Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

[EllisonCal]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

The bracket I used can also be mounted in the upper part of the cowl opening.
That way plate would be real low and holes are not visible at all.

Frits, I like the new look much better. Of course, no front plate is even better but then you would have to move! There aren't too many things that South Carolina does well but not requiring a front license plate is one of them!

By the way, I asked why a Canadian car, on this thread, had the supplemental lights in the grill when I thought they were illegal there. In the Netherlands are they also not allowed?

Cal

[Ski]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

By the way, I asked why a Canadian car, on this thread, had the supplemental lights in the grill when I thought they were illegal there. In the Netherlands are they also not allowed?

Cal

Illegal or not required? There is a difference.

[FritsB]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

Frits, I like the new look much better. Of course, no front plate is even better but then you would have to move! There aren't too many things that South Carolina does well but not requiring a front license plate is one of them!

By the way, I asked why a Canadian car, on this thread, had the supplemental lights in the grill when I thought they were illegal there. In the Netherlands are they also not allowed?

Cal

They are allowed, but up till now I have not bought them.

[FritsB]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

Illegal or not required? There is a difference.

I't is legal to have and use them, not required though.

[DavidA]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

They aren't illegal in Canada, they just didn't pass the Canadian crash tests. They didn't pass them here either, which is why they were listed as options rather than standard. That loophole didn't work in canada.

[BJHEN]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

Nice job Frits! I really like being able to see the entire grill. I also like the way Steve (Treken) fit the original lic. bracket to the bumper. I think if he painted the bracket the same color as the bumper he would have a winner.

Since I like the appearance of the car with the lowered lic. plate, I looked at the possibility of modifying my bracket,

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=20847

so I could lower my plate also. I could do it but I think it would cause a problem when I want to install my bra. I wasn't sure I needed a bra, but after a recent 3300 mile road trip I wouldn't hit the road without one. Part of the bra fits behind the lic. bracket to help hold it in place. With a front lic. plate installed without using the original Ford bracket I'm not sure the bra would fit properly. I don't think it will fit on Steve's bracket either - no way to get strap behind bracket.

Anyway, I do like the front view when full grill is visible.

Cliff

[snowbird]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

They aren't illegal in Canada, they just didn't pass the Canadian crash tests. They didn't pass them here either, which is why they were listed as options rather than standard. That loophole didn't work in canada.

David: The rule about the lights is still in effect today. If we bring a Bird in from the U.S., We have to pull the lights and put the blank plug in the opening or you can not import the Bird. When you get it home and registered, just put the lights back in. Some of the Birds, sold new in Canada, have had the lights put in over the years. I did that with our 007 Spec. Ed.
MartinB.

[CVCashmere]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

What a classy job. Very nice.

I know there is another thread about the license plate bracket by CVCashmere in which I could have posted this, but cinse I have a number of images to show I decided to post a new thread.

Last week I found an adjustable mounting bracket on a US webshop and bought it. Thanks to Dot shipping to NL was $30 cheaper as when shop would have shipped.
It came in today and I decided to mount it right away since I have disliked the ugly plate holder since I bought my Bird. Took about 30 minutes to mount.

Here is a picture of the result before and after.
Next posts will show how simple this can be done.

[gladiator99]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

I had a friend who imported a nice Merlot 04 T-Bird from the US into Canada last year and he simply cut out 2 round pieces of plastic, painted them merlot and using double sided adhesive, stuck them in front of the supplemental lights and passed the Canadian inspection at Canadian tire. He then drove home and removed the two plastic cutouts and the supplemental lights were again functional.
As far as that ugly front licence plate holder, I just applied double sided tape to the plate holder and also tied clear fishing line around the holder and back through the bottom of the grille. It is almost invisible and holds the plate secure in case the tape gives way. No holes in my bumper and never will be. I just hate the look of that licence plate frame on the front bumper.
Cheers!
Hope everyone is enjoying the summer.!!
Jim

[Skip]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

Martin:

I actually investigated that when the car was delivered in September '01. I went to a custom shop recommended by a friend to see what could be done. He said he could fabricate a tag holder from stainless or tubular steel that would be attached under the car with two support that would come out in front of the bumper facsia, or through the cowl opening, and allow the tag to actually float in front of the bumper. The tag holder section, or the entire mechanism could be removed at any time. Then he suggested that I just not do it. He said they worked on a lot of street rods, Corvettes, and other cars without front tags and it didn't seem to be a problem. So I just heeded his advice, as I really prefer the look. But, since I have been stopped for not displaying the front tag (although only once in almost 8 years) and Barb & my daughter do drive the car on occaision and I don't want them hassled, I am rethinking this. I hope to check it out in the next week or so, and then I'll report my findings here.

Skip

PS: I might even take a look at the tag holder that came with the car again to see if some thing can be arranged with it to just hang on the front, attached to the top of the bumper or grille, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I had considered painting the tag holder torch red and installing it (yes, drilling the holes), but thought better of that. Using two side adhesive with some type of foam cushion is a thought too, but I'm geussing that bumper damage could still result from that.

Skip: What if you have a bracket fabricated and bring it through and up the lower cowl opening.
MartinB.

[fossil46]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

i just never put mine on , it just did't look right

[luvbird]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

I lowered my license plate several years ago. I modifyed the original mount using the same mounting holes. Some have noticed this at the shows I've been to and asked me about it. I tryed to find someone who could make a mold or copy of what I did but never found anyone. There may be pics of my mount on the Carlise pics this year of my car as the Bat Mobile. Frits, I too like the looks of the front plate down below the grill. Also easier to clean the grill.

[Treken]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

There may be pics of my mount on the Carlise pics this year of my car as the Bat Mobile.

Wow, you went the extreme with mods for your car, I just looked at your pictures.

[luvbird]

Re: Quick cosmetic improvement to my Bird

Steve, It's all removable so the Bird can be normal most the time. I just do that around Sept. and Oct. for halloween and some late year end car shows. I got a request yesterday to do it for a show at a local childerens school called Humpty Dumpty in Sept.

I have pics of my version of the Bat Mobile next to the Bat Mobile of the 60's TV show.