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[gusc]

I'm new to the forum.

Where does my license plate mount?

I'm assembling the TR after five years off the road.

I replaced the rear bumper on which the license was formerly mounted by an awful bracket. I don't want to drill holes in the replacement bumper because I know that wasn't original and I sure don't want to drill holes in the new paint on the deck lid which I think was the original method!!

I'm thinking of some kind of clamp on the bumper. There are no photos or drawings in the Maint Manual so that is no help. Who ever takes a photo of the rear??

Gus Causbie

Thanks

[charley fitch]

The rear license plate goes on the trunk lid just above the handle.  The bottom of the license plate is about 1 inch above the handle. Sounds like somebody must have filled the holes.  If you see any cars or pictures of cars with the luggage rack the license plate and the luggage rack are mounted to the same two top bolts.  The upper two connection points on this luggage rack are the two hinges.  This is so you don't confuse it with the racks that require drilling holes in the trunk.  I say all of this just so you will know that there is really a precise location of the two top license plate holes.  My TR4 has all four holes drilled.
Good luck.
Charley Fitch

[gusc]

Charley,

Thanks. I looked closely for any sign of holes inside the trunk lid but found nothing. My painter may have filled the holes but there were none visible on the outside before I had it painted.

I should have drilled the holes before it was painted, now I can't bear to drill holes in that nice new red paint!! Today I found that the old license plate bracket that was on the bumper has a large hole through which I am going to try to mount the trunk handle. I'll let you know how that works out.

New subject. I have two fender mirrors which I was considering mounting on the TR4 instead of the "bullet" mirrors on the doors. Did TR4s ever use these mirrors?

I love the looks of fender mirrors but they are a pain when working on the engine or when needing adjusting. These mirrors are still new in the box, I bought them as spares for my TR3 in '57 or '58 when my ship was in Britain.

I had the painter fill the holes in the doors but now I can't stand to drill holes in the fenders!! The door holes can be easily reopened because he used some sort of plastic filler so I'm seriously thinking of mounting the door mirrors again.

[gusc]

I was able to construct a presentable license plate bracket from a generic bracket + light that was previously attached to the bumper. I removed the light, enlarged the hole and filed notches for the trunk handle escutcheon tabs.

The bracket is slightly less than 1/16" thickness. I made a thin gasket to go between the bracket and the trunk to protect the new paint. I haven't mounted it yet but in the trial run it fit.

The bracket fits underneath the escutcheon and is held securely by the adjusting nut on the inside end of the trunk handle stem.

I wanted to post a photo of it but don't have a clue about how to do that?

[gusc]

OK, here goes.

I found the info for photo posting in the "Driver's Lounge"? I just happened to be strolling through there out of curiosity not actually looking for this info, never expected it to be there?

[charley fitch]

Good old  American ingenuity!!  Where there is a will there is a way.
Charley Fitch  

[gusc]

Charley,

Two more photos and I promise to drop this subject!

The final assembly has one problem, the bottom of the plate is too close to the trunk handle so one's fingers easily get jammed into the sharp edge of the plate. It is easy to grip the handle in a manner to avoid this but it is not the impulsive way to grab onto it.

If I had made the large hole closer to the bottom of the bracket this could have been avoided. The plate really needs to be about an inch higher to provide proper clearance.

However, I'll live with it, I've spent enough time on it already.

This was the last thing to make the TR road legal so a trial run is near.

[charley fitch]

Think of it as an anti-theft device to keep people from opening your trunk.
Charley