front number plate mounting

suburban_ennui · Post by **suburban_ennui** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:20 pm

I'm of the opinion that the MX5 looks a lot better sans front plate. However, I've read a few threads about people being ticketed for using adhesive/replica plates on the front of their cars in lieu of the real thing.

One MX5 I've seen had the plate mounted in the air intake, which looked quite nice. Anyone have any idea if this is legal, or, for that matter, a mechanically sound thing to do?

Any other solutions to the front plate issue also appreciated.

Shermio · Post by **Shermio** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:27 pm

You could always risk the ~$150 fine...

Having had a talk with a friend's dad in the force, he says that they are getting stricter on no front plates (Including having plates on the dash behind the windscreen) since that's the only way speed camera can nab you...

So strictly speaking no... not even with 'legal' sized sticker plates.... I had to do my research because I really wanted to be rid of the front plates by having them sign written but no joy....

Bluesgeek · Post by **Bluesgeek** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:11 pm

I've had mine in the intake on both a 1990 and a 1994 with no noticeable loss of cooling - they were both stock engines though, so if you have a big intercooler in there its probably not a wise decision

suburban_ennui · Post by **suburban_ennui** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:14 pm

how did you go about mounting the plate in the intake? Any does and don'ts or special mounting hardware needed? Might be a job for the weekend.

Gordon Tucker · Post by **Gordon Tucker** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:03 pm

Before you mount your plate in the intake, consider how old the radiator is, how hard you drive and the climate you live. If the radiator core is a bit restricted by buildup from age, you drive hard, and you live in a warm climate, i would give this more thought. There is a reason that it is an air intake and Mazda didn't mount it there for this reason. I have fixed a number of our Club chapter cars, by removing the plate from the intake -instant fix. If you still want to go ahead, take your car for a good hard drive noting where the temperature guage sits, remount the plate in the intake and do the same drive again, noting any change in temperature. Also remember that the cooler the air in the engine bay, the more horsepower the engine will develop

Post by **zorruno** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:31 pm

on 9/09/2006 2:20 p.m. suburban_ennui wrote:

I'm of the opinion that the MX5 looks a lot better sans front plate.
However, I've read a few threads about people being ticketed for
using adhesive/replica plates on the front of their cars in lieu of
the real thing.

One MX5 I've seen had the plate mounted in the air intake, which
looked quite nice. Anyone have any idea if this is legal, or, for
that matter, a mechanically sound thing to do?

Mine is partly obscuring the intake, but bolted as low as possible on
the bottom of the front bumper.

Any other solutions to the front plate issue also appreciated.

Incidentally, in the herald there is a column that has questions
answered by some transit NZ person (Phoebe Falconer - not sure of her
role or qualifications), in response to people's road and traffic questions.

Someone asked a week or so back about stick on number plates, and an
interesting response was given - one I wouldn't expect.

I just searched online and found the story here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story. ... 027AF1010F

Pasted below in case it disappears from the herald site:

Get moving: Flash or dull, plates must be aluminium
Tuesday August 29, 2006
By Phoebe Falconer

Q: "I was told recently that the stick-on number plates on my
classic car were illegal. They are the same size and colour as standard
plates, black letters on a white background. I see many types and
colours of standard plates, and wondered what the regulations say.
Richard Redstone, Auckland."

A: "The Transport (Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Notice
1995 specifies the colours and materials permitted for standard and
personalised plates.

In both cases the material must be aluminium. Standard plates can be
silver on black or black on reflective white.

Personalised plates can have black, red or blue characters on a white
background for the registration number, and can also have subsidiary
characters, messages, symbols or slogans approved by the Registrar of
Motor Vehicles in any colour, on the frame of the plate.

So, unless your stick-on number plate is aluminium and complies with the
above, it is not legal."

[Posted via External Email]

poison · Post by **poison** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:04 pm

Hi Howard

I read that too, and must admit I am now in doubt of her authority to comment.

