Number plate area for better airflow

[alolympic]

This winter, finally, I will make some modifications to my front panel, and add bonnet vents.
If the number plate area on the front valance is cut out as a hole, am I right in thinking the inner valance has pre cut holes which will allow air from the front to pass to the radiator?
I plan to fit black mesh, spray paint my registration number in, thus giving increased airflow in the same numberplate space.

[Carledo]

Weeeell yes and no, there are a couple of small holes in the inner panel behind the number plate area thus:-



I guess you could open up the central blank without losing much strength, I didn't bother and mine works ok, besides, it's modifying the monocoque, another can of worms entirely!

Which you will expose by cutting the hole (or holes) thus:-



or



I like your mesh and paint solution to the number plate question, it's much more elegant than mine, but until I get confirmation that being tax free entitles you to use black plates, I won't go looking for trouble by doing it myself!

Steve

EDIT, IGNORE the bulk of this, i've just looked at the top pic in large size and the middle hole that I thought was a blank, is indeed a hole and i'm talking through my ar*e!

[alolympic]

Great, thanks for that. Your picture confirms what I wanted, a good sized hole that it makes it worth pursuing.
In response to your question, I have noticed that a lot of the number plate websites are now stating that DVLA now allow black plates to be fitted on cars registered before Jan 1975....

[markas]

Great, thanks for that. Your picture confirms what I wanted, a good sized hole that it makes it worth pursuing.
In response to your question, I have noticed that a lot of the number plate websites are now stating that DVLA now allow black plates to be fitted on cars registered before Jan 1975....

Straying wildly off-topic now, but link to the relevant government web page below seems to refute this:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001 ... ule/2/made

Seems to make sense really, if you are are attempting to maintain a vehicle's originality, that you would want the style of number plate that it would have been fitted with when first registered. I know that for those interested in 'modding' their cars that could prove inconvenient.
Part 2 of the regulations does allow continued use of pressed plates or aluminium plates with clip-on letters under BS AU 145a, so no need to use the flat acrylic plates normally supplied nowadays.

[xvivalve]

...and here's a 2014 update:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 60914.pdf
still Jan' '73

[Pippin]

I plan to fit black mesh, spray paint my registration number in...

If you mean that you're going to make your own number plate, by spraying the digits onto a mesh (non-solid, non-reflective) background, I suspect that won't be legal.

[Karlos]

I remember reading somewhere an aftermarket modification to Sprints in Australia having an extra hole cut in the front valence in the center above where the number plate is located. I have taken the liberty of showing it in green on Carledo's car shown earlier in the thread:

[Carledo]

Can't find a picture off the top of my head but original Lotus Elites had white plastic numbers attached to a black painted mesh grille from new, a mate of mine had one back in the early seventies, I still remember the reg, 5 KUR!

Steve

[alolympic]

I plan to fit black mesh, spray paint my registration number in...

If you mean that you're going to make your own number plate, by spraying the digits onto a mesh (non-solid, non-reflective) background, I suspect that won't be legal.

On what basis?
Not being argumentative, but curious as to what the problem could be. Pre 1973, they don't have to be reflective, so what would the problem be?
My car has now passed 5 MOT's by 5 different testing stations with smaller than required characters on a smaller than required plate, so I am feeling bullish....

[Mahesh]

I think you'll be allowed 7 days to rectify, plenty of time to make a set if need be. Or keep a stick on set in the boot.

[Carledo]

I plan to fit black mesh, spray paint my registration number in...

If you mean that you're going to make your own number plate, by spraying the digits onto a mesh (non-solid, non-reflective) background, I suspect that won't be legal.

On what basis?
Not being argumentative, but curious as to what the problem could be. Pre 1973, they don't have to be reflective, so what would the problem be?
My car has now passed 5 MOT's by 5 different testing stations with smaller than required characters on a smaller than required plate, so I am feeling bullish....

What an MOT inspector will accept is absolutely NOT the same thing as what a stroppy bored copper will accept! Not too long ago, my Cavalier was fitted with number plates which, instead of the EU logo, carried a tiny picture of Eeyore (my wife's favourite Disney character, it was originally her car) in all other respects, the plate was legal and correct, yet a plod still went to the trouble of stopping me and warned me that if he saw the car so fitted again he would nick me for it! Your tax £££££s at work!!!!
But if you use proper white/silver plastic letters, (a la Elite as mentioned above) you should be OK, just make sure the grille and whatever is behind it is suitably black!

Steve

[Pippin]

I plan to fit black mesh, spray paint my registration number in...

If you mean that you're going to make your own number plate, by spraying the digits onto a mesh (non-solid, non-reflective) background, I suspect that won't be legal.

On what basis?
Not being argumentative, but curious as to what the problem could be. Pre 1973, they don't have to be reflective, so what would the problem be?
My car has now passed 5 MOT's by 5 different testing stations with smaller than required characters on a smaller than required plate, so I am feeling bullish....

I was thinking about the design of the plates, but also about the fact that they will be home made.

On the first issue, Wikipedia says "The physical characteristics of the number plates are set out in British Standard BS AU 145d, which specifies visibility, strength, and reflectivity." Without checking, I suspect a mesh background wouldn't comply with this.

On the second issue, Wikipedia says "The material of UK number plates must either comply with British Standard BS AU 145d,[2] which states BSI number plates must be marked on the plate with the BSI logo and the name and postcode of the manufacturer and the supplier of the plates or
"(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British Standard specification, and which, in either case, is marked with the number (or such other information as is necessary to permit identification) of that standard or specification."
as specified in http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001 ... ule/2/made The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 (Statutory Instrument 2001 Number 561), Schedule 2." I suspect that homemade plates wouldn't comply with this.

However, I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

[alolympic]

I think it may come down to the degree of risk that each of us is comfortable with. I am comfortable that I may get stopped, and with the original plate in the boot, will hopefully avoid any problems.
I check my tyre pressures, brake, clutch fluid, oil and coolant levels before every journey in the Triumph, while I know some people who have never checked their tyre pressures since owning a car (because that happens when they get serviced!). Road worthiness I won't risk, but the local police desire to uphold some random EU law about number plates, I'll take my chances.
My original question answered so all cleared up.....

[cliftyhanger]

I would not always trust any Wiki, but rather look at the legislation in its entirety.
The wikipedia talks about reflectivity, but pressed or raised digit silver (or white) on black are not reflective and yet still perfectly legal on pre 73 cars.
Here is the document, seems the important date is in 2001, so much is irrelevant. But scroll to page 13 and we start to find what matters to us.
In particular re the letters on mesh it specifically says "unbroken rectangular area on the surface of the vehicle" which should be flat or nearly flat. (this is an alternative to a plate, so stick-on letters are OK!)
Now, is mesh an unbroken rectangular area? Maybe! I bought a set of plastic letters and was going to fix them straight to my spitfire front grille. Then found it was trickier than anticipated, so got a set of white letters and stuck them on the smallest plate I could. All letters are correct size, spacing questionable.

[Carledo]

BS AU145c and 145d apply to reflective plates of the black on white or yellow variety, c being 73 on and d being 2001 on.
Only regulation d plates are required to show the BS code, makers name and postcode is (i think) 2003 on only.

None of this applies to black plates!

Steve