls the skid under the nose. At least I have a fighting chance now of trying to persuade the LEO that I just forgot to pop it back out after a show
I got hold of one of the retractable plates from Indy Motorwerks and just fitted it today. The plate holder has a sliding arm and a swivel joint so it can be tucked away under the front of the nose. It attaches with a bracket and two screws which need two small holes under the nose.
I didn't want to drill through the plate and show 4 ugly bolts so I used velcro to stick the plate onto the holder. three strips of industrial strength thick velcro should do it.
Once its fitted I can remove the plate to clean it if needs be.
It's only marginally better with the plate on show
But its a big improvement if I stow the plate
I would have liked it a little further outboard but it fouls the skid under the nose. At least I have a fighting chance now of trying to persuade the LEO that I just forgot to pop it back out after a show
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 24, 2009 at 10:02 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Nice install. 
Your English Plate looks like a fake (it looks homemade), but I remember when you said you bought the "custom plate" and how much personalized plates cost in England ! 
I know a lot of guys stateside velcro the stock license plate cover over their front plate and try to convince LEOs that they forgot to remove it after a show.
I, myself use a clear cover over my Maryland Front Plate, at least it keeps it streamlined. I would like to be able to use the stock surround cover (painted car color) WITH the clear cover, but have not figured how to do that.
Good luck with your tactics, let us know how it works.
BTW, I love your snow pictures. Corvettes were meant to drive and I drive mine daily, but since I have summer tires, it no snow for mine. I see that you have Michelin A/S ZPs, they do nicely for all seasons.
Your English Plate looks like a fake (it looks homemade), but I remember when you said you bought the "custom plate" and how much personalized plates cost in England ! I know a lot of guys stateside velcro the stock license plate cover over their front plate and try to convince LEOs that they forgot to remove it after a show.
I, myself use a clear cover over my Maryland Front Plate, at least it keeps it streamlined. I would like to be able to use the stock surround cover (painted car color) WITH the clear cover, but have not figured how to do that.
Good luck with your tactics, let us know how it works.
BTW, I love your snow pictures. Corvettes were meant to drive and I drive mine daily, but since I have summer tires, it no snow for mine. I see that you have Michelin A/S ZPs, they do nicely for all seasons.
Last edited by Oldvetter; Jan 24, 2009 at 10:23 AM.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Very cool Dave 
I'm looking into the eletronic version for the rear --- you know... so I can "shake off the dirt and snow build-up" when I need to
I'm looking into the eletronic version for the rear --- you know... so I can "shake off the dirt and snow build-up" when I need to
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,592
Likes: 1,711
From: Converse TX
Dave looks much better there than the center mounted plate, I need to put mine back on as I have the same setup, just need to fix the part that popped off when I put my baby on the trailer for tracking
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Of course I have a front plate officer!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,340
Likes: 24,779
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Looks pretty good. And like the fact that you can run the stock filler plate.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
That looks like nice install.
You might want to paint part of the clear cover. Makes in blend in much better. 
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Brit plates are quite high tech really, Plastic back, a reflective backing (white front and yellow rear) with a clear cover. All the letters have to be a fixed size (so the speed cameras can get you
). Only one state (well apart from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) so they are all the same.The worst thing about England is that we do all our annual road tax renewals by mail. No standing in line at DMV. Boy do I miss that
It'll never catch on
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 24, 2009 at 12:33 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
Nice! Just in case you didn't, make sure you put something between the plate and the bumper (where the plate rests) when you have it flipped. The rubbing will scratch the front bumper. How did you like drilling into the fiberglass?
Hey, you took the Jag's parking!
Hey, you took the Jag's parking!
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hanging in there and still no divorce
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
That's a big improvement Dave! If you would like us to write Parliament for you about the waste of material, energy and man hours in making the front plate just say the word and provide us with an e mail address and we'll "Get r Done"
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 2
From: San Diego California
Great pic! What I would do for that much land! Are you close to Manchester? I have family there.
So that's snow huh? I thought it was just something concocted by "mainlanders" to steal our pineapples!
So that's snow huh? I thought it was just something concocted by "mainlanders" to steal our pineapples!
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Couple of hours to Manchester. That's the wrong side of the Pennines. I'm a Yorkshireman
Snow's a nice thing ............. for 10 minutes
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,987
Likes: 26
From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17