When I asked the testing station I was told it had to be the original, unaltered plate,
And that even if I just wanted to paint the letters blue or red it would not be legal anymore.
This may well be one of the many vague area’s of the road rules, and hence up to the
Individual officer’s interpretation (or how grumpy he is that day).

Otherwise I would not mount it in the air intake due to potential cooling restrictions.
You could always try to see how it works, as long as you don’t drill any visible holes.

Gazza

[Posted via External Email]

Shermio · Post by **Shermio** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:51 pm

Hmmm what if I was to have my sticker plate stuck on a sheet of alu first? it doesn't say how thick it has to be, just that it has to be alu... Got me thinking now about Alu Vinyl, which is actually a very thin sheet of alu sandwiched between a clear and adhesive backing...

spotz · Post by **spotz** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:00 pm

So if the front bumper was aluminium

we could paint on our plates with the appropriate "have black, red or blue characters on a white background"

?
But they'd still have to meet other rules 'n regs. Such as being clearly visible from a certain distance away.

The act reads
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/librarie ... 95-136/s.2
"2.Form of registration plates (other than personalised registration plates or trade plates)—
(1)This clause applies to a registration plate other than a personalised registration plate or trade plate.
(2)The distinguishing marks on a registration plate shall be—
(a)Embossed, and coloured aluminium on a black background; or
(b)Embossed, and coloured black against a reflective background consisting of white retro-reflective sheeting,—
and the base material of a registration plate shall be aluminium. "

and
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/librarie ... 95-136/s.3
"3.Form of personalised registration plates—
(1)The distinguishing marks on a personalised registration plate shall be embossed, and coloured black or red or blue, as the case may be, against a reflective background consisting of white retro-reflective sheeting.
(2)Any subsidiary characters, messages, symbols, or slogans that have been approved by the Registrar for display on a personalised registration plate under section 9E(2)(a) of the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Act 1986, may be of any colour.
(3)The base material of a personalised registration plate shall be aluminium. "

there's more detail with the links ...

Post by **jif** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:40 pm

hmmm... the stock bonnet is aluminium...

[Posted via External Email]

Shermio · Post by **Shermio** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:18 pm

But I thought the new "Euro" plates are just plastic....

black bess · Post by **black bess** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:54 am

You can simply remove the plastic number plate from the big, ugly plinth and stick it back on with velcro or double sided adhesive tape. Here in the UK, I had a smaller plate made up (3" x 9"), affixed by velcro (so that I can take it off for shows) and have had no bother with The Bill.

Post by **zorruno** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:52 pm

black bess said on 09/24/2006 09:54 AM:

You can simply remove the plastic number plate from the big, ugly plinth
and stick it back on with velcro or double sided adhesive tape. Here in
the UK, I had a smaller plate made up (3" x 9"), affixed by velcro (so
that I can take it off for shows) and have had no bother with The Bill.

Our numberplates are nice solid aluminium, and apparently... must be by
law...
--
(z)

[Posted via External Email]

spotz · Post by **spotz** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:21 pm

Has anyone looked at the latest plates?

They look different to older version. Without measuring them, I think that they're squatter and about the same width. And the font is different.

black bess · Post by **black bess** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:29 am

Is size important?

You can still use the velcro trick to remove the plate for shows and meets

spotz · Post by **spotz** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:19 pm

Size is very important. The bigger mine is the more toys I can play with

I am of course refering to my bank account size

I suspect that some people don't like the older plate because the size is way out of line with keeping their car looking good. So smaller plates may help make their toys looking bigger ...

suburban_ennui · Post by **suburban_ennui** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:49 am

check out this MX5 on TradeMe ...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... d=77588085
The number plate mounting looks like a nice compromise between keeping the plate down low away from the nose, but also keeping reasonably clear from the intake/radiator. It looks like there's some kind of bracket mounted to the bottom of the lower bumper. Anyone know how/where you get this sort of setup?