Front License Plate

My new 2000 is missing the front license plate bracket.....and the tow hooks too BTW and I know that Texas is now enforcing the law so what to do? The center mount in the air hole would seem to block air flow, the center mount turned down, would scrape everything, the center mount turned up would be butt ugly, the side mount would be an option I guess but it's not symmetrical and I'm an engineer if you know what I mean.

This http://www.thompson-automotive.com/D...ing_plate.html would seem to solve all my issues. Has anyone done this? Will it pass muster with the police?

I personally like this idea better:
http://garagestar.wordpress.com/lice...plate-bracket/

I am not sure if hiding plate will fly with the cops, they've been extra mean lately.

I wonder if someone can make a bracket like that for half the price.

I have the G* bracket, it's pretty nice, and it comes with everything you need except the 17mm wrenches and allen key to install it. That said, in three years without a plate on my xD I've only been pulled over twice (in the same month, by the same cop, in the same spot, at the same time of day. Profiling...) and got a warning both times. They only care if you're speeding or doing something else to tack it onto.

IMHO the car looks better without it.

https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/...92869881_n.jpg

Absolutely but as of August 2013, the always illegal "no front plate" now comes with a $150 fine and that by itself is UGLY.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ComputerBudda

Absolutely but as of August 2013, the always illegal "no front plate" now comes with a $150 fine and that by itself is UGLY.

---

Who said beauty is cheap.

I did the cheap method. I bought a couple of 10mm (i think) bolts that fit under the top of the opening, a couple of angle brackets from Home Depot, and a few nuts and bolts to bolt the plate to the angle bracket. I drilled the angle bracket so it would line up with the needed holes, and bolted it all together.
http://www.mikewalsted.com/Jan2011Miata.jpg

Other than maybe some small town DPS officer has anyone here actually been pulled over for no plate since the law changed?

Last round of front plate paranoia I made a front plate mount for my daughters Yellow miata but the car would get hot sitting in traffic. So I took the plate off put it in the trunk & hadn't thought about it again until your post. ;-) Going to leave it in the trunk this round.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by S2K_MoZo

I personally like this idea better:
http://garagestar.wordpress.com/lice...plate-bracket/

I am not sure if hiding plate will fly with the cops, they've been extra mean lately.

I wonder if someone can make a bracket like that for half the price.

---

Thats the one I bought because I got pulled over. Garland cop gave me a warning, which was funny because he said "hey i know its stupid but its the law".

Easy DIY. A few nuts and bolts and some 1.5" Aluminum flat stock.

Any NC owners have front plate mount recommendations? Mine came with none, sold new in Texas, and apparently never needed one cause none of the holes have been drilled. PO never had the OEM kit, never been pulled over. Like others though, I am not in the mood to risk it. May have to go to eBay to get one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cone-cerned

Easy DIY. A few nuts and bolts and some 1.5" Aluminum flat stock.

---

Mind sharing more details for mechanically challenged people please? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Other than maybe some small town DPS officer has anyone here actually been pulled over for no plate since the law changed?...

---

Yes. State DPS pulled me over because I didn't have a front plate. This was in November. I did have a front plate, but because it was offset mounted he couldn't see it from his vantage point.

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/v...94c7ea7ffd.jpg

Talk about nit picking

It is what it is. I like the look of that black plate on the black car, but that makes it easy for the officer to pull you over for no plate. Right or wrong, it's bound to happen.

The web page I used to get a pattern is no longer there. I hope these photos will work for you. Just cut and try. The dimensions are not critical.

Attachment 6477Attachment 6478Attachment 6479

If you must have one on an NC, get one that mounts to the tow hook insert.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cone-cerned

The web page I used to get a pattern is no longer there. I hope these photos will work for you. Just cut and try. The dimensions are not critical.

Attachment 6477Attachment 6478Attachment 6479

---

Thank you! I will have to make a run to home depot.

OK, now I have by tow hooks but have discovered a grill. Now I have to take that off and cut out a section on each side so it will fit over the two hooks. I stupidly made the assumption that I could bolt on the tow hooks from under the car but now I read that I have to reach in behind the wheel to do it. On the driver's side I have to take off a plastic shield. Does any one know if the wheels need to be off for this project or can I just turn them full lock each direction?

I just lifted the front of my car and left the wheels on when I did my grille install.
It may not hurt to pull the undertray off to have a better view from underneath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLp4QpI8I6w
That is my video of cutting the grille to fit. It has some close-ups of the tow hooks in place if you want to see.