Technical License plate frame ideas for odd sized plates

I'm planning on running a original 1947 Alabama license plate on the rear of my car. Problem is, the old plates were an odd size as you can see from the pic, a little narrower and taller than a standard plate is today. I've seen those old adjustable frames that are supposed to fit all sizes, but they are hard to find and usually expensive when you do, and they look a little cheezy to me. I want a flat frame, about 1/2" wide at least on the top edge, I have a small chrome LED that will fit on top for the tag light. I have some aluminum sheet I guess I could cut and then polish out, but looking for other ideas as well.

 

What is the size of the 1941 Alabama licence plate? there are some odd sizes out there.

I have never found one for the 1932 South Carolina license plate.



A fellow Hamber gave me one of the 8 piece tubing license plate surrounds that I used on the '54 license plate on Brenda's wagon.

 

Kanter Has Adjustable Frames That Are Well Made...

 

Check out people selling license plates at the next swap meet, they frequently have frames. Due to the Corona Virus, the next swap meet will probably be in 2021 (sorry).

Charlie Stephens

 

This one is similar to what I used on the wagon, it's a little pricey but it is what it is. HRP

https://shop.kustomcarparts.com/Chrome-Adjustable-License-Plate-Frame-each-lic-frm-adjustable.htm

 

They didn't standardize license plate size until I believe 1956. In Minnesota for 1949 I found they started out small and got bigger as they added more numbers to the plates later in the year.

 

Why not make your own, it's not that difficult, here's what I did for a small 1932 Arizona copper plate.

Make a form the exact size of the license plate, I used 1/4" steel plate, drill holes where the plate will attaches.
Make a second plate slightly smaller than the bottom plate, drill the same hole pattern then sandwich a piece of 20 gauge between the two plates.
Hammer form the edges around the base plate, the top plate will keep things from moving, a dead blow hammer will work well to form the edge.
Remove the part from the base plate and trim edge and center as desired. Now it is ready from paint, powder coating or chrome.

 

2nd on Kanter. Used theirs until I found an original, very well made.

 

Some times they just turn up.
Swap meets, friends with junk, marketplace.....

 

I never have found one to fit mine

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

 

This has been covered several times.
I've posted my solution multiple times. I used a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum about 1/4" bigger than the plate I them milled out in the center to accommodate the plate and then used a carbide router bit to ease the edge then sand and polish.

 

That's cuz your not on the level, or plumb. Just a little skewed

 

Harley Jim, if you don't need advertising, here's one. Guy in Newport makes them. He was at Shades last year.
There was a nice dealer advertising one at Nashville swap meet this year for $300!

 

BJR
You know me a little too well
hotrodA
Thank you, I recently sold the shoebox in search of something with a big block.
I just thought I was done going fast.
That's funny I'm less than an hour from Newport

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

 

That looks sorta like what I had in mind, without the writing.

I like the way yours turned out Donut Dave, doubt I could make one that nice. I may try though, anyway.

I had thought about using some chromed tubing, like house plumbing lines, splitting them then using a tubing bender to make the frame. Then I could flatten it a bit to get the width I want. Not sure how to go about splitting them, cut off wheel maybe?

All good ideas, keep'em coming....

 

I cut, welded, polished and built the backing late for my YOM Washington tag. If you want something bad enough, you make it fit.

 

Nothing outstanding, I polished the outside edge of the plate,

 

Now that's what I had envisioned in my mind as to what I want. I've got one of those cheapo chromed plastic ones shaped like that on my standard sized vintage vehicle tag, I was also thinking of trying to duplicate it to the odd size then trying my luck at polishing it out. Thanks for the pic Billy, you may have just made up my mind for me....

 

Expanding license frames have been around since the 1930s and the perfect solution to odd size plates . It’s crazy how big they get or how small. I have seen them made all the way into the 1950 as a accessories in the GM Chevrolet line.. This Page is out of the 1933 1934 restoration manual and coast to coast made these but have other makers as well

 

Ohhh, that explains what those things are. I recently got some from an estate.

 

I got lucky on my truck, the 41 WA tags fit this frame pretty well. I did have to drill some new holes in the restored YOM plate to bolt it up.

The plate frame is a SoCal knock off "Hollywood" frame. I grew up in the Hollywood Dist. in Portland on 54th and Broadway so I liked the unintended reference.

 

The plate frame on my 442 says
"this is not your father's Oldsmobile" which my son and daughter object to.

While the plate frame on my daily lowrider Silverado says "House of Hardtops" , a tip of the hat to my friend Mike Thelin that sold the truck originally to the PO.

Plate frames tell a story, a detail that should not be overlooked or taken lightly.

 

Any chance of a close up photo then ? Please.......

 

Thanks. Now that is nice, and not over the top. Looks good.

 

Not a frame but I cut a piece of stainless to back up my plate, you could cut one with 1/4 over hang on all4 sides for a frame “look” without bending and fab work.

 

I made this one out of aluminum plate. Cut out with a jigsaw as that was all I had at the time.

 

I made one as limited options for an NZ plate. I probably got carried away...

Sent from my VF-895N using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I am going to run a year of manufacture plate on mine which is a little longer than the current NC plates. This is a surround that Speedway sells. It fit pretty good although I did have to trim the very outer corners a tad but I think it works pretty well.

 

Not really an odd shaped plate, but an odd shaped licence surround. Its a 49 chev surround that I narrowed and shaped for a 46 ford bumper on my 40.