Found a solution for my front license plate (Update 1-15-11).

[83Eagle!]

Okay I am getting a litte tired of being bugged about this.  I had the Eagle out in the driveway Monday to get some stuff out of the back of the garage.  And a policeman stopped and told me that he should ticket me for my front license plate, because "It is too hard to read at that angle. 

This is driving me nuts.  I have not been able to think up a solution, but then again I don't want to get ticketed (or mouth off to the wrong person). 

Did AMC make front plate holders?  If so does someone have one I ould buy? 

Mavericke had an idea for this that he sent me in a PM (that I accidentially deleted).  Thoughts?

 Yes Nebraska requires both plates be on the car at all times.  When my Brother had his Maxima licensed at my Mom's in Tennessee, but was at shool in Nebraska he always had to have the back of the car facing the gas station before they'd let him get gas.

Help please.

[Mavericke]

Yeah, my idea was just a simple and cheap license plate cover... you can get the smoked ones with chrome trim that look really nice for like $10-20. They have all sorts of styles out there that should work. Worst case scenario, you may have to get a coupple self tapping screws if it doesn't line up... but iirc... I just screwed mine into the existing holes. By the way, these also work on the rear license plates as well and they look very sharp... let me see if I can dig up some pics of the ones I used. I bought them at autozone for 14.99.

BRB...

[Mavericke]

Ok... you can't really see the one on the back so well... and you've probably seen these photos a dozen times already... but it's all I have. I actually don't have any pics with one of these on a stock bumper, though I don't think it'd be hard to mount one. I just drilled a pilot holes just a tad smaller than the screws that came with the cover.

I had one on the Blazer too... and Shelly's Jeep has them as well. I actually have a stock bumper laying in the garage and I have an extra cover as well... maybe I can put one on to show you and post some pics with an easy "how to". Althought, I doubt you'll need either.

[UMunky]

wow, they won't let you even get GAS without a plate visible?

Mav's ideas are good, and I'd think either using a plate holder and fabbing it up somehow might work like that, or else if you can hit a junkyard and look around for one off another vehicle that might work too.

Another possible idea here is: If you have a spare/old plate from something else.....screw or bolt THAT through the front bumper or something somehow...probably using the bottom holes on the plate. Then use the top holes to "mount" the proper plate to the other one. This essentially makes the "old" plate a holder, and you just deal with the two other holes for holding it to the holder. I know...sounds like extra work, as you could just screw or bolt the plate down directly, but if it might work, it's an idea. The guy who had my '80 J10 did that on the rear, which actually works well, since the lower bolt holes are down along the base, and with the hitch ball there it's hard there it's not as easy to deal with the proper holes. By just mounting it to the "holder plate" it works slick. Anyway, it's just an idea in case you, or anyone, can use it.

[wagoneerhauler]

I had the Eagle out in the driveway Monday to get some stuff out of the back of the garage.  And a policeman stopped and told me that he should ticket me for my front license plate, because "It is too hard to read at that angle. 

Gee, is it even right for him to do that?  You were on your own property and not driving on the road so how can he say/do this?  I think I would have called the policemen on him.
I can see him watching out for the second you do drive it but at your house, man!

[83Eagle!]

Mav I think I see where you are headed on that one.  I will have to have some type of rubber grommet or stopper or something to account for the rubber trim piece on my bumper. 

UMunky, looking at the old plates I have I am not sure that is an option.  If these plates were actually metal I don't think it would lean down like it does.  These are cheaper crap that they make plates out of now and I think they would likely bend just as my plate is doing now. 

I wonder if I could get a bracket from the back of an Eagle and make it work.  Thoughts?

[mojobean]

you could be cheesy like me and ziptie it to your grill. 
it was supposed to be 'just temporary' till i weld some mounting tabs on my spikey bumper.. but somehow the spikes seemed to be in the way, AND i think it would look even cheesier if i had it there... so... till i find a solution that appeases myself and the police... my grill is where it stays.

[Mavericke]

Id like to see that Mojo, lol...

Brandon... I don't thing a back plate would look right. I mean, you could make it work and grind it down... but eh.. nah...

I hate that friggin rubber piece on the bumper like that... really gets in the way. Not sure why they did that like that. :/

Ive seen the actual plate holders, but obviously they weren't on all models... otherwise there'd be more of them you'd think.

Not sure what to tell ya Brandon. Sorry man!

[IowaEagle]

Yes AMC had front holders but they seem rare for some reason.  Both my SX/4 and Concord have them.  Maybe others here in their junk yard searches in states that require front plates can find one for you.

[68AMXGOPAC]

NY NY NY . Yeah we require 2 plates here, and I have gotten a ticket for a dirty one on my past Dodge Ram , made me 5 mins. late to my first date with my now wife.LOL every year we pull out the photo copy of the ticket and celebrate.I also got one for a blocked front plate, mounted where it was from the factory on her Nissan pickup ! No offense to law enforcement, but it was a young snot nosed rookie. The judge threw it out and hey I only had to pay a $75 dollar court fee. Thanks for doing me a favor town of Colonie!

 I have seen plate frames at NAPA on thier parts kiosks,the original steel ones.

[83Eagle!]

Here's a sho of the gap that I am talking about.  I'd rathr not drill into the bumper.  Anyone out there have a front plate holder for sale or know of one?  I'll posta want ad when I get a chance. 



Here's a shot from straight on.  To me it doesn't lean down all that muh, but having it mentioned by the policemen 4 times now it has finaly irritated me. 

Does anyone have a piture of a front plate braket?  Maybe I can find one that looks similar aftermarket.

[Pat]

Here's a sho of the gap that I am talking about.  I'd rathr not drill into the bumper.  Anyone out there have a front plate holder for sale or know of one?  I'll posta want ad when I get a chance. 



Here's a shot from straight on.  To me it doesn't lean down all that muh, but having it mentioned by the policemen 4 times now it has finaly irritated me. 

Does anyone have a piture of a front plate braket?  Maybe I can find one that looks similar aftermarket.

This is a '94 F150. Measured at the holes with a tape measure, so this isn't exact, but they look like about 9 inches apart. These look like they're riveted on. It also has some type of a single  mounting on the bottom I didn't notice till I took the sideways picture.. Am E-mailing the pictures to Photo Bucket while I'm sitting here typing. All I have is a cell phone & have to E-mail from the phone to Photo Bucket

[wagoneerhauler]

Could you use some flat stock to drop it below the rib on the bumper?  You might not like it looking that way but I think it will would work.

[68AMXGOPAC]

will it clear if you just move the plate down and put the bolts through the top holes and tweak the plate out so it's vertical and wave next time he goes by,get a big azz dog and chain ti to the bumper for next time he steps into your yard.

  Experience would tell me , if he is bugging you that much, there must be another isuue....

[El Matador]

Here in Alberta, the requirement for front plates was dropped in 1991.  When I read a post like yours, I'm that much more thankful for that decision.

When I get my Concord on the road, I'm planning to mount a vintage plate on the front as a decorative item.  All I'm going to do is use some extra-long license plate screws (which I found in my junkyard travels) and some spacers to bring the bottom of the plate forward a bit.

Concords, Spirits and Eagles did come with front plate holders, but they didn't really do anything to improve the angle of the plate.