front license plate - magnets

[FirstGenZq8]

in texas, all cars need to have a front plate at all times. in my head, i've been working on a (complex) way to have a hidden mounted front plate.

last night i was cooking supper. yes i can cook. i closed the fridge door and one of the magnets holding up my nieces "art" falls to the floor. i yell to the wife "i hate these limp **** magnets"; then it hits me.

if glued to the back of a license plate, are there strong enough magnets out there that could keep the front plate attached at 70 MPH? 100 MPH? this would be easy to attach when out driving and easy to throw in the back seat at shows.

thoughts anybody?

[Barry Dingle]

I was talking to one of the vintage license plate vendors at a swap meet about Texas' "year of manufacture" licensing. He stated that if you register a "Dealers Tag" for your car specific to the model year that you would only need a single license plate on the car.

I am restoring a 73Z so was looking at licensing a 1973 Dealers Tag for the car to eliminate the need to have a front plate. I haven't checked with the DMV yet to see if this information is accurate. Might be worth a look and a workaround to needing a front plate.

[joeljet]

thats what i was going to do before i moved to ohio now i have a new unused 73 texas dealer tag i'm gonna have to sell.

[jackfrost]

in Ohio you can use a regular plate as a "year of manufacture" plate for historical vehicles, and you only need one. I bought one off of ebay for my Javelin. the Olds isn't old enough to be historical yet (has to be 25+ years old), so I've been thinking about options too.

I was thinking of some sort of bracket that hooks underneath the bumper, and comes off with hood-pin-type things. let us know what you come up with.

[TonyL]

to answer your question though. Yes. Neodymium magnets are strong enough.

[Barry Dingle]

thats what i was going to do before i moved to ohio now i have a new unused 73 texas dealer tag i'm gonna have to sell.

Paypal? LOL

If you're interested in selling it let me know price.


Thx.

[gearheads78]

Just register as an antique auto. One plate with 2 year registration and no inspection required. :idea:

[neki67]

to answer your question though. Yes. Neodymium magnets are strong enough.

I have been told that you can buy these at e.g. your better equipped RC shop.

[TonyL]

most tool shops have them as well. They are insanely strong. a 1/4 thick magnet the diameter of a quarter can hold like 50 lbs. And can smash the CRAP out of your fingers if you get them between two magnets.

[TonyL]

Skip through to the last few minutes (2:40 mark)to see him pick up a 10 lb sledge with a magnet the size of a quarter.

nHhGIkFFIAE

[Happyfunballs]

When you test drive a car, doesn't the dealership put their dealer plate on the car with a license plate mount that has a magnet on it?


edit: http://www.guard81.com/products.asp?Type=License+Plate+Holders&Display_Type=detail

[Tom 72RS/SS]

I like those electric flip-up license plate holders that you see on street rods but since I have a front spoiler that's not gonna work. The lower valance has a pretty good radius to it, so I'm thinking if you mounted the plate onto the original license bracket then used the magnets to attach the bracket to the lower valance, hmmm, you might be on to something there.
I'm starting to like that idea. I don't run a front plate on mine either (I thnk the RS front end looks better without one) even though it's state law in MO.
Somebody give it a try and let us know if it passes the 100 mph test!!

[Young Gun]

cant you just have it on the front dash? Ive got a couple friends that dont want to drill holes in their front bumper so they attach it to the window with sticky pads

[dropit69]

yeah get the magnets like the dealers use to stick the plate on back of cars while you test drive them/..go to dealer see where they buy them..