Picked up my restored license plate.

A few years ago, I found a kind of rare Arkansas 1946 "1/2 ton truck " license plate - just what I needed for Rusty the '46.
I figured it couldn't be too hard to redo. Ha! A bout with masking tape, paint, and me revealed that I can't do that work. It looked atrocious. As my daughter says- it was a hot mess. I hung it on the ship wall, out of sight, and ignored it.
Until this June, when I met Lee Lawson at the Petit Jean Swap Meet. He does amazing restoration of plates, and very reasonable too. I got the call to pick up my plate today. It is a work of art! In fact, it looks way too nice to bolt on my dirt road runnin' pick 'em up.....
If any of you need plates restored Lee's the guy!

 

I have been told that if you paint the entire plate with the letter colors then paint over with the plate cover and then just buff the raised letters until the plate color is gone and the letter color is showing. Haven't tried it but do plan on it in the future.

 

Need plate done. Contact info for Lee?

 

Turned out great. HRP

 

Looks very nice !!

 

That's better than new...!

 

yep, there are ways to do it yourself, and some look pretty good - others not so much. having someone that truly knows how to do it the right way makes a big difference. but, the cost sure can be a shock to the wallet.

 

Nice work for sure.

 

leelawson1374@att.net and cell 501-628-4535
I think he told me to figure on 6 weeks or so turn around, although mine actually took about three weeks.
And he said mine was in good shape other than the terrible paint- which I did not tell him I was guilty of applying. Cost? $50.

 

I did an amateur job on this 1940 Md. plate. Numbers should have been green though.

 

I thought it turned out "decent" considering this is what it looked like before.

 

he did a wonderful job! and for 50! damn

 

Looks nice. But check with your DMV first. I've heard they will not accept a restored or repainted license plate in many states.
Of course I was told the earth is round too!

 

Red Action had an article back in the late '70s about doing this yourself. Banging out dents and creases is just part of the challenge. Painting the numbers/lettering color first, then the background color, then slowly, carefully wet-sanding the lettering and finally clear-coating is the ticket, but for $50 and the results you've shown, I'd send 'em to Lee in a heartbeat. That plate is perfect!

 

You may be right. But- I probably have an "in" here in Arkansas. I'm a cop at the State Capitol and know most of the folks higher up in the agency that deals with that- So if there was a problem, I might could get it taken care of with time.
Having said that, I'm truthfully too afraid to run them now. If someone liberated them from my truck while it was in a parking lot, (I drive it regularly) I'd never find another set. Since 2008, I've known of exactly two plates of the Arkansas 1/2 ton truck plates for '46- this one I bought, and Lee has another in his personal collection.
They'll probably be displayed on the shop wall and at the occasional show until I someday restore a '46 to more than driver status.

 

This is the plate that Lee did for me late last year. I found this plate in the back of a 1958 Chevrolet. I stripped it in Vinegar and Lee restored it.

 

Here's mine

 

Your truck plate looks great !

 

They do make special fasteners that require specific tools to undo if you really wanted to use them. I've seen many in Europe that are fastened with rivets-they'd have to be drilled out to remove.

 

They sell tamper proof fasteners at Fastenal or other similar fastener supply stores. They are easily installed and take special tools to remove them.

 

.....................................Just be careful they don't steal the whole truck then!

 

Hidden kill switch

 

How would the average DMV bureaucrat know the difference?

 

State of Nebraska requires that a license plate be, either prime condition or restored before they will allow it to be used.

 

Arkansas is not that "Tight Assed" about re-using plates that have been out of circulation. They do need to be in decent condition.

 

five-oh I didn't mean to make you worry. Do as others wrote, get some tamper proof bolts and enjoy your plates. Sadly I have special door locks and other things I am afraid to use now too.
Even the eagle radiator cap for my 33 Chevy and Model T winged motometer was left on my desk after awhile when I heard of them being stolen.
Back when those cars were new you could leave your bill fold and tools on the seat all night!

 

We have a HAMB member here in Texas that does plates. Jack Brewer. Aka Katfish.

 

Bringing up this old post. Does Arkansas allow you to re-use the original style plate? I need to find one of these for my 46 Ford truck.

 

Rather than bring back up this old thread check with the Arkansas DMV Web Site. You searched to find this old thread so you should be able to find out for yourself from the proper authority.

 

They don't.