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MG MGA - Number plate on bumperless A

Can anyone send some images of their rear number plate on their rear bumperless A? In Australia, we are not allowed to use stick-on letters, and the approved plate must be lit-up by normal means. I really like the look of the rear end without bumpers, and am looking for something that will blend in with the curved look of the beaver tail. I am covering up the two chassis extension holes with original round Lucas reversing light.
Gary Lock

Not a great photo, but you get the idea. Fabbed a mount for the reversing light; bolts for the number plate go straight thru into the boot.


Chris Sloan

Gary,

Maybe you should move to another State in Australia e.g. South Australia.
Although it is the front number plate, not the rear, I have attached a photo of my brother's Jaguar which currently drives around with stick on numbers.
When I bought my mga twin cam in 1964 I used stick on numbers, but had to fit the ugly normal type when I moved to another State (NSW) in 1966.
Photo of MGA in next posting.


Mick


M F Anderson

Gary,

A photo of my Twin Cam in the State of South Australia in 1964, with a stick on front number.
When I moved to the State of New South Wales in 1966 I had to fit the normal, ugly plates.

Mick


M F Anderson

Gary, once again under current laws, to remove the original bumpers you do so at your own peril. Qld Transport consider this (without their approval) an illegal act and the car is un-registered, uninsured (3rd party)and in general breach of the legislation...Luckly a number of us here (at least me)can say we all know your car was like this for the last 20+ years before the current legislation came into effect and had an approval under the old Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1980 (nudge nudge wink wink!!). Now knowing the fact that the old act was part of the dept of Industrial Relations portfolio and not Dept of Transport (that occured in mid 1980s) and that most files on approvals were lost in the shift (not widely advertised) who is to argue...
regards
Mark
Mark Mathiesen

Gary, I don't have any photos yet, but I'm doing much the same as Chris, using a Bugeye (Frogeye) plinth and lamp assembly. On my car I made a sheet metal plate mount which fits between the lamp and the plinth and the number plate attaches to that, so no extra holes in the body and the plate stands a bit more proud of the rear.
Bill Young

FWIW The number plate light plinth that Bill refers to was also used on the Spridgets up to 1970.
Neil McGurk

I'm intending to do something similar for my bumperless coupe. I am planning to use the original licence plate and original lamp mounting bracket fixed to the plate, and making a bracket that goes down under the rear valance to mount onto the brackets/bolts for the 2 petrol tank straps.
That way I am not drilling extra holes into the boot.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Hi Gary,
Those legislation changes are interesting. I've driven my bumperless A into Queenslsnd a few times and wonder what the legal implications would be if I was involved in an accident driving a vehicle deemed "unroadworthy" in another state.The bumper holes in my A were welded over and lead wiped to follow the curve of the beaver panel, the number plate is screwed directly under the boot lip centred on the beaver panel and a lucas number plate lamp is under the number plate. The car is in storage so if I get a chance I'll take a photo & email it.
I Hazeldine

Regarding driving into Queensland with a modified car, the Quensland legislation says if ANY VEHICLE is driven on Queensland roads it MUST COMPLY with Queensland legislation (this says it must be as per the original factory specification or display a modification plate -known in the industry as a Blue Plate- under the bonnet). The only exemption is vehicles registered under diplomatic provisions. You would be amazed how many get caught driving with NSW & Victorian registrations in Qld (under the mistaken belief they are exempt from Qld rules). A similar trap but in reverse is bit like if a Qld 'P' or 'L' platers with stick on 'P' or 'L' plates attached to the inside their windscreens (legal in QLD)drives into the Tweed they will get booked by NSW police as it is an offence in NSW not to have your 'P' or 'L' plate on the outside of the car glass. Trust me the coppers know all the tricks...The advantage for us they are in the most not familiar with old British cars and seem more interested in chasing young kids in their Jap rice-racers. I would also check to see if SA hasn't updated their regulations to fall into line with Victoria, NSW and QLD. My understanding (before I left the Qld department) was that this was going to be a Nationally aligned rule
regards
Mark
Mark Mathiesen

Sorry guys, for those of you wondering what a P or L plater is, in Aussie we require all new drivers to display a L for Learner (still training for your license and must be accompanied by an experienced licensed driver) or a P for Provisional (you only just got your license) when driving a car...like I said before, you guys in the USA get it so good when it comes to user friendly legislation
regards
Mark
Mark Mathiesen

We don't have to have the L or P plates, but sometimes I wish we did. I run a L decal just to confuse the locals.


Bill Young

This thread was discussed between 24/02/2009 and 25/02/2009

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