When were license plate frames invented?

[PocketThunder]

I want to have a set of license plate frames made up that have the original dealers name that sold my Charger on them.  What kinds of license plate frames were around in the late 60's / early 70's? 

My car came from Los Angeles, CA

Paul

[SFRT]

they where chromed pot metal...with '3d' cast letters NOT the shitty engraved ones out there, or the gross plastic insert ones......hard to find decent looking ones with a decent color combo. I looked forever and lately scored this pair in pretty good shape.  in a little while I am going to carefully strip them, buff em up as much as possible and repaint the inserts.

'Fairfield' is not the original dealer, but I really like the pentastars and big 'dodge' and black and white keeps with my cars color scheme.  I got these on ebay for like 25 bucks.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[SFRT]

this shows the pattern on the insert and how the lettering is raised up



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[PocketThunder]

What are the chances you could reproduce a set of those with your mad skills?

[tan top]

  nice set of frames SFRT


been looking for my original selling dealer plate frames  ,  nowell motors arlington tx  !! even rang a couple of wrecking yards in Texas !! no good  there must be collectors that have them !!

[SFRT]

What are the chances you could reproduce a set of those with your mad skills?

zero..I cant do metalcasting like that..you Could try Creative Casting in Tacoma he does our plaques, at least for the inserts.

http://www.creativecastingco.com/

this one on ebay is pretty cool but its not a pair.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=350357031912&Category=33758&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2#ht_1277wt_913

[SFRT]

what I really really want are a pair of ones that say 'Lets Get it On'...they where like novelty frames made back then...I saw a picture of some on the net once, been hunting them for 2 years no luck. I'd pay BIG bucks.

[Neal_J]

I've been looking for a pair of Swift Dodge frames for over a decade. 

[ITSA426]

You know Paul a lot of those were made right here in town at a small company.  I did thousands of them while in high school until I finished tech school and got my A&P.  If you know the selling dealer, my brother still works there and might be able to help you out with info.  They've dumped almost all the old stuff.

Not all dealers used pot metal frames.  Some of the license plate frames were pot metal but a lot of them were just stamped chrome plated steel with a silk screened label applied.  A lot of the dealers just chose a pot metal rectangle that was applied to the decklid with speed clips.  Two way tape technology wasn't very good when your car was new.

We also made some of the logos and badging for the major auto manufacturers and my brother has a lot of the trivia stuff around.  He could show you some really interesting stuff.  We made the Charger sail panel arrows, Barracuda fish, and some of the engine callouts and nameplates.  He has some of the pre-production stuff that was used before CAD CAM manufacturing.  He knows a lot of cool stuff like the correct color for the sail panel emblems.  I have the original paint masks for them.

[SFRT]

did you guys make any non dealer  'novelty' type ones?  with 'cool sayings' on them.I am very very interested in anything along those lines.

[PocketThunder]

Holy Crap check this one out! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-License-Plate-Frame-Van-Nuys-Valley-Dodge-CA-/120526839014?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c0ff59ce6

I dont know the original dealer, but i'll make a call to the guy i bought the car from to see if he is any help.  Otherwise hemigeno helped me narrow down some possibilites so far, these are the Los Angeles area Dodge Dealers from back in that era.  

Anaheim Dodge
Covina Dodge
Downey Dodge
Atlantic Dodge
Crenshaw Dodge
Hollywood Dodge
Valley Dodge  

So Lee if your brother has any Dodge Dealer plate frames from any one of the Los Angeles area Dodge dealers i'd be interested in a set.  thanks
Paul

[SFRT]

the checkered flag motif is cool.

[Old Moparz]

The old metal frames are pretty cool & way better than the badges or stickers they used to put on the car.  

I was just thinking that if you were to attempt to make your own, what may look very close to the old metal ones, would be a sheet of aluminum cut out the same size as the old frame, then beveled at the edges, rounded at the corners, & drilled out for the bolt holes. Cut letters out of the same sheet & affix them in the name locations.  

