Front plate

[Chefgmann]

Hi, I am new to this forum, will be picking up my Cobra next Monday and can't wait. I do have a question though, does the state of Illinois require a front plate for the Cobra, I believe given the age on the title it can be plated as a historic/antique vehicle or is that no correct?

[Blas]

By law you must display a front plate in Illinois. Some people do and some people don't.
There are creative ways to display the front plate, all of which look like crap. As to titling the car what did you purchase, new or used? If used, the existing title already has a year on it. If new, then I would try to get it registered as a 1965. Antique plates have limitations as to when you can drive the car. Then there is an expanded Antique plate with less restrictive limitations on driving, personalized plates and vanity plates. Not to mention the slew of organization, school and sports related plates.
The best thing is the fact that the Antique plate in Illinois is a wonderful “Flesh Tone” in color which does not blend nicely with any color vehicle except maybe "bikini line white" cars. Obviously a color chosen by some color blind – non car guy elected to the Illinois legislature.
So what did you purchase? Curious minds want to know.

[mickmate]

If it has a front bumper originals used a bracket on them. With quick jacks or a bumper this might work.
Front License Plate Bracket [] - $78.00 : Acton Custom Enterprises, Custom Metal for Cobras

[Renlady]

The new extended antique plate is more of a silver tone which I think looks better than the beige.

I've been told that any cop who pulls you over really only wants to look at your cwr, but both my hubby and I have received tickets for no front plate. Blas has developed a very creative way to mount the front plate that can be "hidden" so it doesn't hinder the view of the car from the front.

[cdog]

As far as the antique plate goes, if you have an antique plate, legally you can run a plate for the year of car (1965 plate or whatever).

Any person who is the registered owner of an expanded-use antique or antique vehicle may display a historical license plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle, furnished by such person, in lieu of the current and valid Illinois expanded-use antique vehicle plates issued thereto, provided that the valid and current Illinois expanded-use antique vehicle plates and registration card issued to the expanded-use antique vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection.

So that is cool. You don't have to run the tan or grey plates...

[CCRsAC]

Accidentally edited.

The "year of manufacture" plate program in Illinois is great. My wife's '67 Camaro has '67 plates on it and I'm will be displaying a '65 California manufacturer plate on my FFR when it's registered (under the expanded-use antique program). That plate, which currently hangs on my wall, looks curiously like the one found on SAI cars in '65.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by CCRsAC

I will be displaying a '65 California manufacturer plate on my FFR when it's registered (under the expanded-use antique program).

Illinois will let you use a CALIFORNIA plate with an Illinois registration? Wow....that I wanna see....................

Most "vintage plate" registration program in states I am familiar with do not allow "repro" plates and New York actually does not allow restoration or repainting of vintage plates although the majority of the ones I have seen in use are redone as the DMV only requires a photo of the plate to approve use.

And I HATE Illinois Nazis!

[CCRsAC]

Mark IV - "Illinois will let you use a CALIFORNIA plate with an Illinois registration? Wow....that I wanna see...................."

Yep... right from the horses mouth (625 ILCS 5/3-804 and 804.01) and without any restriction on what state the historic plate (or representation of one) comes from:

(b) Any person who is the registered owner of an antique vehicle may display a historical license plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle, furnished by such person, in lieu of the current and valid Illinois antique vehicle plates issued thereto, provided that valid and current Illinois antique vehicle plates and registration card issued to such antique vehicle are simultaneously carried within such vehicle and are available for inspection.

The "year of manufacture" plate can be an actual plate or one that "represents the model year of the vehicle." Better yet, there is no actual registration of those plates to the car. The rule is that the car must have antique or expanded use antique plates registered to it and the registration card and the actual plate registered to the car (with a valid sticker) must be in the car and available for inspection. Other than that, it's pretty open. Surprising for Illinois... they usually take a much more hard-line approach to stuff like this.

[Avmaviator]

No front plate here. I can't stand the look of it.

Interesting topic on the repro plates...

[PSB]

Front plate required in OH too. I made a bracket out of aluminum sheet to attach the top of the plate using the bolts for the marker light and a another small bracket from aluminum bar stock to attache the bottom of the plate to the bottom edge of the front of the body. Not terrible looking and keeps me from getting tickets.



Pete

[Chefgmann]

Thanks all, Guess I will go with the bracket under the marker light.