Me too, I wouldn't have wanted any holes in my front bumper!!!!

 

I think it's cool but I'd never put one on my car.


I look at it this way, besides the fact there's no way I'd put a plate on the front, I'm not going to get pulled over for not having a front plate. I'm going to get pulled over for doing 86 in a 65, and if they happen to notice the missing plate, it gives them an alternate ticket to write and quite possibly they won't write the speeding. You'd be amazed how many time I've gotten seat belt tickets but not the speeding.


I was coming back from Baltimore on I95 2 weeks ago, in the Express lanes, I see the motorcycle cop under an overpass, and I see him start to pull the bike up off the kickstand. I knew I was going too fast so after I went by and saw him pull out I pulled right over and as close to the concrete barrier as I felt comfortable without scratching the mirror. "License and registration, not the insurance please", I hand it to him and ask "How fast was I going?" - "86 in a 65" - "Ouch, but, yea, that's about right, I don't even feel it in this thing. This is the first time I've been pulled over in this car, and I've had it almost a year!"


He goes back to the bike, and it's longer than usual but finally comes walking back and as he hands me the paper - "This is a warning [as my eyes light up in disbelief], this is the express lane, not the Autobahn" - "You're a prince, I can't thank you enough sir, and I will keep it down, I promise!" - "You pulled right over and didn't give me any BS" [the worst thing you can say is "I wasn't speeding!] then "We don't get many Astons around here. You get this in Newport Beach?" [original dealer plate surround] - "Why no, that's where James Bond got the car" and I opened the door so he could see the signed sill plates - "Oh I've got to get a picture of that!" as he produces his phone already on camera in a split second. - "You don't have any machine guns in there I should know about?" - "Why no officer, none that I can tell you about!" as I wink. He walked away laughing.


30 miles down the road, just driving with the flow of traffic now, I've learned my lesson, today, but out of nowhere [because I'm very aware of all my surroundings when driving and this was out of nowhere] I've got a black Explorer filling my rear view. Is that an unmarked??? Sure looks like an unmarked, as he creeps closer and closer, now he's flat on my bumper! Just as fast, brakes hard, pulls left and into one of the big U Turn spots, and yes, the most plain Jane unmarked Explorer I've ever seen!


My bet, the first cop got on the radio and said "I just pulled over James Bonds Aston, he's heading North on 95", and another tracked me down just to have a look!

 

This is awesome! Definitely getting one of these. I live in NY and NJ, both of which require a front plate. Took mine off recently after replacing the grille, but this seems like a good solution.

Were you able to connect the wires to the car in a relatively neat/reversible way?

 

I got a "No front plate displayed" ticket in Washington, DC a few years ago. My car is has Virginia plates, but the incredibly efficient meter maids know which states should and should not display a front plate. When I got back home, I wrote a profane message on the ticket and mailed it in. Six weeks later, now there is a late fee attached. I sent that in with a similar message. Eventually I got sent to collections and that eventually dropped off my report. Years ago while actually living in DC, I got a "No plate displayed" ticket. My car was parked on the street with the front bumper very close to the car ahead, but the police where able to see at 2:30 AM that I did not have a front plate. This city cannot find its *** with a funnel, but the parking enforcement department runs like a f#&*%ing Swiss watch...

 

yes, indeed! I simply ran the power feed wire to the battery terminal in the engine bay. I found a nut in my bucket of miscellaneous hardware that threaded onto the battery post, and voila!



The the wire is small enough that I can close the cover of the jump terminal. Pretty clean...I probably can hide the wire a little better so it's not visible at all from the top side of the engine bay:

 

All I needed to hear. Ordered!

 

Nice job Dan!
Glad I inspired you and thanks for using one of my better ideas lol.
I get compliments all the time on it especially from kids.
Generally it's retracted but the remote has come in handy while driving a few times.
I bought an extra one for parts thinking it would be scrapping the ground but of course doesn't in this location.
Only maintenance has been stone chips on the front of the black rail...

Cheers, Ryan

 

Thanks Ryan and everyone for the comments!

I got my AMR lightweight grille from Redpants mounted up. I think it creates a sportier look for the front end. And of course, since I have the retractable plate, I opted for the ROW version of the grille = no plate mount holes!

 

Love the license plate and your garage!!!

Do you have some pics of your garage?

 

Looks great. Any idea if it functions out and back in without issue at highway speeds? I wonder if wind resistance becomes an issue as it seems a bit flimsy when operating.