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Old 07-14-2013, 01:24 PM   #1
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UK owners.....

Downsized my front plate to fit the plinth.
Full air flow to the centre rad, better aero overall at the front, accessible towing hitch, but best of all.... Smaller = lighter!!! yay, another few ounces shaved!


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Old 07-14-2013, 07:51 PM   #2
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Some of us poor rednecks here in the colonies would like to know what a plinth is. Does my car have one? Will it smoke, fall off? Fail? Please help!
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Old 07-14-2013, 11:21 PM   #3
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ha ha,

No, no moving parts, no fluids, no bushes, no bearings and no power!....rest easy.
In the UK the liscense plate mounts onto a block or plinth which is attached to the front bumper. The law states that we have to display a front plate and that it should be a certain size.
However the stadard size plate overhangs the plinth all round.
It messeses up the slippery shape of the front. It blocks airflow to the centre rad intake and it hinders the use of the tow eye.

So i decided to get a smaller plate made which is the exact same size as the mounting plinth. Its not strictly legal but i'll take my chances.....
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:44 AM   #4
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Thanks. Nice car.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:58 AM   #5
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I eventually got rid of the plinth and got a smaller plate.


Last edited by jmd; 07-15-2013 at 04:01 AM.
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Old 07-15-2013, 04:08 AM   #6
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Hey Leknus, thanks.

JMD - may even take that approach now that i have the smaller plate. Have you had any issues with the long arm of the law?
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Old 07-15-2013, 10:57 AM   #7
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Not a thing so far, but there aren't many about here really.

A bigger problem I have is keeping the back one stuck on. High temps from the exhaust seem to make just about any sort of sticky stuff I've tried fall off.

That plate is standard UK font, albeit smaller than it should be.
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Old 07-16-2013, 11:16 AM   #8
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I know a number plate has to be a standard font and have the correct space between characters, but I was not aware it had to be a certain size.

There should be 11mm of space between the characters and the margin top, bottom and sides.
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Old 07-16-2013, 01:11 PM   #9
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MK,
It's actually way more complex than that, but it would take too long to recite it.
Along with standard font, letter spacing, reflective quality, colour etc you have to overlay year specific rules and exeptions for imports etc.
Needless to say a boxster should run a full size, standard uk front plate.

So no bad italics, not silver on black and not import sized.
Its buried on the DVLA website, but it is there.
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Old 10-22-2013, 12:41 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EssexPorsche View Post
Downsized my front plate to fit the plinth.
I like the small plate. Where did you get the plate from? Or was it a DIY job? Cheers.
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Old 10-22-2013, 01:48 PM   #11
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Word from another colony here; I too hate the front plate- so much so that, to date, I've not run with one. Last year (summer driven only), I got fined $ 150 or so and this year- still free! Very nice car by the way, Essex Porsche!
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Old 10-22-2013, 03:13 PM   #12
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Who's got some jellied eel ?
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Old 01-27-2014, 07:27 AM   #13
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Hey Justin,
Sorry for such a late response. I had it made at a place called Fancy Plates.

Fancyplates.com: Plate Constructor

You can have it made any size you like (with the usual disclaimers)

Thanks Woody, getting there.....slowly
JD...long time no speak, how are you?
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Old 01-27-2014, 08:02 AM   #14
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I believe in the UK you can have smaller plates -it s
Down to number of characters.
Some of the better plate makers have those guidelines
On their sites.
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Old 01-27-2014, 02:38 PM   #15
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My early 986 has no plinth at all...it just bolts through a couple of holes in the bumper cover. Pretty crude really.





i ran it for a while with the plate in the window, wish we could run with no front plates, looks so much cleaner.

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Old 01-27-2014, 02:58 PM   #16
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Your steering wheels are on the wrong side!!!

Serious question. Are the gears opposite or flipped on the shifter and are the pedals opposite to? Clutch left, gas right, first is left forward.
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Old 01-27-2014, 03:04 PM   #17
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No plinth (or plate) on my Box this side of the pond.

Never been stopped...perhaps just lucky?

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Old 01-27-2014, 03:05 PM   #18
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Pedals and gate are unchanged. Gate is completely unchanged, pedals simply lifted from one side, placed on the other - same order, cluthc left, throttle right.

These days, most cars are engineered for both from day one, so few compromises to RHD. Actually very straight forward with a Box as the main problems you tend to get with RHD cars involve the steering column and engine arguing with each other. Obviously not an issue on a mid-engine car.

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