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Where can I order a front license plate bracket? My Roadster never had one...

Discussion in 'Roadster 2008-2012' started by TOBASH, Aug 11, 2014.

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  1. TOBASH

    TOBASH Supporting Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Rockaway Beach, New York
    My car came from a no front license plate state.

    Where can I pick up a front license plate bracket and all essential mounting hardware?

    Thanks,

    T
     
  2. Chris Lockfort

    Chris Lockfort 2008 Tesla Roadster 1.5 + 2015 Zero SR

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    Location:
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    There are (much) cheaper options, but I have the one from Mower Deck Axle ( Mower Deck Axles,Carrera,Cayman,John Deere,Kubota ).
    Advantage: No holes in your bumper (mounts via the tow hook screw hole), easily take it off and make your car stock again or just for shows and races, etc.
    Disadvantage: Cost, and also any front license plate is frankly not as sexy. But, you know. State laws. Sorry dude.
     
  3. sethr

    sethr CPO Roadster #1089

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    Fairfax, VA
    #3 sethr, Aug 11, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2014
    My Roadster came with an extra plastic plate holder (but no screws). It was just sitting in the trunk. PM me if you want it (with your mailing address) and I'll send it to you. Maybe your service center will mount it for you. It doesn't put holes in the bumper, BTW.
     
  4. NigelM

    NigelM Recovering Member

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    Were there different plate holders for the various nose iterations? OP may need to specify what Roadster version he has.
     
  5. sethr

    sethr CPO Roadster #1089

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    He did, in a different post - we both have 2.5's.
     
  6. NigelM

    NigelM Recovering Member

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    Thanks. You have excellent taste in Roadster color btw. ;-)
     
  7. sethr

    sethr CPO Roadster #1089

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    Just discovered, I DO have the screws for mounting the plate holder. They were hiding from me.
     
  8. TOBASH

    TOBASH Supporting Member

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    Many Thanks to sethr for calling me and sending me a license mount that he had.

    Thanks man!

    T
     
  9. djf

    djf Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2015
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    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I just bought and installed the front license plate holder from Mower Deck Axle for my 2008 Tesla Roadster. http://www.moweraxle.com/licenseplatebrackets/othermakesmodelcars.html

    I give it 5 stars so far:
    *Ordering was easy and fast.
    *Larry provides prompt, courteous, highly professional and personalized contact by email
    *It is a very solid and elegant solution - beautiful design and machining, light-as-a-feather but robust aluminum
    * It literally took less than 5 mins to install due to its ingenious design and crystal clear instructions
    *It looks great (i.e., invisible!) and seems very solid
    *It should be be easy to remove if a tow is ever needed or to "show" the car
    *It think it is worth every penny of its somewhat expensive price ($89.95 plus shipping)
     
  10. strider

    strider Active Member

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    A +1 for Larry's bracket. After being backed into twice my original Steve-designed front plate bracket gave up. I ordered Larry's last week. IIRC it was the same price as Steve's and is well made. Larry shipped fast and installation was smooth, even accounting for my 4.5 and 2 year old helping. Drove to and from work today and it didn't move. Success!
     
  11. rdstr

    rdstr Member

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    Richland,WA
    I thought I'd show you a simple bracket I fabricated for my roadster front plate that fits on the tow hook. Took me about 2 hours to make from some lite gauge steel and a plastic mounting plate I picked up at hardware section at Walmart. Just thought you might like to see if you wanted to construct one yourself... WP_20150315_001.jpg WP_20150315_003.jpg if you have any questions let me know! Ken 2010 Roadster 2.0 #521
     
  12. tvuolo

    tvuolo Supporting Member

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    Scott Kirksey whipped up another batch of his version - based on (or is) Steve's design, I believe. The price was $60/each plus $15 for shipping earlier this year, but you might want to double check that. The bracket comes with the bolt, lock washer, 2 allen keys, and instructions for assembly. Scott prefers PayPal. You can reach him at Scott dot Kirksey at gmail.com.
     
  13. TOBASH

    TOBASH Supporting Member

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    After all this time I finally got around to calling Larry @ Mower Axle dot com

    Great Guy! Easy to talk to and very nice.

    I have my unit being sent. I decided that after a year of running without a properly mounted front plate I want to ensure my car is up to snuff.

    Best,

    T
     
  14. Roadster2010

    Roadster2010 Member

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    Williamsburg, VA
    rdstr, I just bought a 2010 Roadster and live in Virginia, which requires front plates. I'd like to make a bracket like yours. What's the dia/thread size of the tow bolt hole? Thanks!
     
  15. slcasner

    slcasner Active Member

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    An M10 (10mm) bolt fits the tow hook bolt hole.
     
  16. Jodro

    Jodro Member

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    Jun 21, 2020
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    Location:
    Ottawa
    Hi there! I just bought a 2010 Tesla roadster 2.0 a few days ago and I’m looking for a front licence plate bracket. Any suggestions on the best option? Thanks!
     
  17. slcasner

    slcasner Active Member

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    There are several suggestions in this thread. Did any of them appeal to you? I think Scott Kirksey still has some of the ones he made for me.

    I still have the plastic frame that Tesla provided to mount to the bumper with two screws, but I would never want to drill those holes. You could have that one if you want it.
     
  18. X.l.r.8

    X.l.r.8 Supporting Member

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    Toronto/Miami
    I think most of us opted to drop the plate down to the grill area with 2 L brackets.
     
  19. Roadster

    Roadster JdeMO Powered

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    Welcome to occasionally vexing yet often rewarding world of Roadster ownership @Jodro!

    There's another thread on front license plate mounting here. Mower Deck Axle Company makes an excellent aluminum one that a few of us are using including me. Not the cheapest solution available @ $89.95 USD but certainly one of the most sturdy. It appears it's still available on their site here (scroll to the bottom of the page) so perhaps they still make them? Cross posting an image @Curt posted of his car with it mounted to the front for reference:

    [​IMG]
     
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