Technical Anyone have pictures of homebuilt flip up/down license plates?

i did a search and came up with a bunch of older threads that used vacuum, gm cars with the gas filler behind the plate and store bought stuff
I’m putting a hitch on the new build and would like ideas for something that flips out of the way. Being a carpenter I thought about spring loaded door hinges. Show me what you got.

 

I live in southern Indiana and convenient access across the Ohio River to northern Kentucky (i.e., Louisville) now involves a toll. Have thought for some time a flip away license plate would be a neat regional accessory.

 

I believe you want to contact a gentleman that goes by "Q." He works at MI-6.

 

Oh they sell um, but don't get caught! Lol

 

If you plan to tow a trailer on the road you still have to have the plate on the vehicle visibly displayed.
Are you just trying to come up with a tidy way to hide the hitch?

 

Late 70's-90's big GM cars had flip plates factory-made where you would pull it down to fill the tank. We used them on full-size lowered chevy trucks all the time when putting in a roll pan for the rear bumper to gain access to the trailer hitch.

 

You might look around and see if a 1952-54 Ford station wagon tag bracket would do the job. HRP

 

OOOOOH, I need one like that for my OT "TLC" for when I haul with the gate down. Thanks Danny...Mitch

 

The Ford wagon bracket made it's way onto early Broncos. It is being re-produced.

This one is $32
https://www.cjponyparts.com/license...MImr_v9ofw_QIVCfTjBx1aYwCjEAQYAiABEgJd0fD_BwE
Dennis Carpenter and a few Bronco parts houses have them. Mike

 

'68-'72 GM A bodies. Chevelle, Skylark, Cutl***, Lemans, etc.

 

I always used late 60's GM fold down tag brackets like off of a Chevelle or something on pickups with roll pans and a hitch as mentioned above. I used that for years and have been across multiple states with the tag "sort of" visible since it was spring loaded and angled down although against the bottom of the hitch when it was in.

Edit...a quick google search says they reproduce these too now...

 

Yes. I want to flip it up so it would be visible over the hitch.

 

I know the gm fold down tag bracket have been done but as the ***le says homemade. I don’t want to order something and my local salvage yard doesn’t have any cars like that.

 

I thought so. I believe some of the other reprobates were ***uming something for a stealthy, getaway car.
How about a pair of parallel links on each side to swing the plate up vertically to reveal the hitch receiver? Maybe add rubber snubbers on the plate back to protect the trunk paint.

 

You'll need this too.

 

There is a you tube video of a guy that used a cabinet hinge to mount the tag on a motorcycle, it flips up and down.

This is the link, it's motorcycle so I won't post the video. HRP

 

Thanks man.

 

I bought a manual one years ago (I know you'd rather make it) and the same company made one that was automatically activated (vacuum? electric?) when you started the car. Can't remember the mfg, sorry. I'd guess they might still be made... try Yogi's? I rarely use my manual one, and nearly 99 percent of the time forget to flip it down when heading for home. It's a wonder I haven't gotten a ticket for it, yet. It only holds one plate. So either your legal plate shows, or nothing at all.

 

'Thunder Road'

 

The third gen Camaro/Firebird (82-92?)have a flip down plate holder. More likely to find one of those in a junkyard than a 60s GM A-body.

 

Hideaway plates are illegal in some states and in some cities especially Portland Oregon where a number of guys with high end enthusiast cars have gotten tickets for plates that retract when the car is parked on a public street or lot where the city controls the parking.

For towing only what I am planning on with my 48 is build a receiver into the new rear crossmember that normally will hold the fabbed up bracket for my plate that is held in with the same pin that holds the hitch. Then have a raised receiver on the hitch to hold the plate when and only when I am towing.
The little trailer I plan to tow doesn't have a lot of weight anyhow.

 

Why not just mount the license plate on a bracket made to slide into the hitch receiver? Then you can pull it off to install your receiver, and put it back on to hide the receiver when not towing?

 

Because they wiggle around and I don’t want to have to pull the plate and store it in the trunk.

 

Shouldn't wiggle if the insert into the hitch fits well. And if you're pulling a trailer the plate can go in it.
If it flips down, it better be low enough the trailer tongue doesn't contact it and damage it.

 

Got it figured out, it’s going to flip up.Not going to put the plate in the receiver.

 

Around here you would get a ticket. It's illegal not to have a tag visible anytime your on the road.

A couple years ago had a buddy do this on a 72 chevy shortbed with a rolled pan, after about his 3rd outing with a trailer on it he got nailed and got fined for it not being visible. Don't know what it cost but he didn't do it anymore.

.

 

I made my own in 1960, the rear of my Full Custom Henry J ,was fully rolled and so I made a box to hole the tag and light,with a clear plastic cover< had some bend to match the roll of body and it all sate just inside the body. Would then fold back and uncover the gas cap. I did a drawing,not great but should get the how I did it. The weight of the box held it in place,and when open was p***ed center so again the weight held it open.

 

It's easy enough to fix them so they don't wiggle. As far as the plate being folded down, tucked away in the trunk or moved so it is so visible that may good and well depend on the requirements and at***udes of law enforcement in the states you travel in. My little trailer doesn't block much of the view of the back of the truck from anyone running along in the next lane and even with the trailer axle. In fact when it is done it may draw too much attention.

 

Portland cops...I got tagged for speeding in my 69 SS/rs 396 Camaro on I-5. The Jr peace officer on the US tax dollar purchased Japanese crotch rocket didn't know what make or model the car was. A 69 Camaro? Snowflake.

Speaking of 69 Camaros they have spring loaded rear plate holders that I use to swing my plates down in the front of the dune buggy and my Silverado to install my winch. They are cheap and they work.

In the back I would make one that the plate slides down (or up) rather than hinge, to expose the mount so you remain legal. Easy to build with a couple SS drawer hinges and use magnets to hold it in the upright position.