Making Classic Number Plates (plastic letter kind)

[cjhillman]

Any advice one making your own raised letter number plates? (the plastic letter / metal backing kind) I picked these up today at Enfield Motor Pageant but struggling to find blank plates online. It would be a shame to use plastic for the plates!
If anyone is heading to Enfield and lives in the Middlesex area let me know. The guy had more "A"s and i got confused (i'll blame the sun ) I need two more!! They we're only 50p . Also, if anyone has any number 6 digits let me know i'd be interested to complete my plates. Its not an urgent project at all but hoping i can make these for fairly cheap 

[ChasR]

The glue may not stick. Those letters tend to be held on by rivets/retainers onto the plate. That will take time to drill/assemble up to do it that way, and it's one reason why they are pricier to buy than the 'normal' plates.

The backing you could made up TBH. It would not be quite correct but it would be OK. On my Stag, I'm fairly sure it was an adhesive vinyl stuck onto the metal plate.

[cjhillman]

May 25, 2019 20:20:06 GMT ChasR said:

The glue may not stick. Those letters tend to be held on by rivets/retainers onto the plate. That will take time to drill/assemble up to do it that way, and it's one reason why they are pricier to buy than the 'normal' plates.

The backing you could made up TBH. It would not be quite correct but it would be OK. On my Stag, I'm fairly sure it was an adhesive vinyl stuck onto the metal plate.

Yeah these have some locating pins on the back of each letter which probably will be a pain to drill and line up. At £4 I thought I’d give it a go but I can feel myself already getting anal on the rest of the plate haha. These would have been better on my Escort but the Capris plate was much easier as he didn’t have many numbers plus it’s 1979 so probbaly right era .

[duggers]

Used to have these made up at the dealer I first worked at in 1979.
It has any aluminium plate with a reflective background stuck on. The letters are retained by spring clips that are circular with four central tangs ( bit like an E clip with a full circular outer and a fourth inner clip) that grip the plastic posts on the back of the letter. The motor factor had a jig that punched the holes relevant to the letter and its posts.

[cjhillman]

May 25, 2019 21:03:11 GMT duggers said:

Used to have these made up at the dealer I first worked at in 1979.
It has any aluminium plate with a reflective background stuck on. The letters are retained by spring clips that are circular with four central tangs ( bit like an E clip with a full circular outer and a fourth inner clip) that grip the plastic posts on the back of the letter. The motor factor had a jig that punched the holes relevant to the letter and its posts.

thats great information ! I never really thought how these things were made but sitting here thinking about making a template out of card did get me wondering.

[strikey]

i might have some blank ally plates....

[cjhillman]

May 25, 2019 22:00:38 GMT strikey said:

i might have some blank ally plates....

That sounds interesting mate! Let me know if you find them.