My friend's Cobra in the other thread I posted pics of has a few parts made in this manner. Not 3D lettering, but I would think it could be done.



Edit.... I just added an enlarged pic of the AC badge on the Cobra, it's cut from aluminum & has been polished.

[John_Kunkel]

I've been looking for a pair of Swift Dodge frames for over a decade. 

I let a nice pair of cast Swift Dodge frames go with my '62 when I sold it, never thought to keep them.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

The Mopar Collector's Guide plate frames are raised pot metal as well....

[PocketThunder]

Damn it doesnt get much closer than this!  thanks Chris...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-DODGE-CHARGER-DEALER-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAMES-/290433519278?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item439f2fceae

[69bronzeT5]

Damn it doesnt get much closer than this!  thanks Chris...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-DODGE-CHARGER-DEALER-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAMES-/290433519278?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item439f2fceae

Even if your car wasn't from that dealer, I'd scoop those up while you can just in case you can't find the actual dealer.

[moparstuart]

Damn it doesnt get much closer than this!  thanks Chris...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-DODGE-CHARGER-DEALER-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAMES-/290433519278?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item439f2fceae

Even if your car wasn't from that dealer, I'd scoop those up while you can just in case you can't find the actual dealer.

   just put a different one on for every show   

[Ponch ®]

Holy Crap check this one out! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-License-Plate-Frame-Van-Nuys-Valley-Dodge-CA-/120526839014?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c0ff59ce6

I dont know the original dealer, but i'll make a call to the guy i bought the car from to see if he is any help.  Otherwise hemigeno helped me narrow down some possibilites so far, these are the Los Angeles area Dodge Dealers from back in that era.  

Anaheim Dodge
Covina Dodge
Downey Dodge
Atlantic Dodge
Crenshaw Dodge
Hollywood Dodge
Valley Dodge  

So Lee if your brother has any Dodge Dealer plate frames from any one of the Los Angeles area Dodge dealers i'd be interested in a set.  thanks
Paul

yeah, talk to the guy you bought it from and see if he knows what dealer it came from. If he knows and it's one that's still around (of the ones you listed, only Anaheim and Downey Dodge - now "Champion Dodge" - are still around, AFAIK), lemme know...I can try to call them and see if they have any stashed away in a box somewhere.

[tan top]

Damn it doesnt get much closer than this!  thanks Chris...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-DODGE-CHARGER-DEALER-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAMES-/290433519278?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item439f2fceae

damn ! paul ! you got to get them Dude  

[PocketThunder]

Damn it doesnt get much closer than this!  thanks Chris...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-DODGE-CHARGER-DEALER-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAMES-/290433519278?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item439f2fceae

damn ! paul ! you got to get them Dude  

I just e-mail the guy!   

[Ponch ®]

Now that I think about it, i still have my Reseda Dodge plate frame on the 74 on the front of my car (can't have one on the back plate because then it won't lift open when I try fuel up). too bad it's not in great shape.

I know the car was originally sold at that dealership, and the plate frame looks old school enough, but I wonder if it was added much later when the car was taken in for service or resold there at some point.

[Nacho-RT74]

The Mopar Collector's Guide plate frames are raised pot metal as well....

thats the same I got on my Carlisle Trip back in 08. Got 3 of Charger and one Dart. Paid with my Credit Card. Never was charged ( saved $60 )

[LeesRT]

Since I've been tinkering with all these carved signs, I should look at doing carved Aluminum plate frames.  I have access to a metal cutting CNC as well.  All these raised letters and texture patterns should be fairly simple to do with the carving software I've been using.  I'll look into doing a sample here in the near future.

[SFRT]

deal is tho..it cant look 'billet' at all. it has to look 'cheesy'...if that makes any sense.

[Neal_J]

I've been looking for a pair of Swift Dodge frames for over a decade. 

I let a nice pair of cast Swift Dodge frames go with my '62 when I sold it, never thought to keep them.

Ouch.  I just cried a little.

Neal