I just got a ticket yesterday for no front plate. I've had the plate in the car since i bought it, but there's no place to attach it in front. Did the 2nd gens come stock with any kind of bracket for a front license plate? If not, any suggestions on how/where to attach a front plate? I have an 88 se if that makes any difference.

 

fc's came with an ugly mounting bracket for the front plate. It goes just above the grill and just doesn't look good there. i took mine off and still haven't gotten in trouble for it. check ebay for one, or go to the 2nd gen section in the for sale/wanted to buy section on the forum.
good luck,
rotorhead_izzy

 

same story I have original bracket but it sticks up over hood.I keep the plate in car also but haven,t been pulled over for THAT yet

 

Zip tie it to the grill.

 

i have one if you want it, just pay shiping.... i took mine fliped it up side down and that worked looked beter (look at avitar) but eventuly took it off so if you want it PM me

 

can't you just put it on your dash?

 

Well front plates aren't required everywhere, so that could be why some don't get pulled over for it. Just get a stock one from a junkyard, or post a WTB ad in the classified section.

 

That's not legal everywhere.

 

IIRC their cheap from the dealership.

 

actually just got a ticket in the last two weeks for not having one from the front also... you can order one from Mazdatrix...

http://mazdatrix.com/n-3.htm

Or you can go to the dealer, but they might not always have it in stock...

I agree it looks butt ugly how they look mounted in the front. i tried flipping it around but it would then block the air flow to my radiator.

 

Well i decided to just go ahead an make my own bracket. Just bent a couple 1" wide strips of steel and drilled some holes in it... looks like **** (not the brackets, but having the plate where it's supposed to be) Thanks for all the input guys...

 

I had the same problem. $30 at any Mazda dealer. Takes 2 days for them to order it. You'll also need 4 bolts which you can find at any hardware store for ~$0.10 each. It is just a simple metal bracket painted black, nothing special.

 

Go to http://www.cris.com/~Asam/index.html then click on the "And finally" link.

Look carefully at the fourth picture from the top. You'll see the edge of a license plate. I went to a salvage yard and found a license plate holder from a '72 Oldsmobile. In the late 60s and early 70s, the GM cars had their plates mounted on springs, so the owner could pull the plate down to get to the gas tank filler. That holder can be used as it has been on my car.

There is a plastic catch that was used on a 70s-era Toyota Tercel back windows that will hold the plate in the "up" position to keep it out of your airflow. If a cop stops you, look confused, walk around to the front of the car, pull the plate loose from the catch (the spring will hold it in the vertical postion), then look at the cop and say, "I must have hit a bird or something." Do NOT grin.

 

That's hilarious....I love it!

 

And it has actually worked as advertised. The cop even apologized for stopping me.

 

genius.

 

in japan they sell plates that fold back when going a certain speed as well. i haven't been able to find them yet.

 

You could just pop down to a hardware store and buy some regular hinges and just use them. When you drive it blows up, when you stop it comes down.

 

Probably. Without having tested it, though, I would suspect that the plate would "flap" in the breeze which could cause some damage to the paint, as well as unwanted noise. Try it, and let us know. Your solution would be cheaper than mine.

 

I agree with the flapping thing, but when you are at speed it would should stay up. The damamge to paint would also depend on where you mount it as well. To reduce or remove any excessive apply grease or some other form of lubricant.

I'd say cut out the grill bit in the front bar and mount the hinges to the reo (front bar support, intrusion bar, whatever you want to call it) and the plate should fold into the opening and should not touch any paint, depending on the size of the plate. I havent done it as my current license plate is too big to clear the opening in the front bar, but when i get a new plate I'll give it a go.

 

Some guy around here has one of those. It works perfectly and is stable as a rock at low speed.