I have a 1988 C4 imported from the US that I unfortunately reversed into and damaged the front acrylic license plate (we call them 'number plates' here DownUnder). I managed to effect a repair but I'm keen to get a pristine replacement. The plate (I think they're called 'fillers'?) has the red California logo.

I've done Googling and can't locate a place that has the C4 plate and does the custom printing. Needless to say, our NZ companies stock only the bog standard metal plates (which I have, for legal purposes) that a) look crappy on the C4, and b) lack the nice red California logo.  Now the question...does anyone know where I can get such a replacement? The closest I can get is Build a Sign, where I can get aluminium plates that have all the right features but I don't think they will fit the C4 front.

Here in New Zealand a front plate with the correct registration is mandatory btw. We can have non-standard plates as long as they have the legal registration, just as I guess you have in some States.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Ray, I'm afraid your description isn't clear.   I'm in California, but I do not know anything about a red California acrylic number plate.   The standard front "filler" plate is curved to blend with the bumper shape, is painted the same as the body color, and has the Corvette name molded into this removeable piece.   Can you post a picture of your broken plate?

Welcome to the Forum!



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This is the factory front cover. 

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks, Hot Rod.

No I haven't been particularly clear. The plate is car colour, but the word 'California' is in red.

I've tried to attach a photo of the front and rear plates. The front plate is the same design as the factory one - which I have - that has 'Corvette' embossed on it and is contoured. The rego seems to be set into the plate - there is no discernible edge to the text, so it seems to be some sort of incorporated print if that's possible. The rear plate is obviously a special of some sort but is metal and agrees with what seem to be your more or less standard US plates. )And very pretty it is too!)

The car was imported from California in 2010 I think. To conform to New Zealand registration laws it has been registered here with the same number as I mentioned previously.

















|UPDATED|2/17/2018 2:21:09 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Yeah, I have a filler plate with 'Corvette' embossed in it. Took me a while to figure out how to get the pics up


|UPDATED|2/17/2018 2:23:05 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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The rear metal plate is the real/legal license plate as required by law. 

I think what you have on the front is a clear acrylic cover that was painted from the inside to look like the Cali plate. It was/is probably a one-off, possibly done by the previous owner. As an example...here is an RC car body I painted for a friend. The body is clear....the paint is applied from the backside....it keeps the paint from getting scratched up. 

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Interesting concept! You could well be right as the writing doesn't seem to be able to be scratched from the outside. Looks like I might just have to put up with my cracked plate 

I don't know if we have anywhere in NZ that can duplicate these things -  unless I can get one 3D printed, which may be a possibility I can look into.

On an aside, I've had the '88 Corvette a year now and am delighted with it. Drives beautifully, handles well and looks great. Big hit with my son as well, who said "It puts the fun back into driving".


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Do you have any idea where the dupes are produced? California is a fair distance from me but I might be able to have one made up and sent here in NZ. Sourcing is the hard part!

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You rear plate is a genuine "personalized" license plate, available at extra cost to California residents, plus an additional annual renewal fee from the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV).   Since it is a metal plate, have you considered making a plastic duplicate, by placing the plate (upside down) in an oven with a polycarbonate plastic sheet on top of it.   Bake it at a temperature high enough to let the plastic sheet soften and conform to the metal plate.   Let it cool, and you have a duplicate that can be painted on the back side.   That should be even more accurate than your broken front plate!   You might try photographing your rear plate, then printing it at the right size to replicate the California script!   The script on your existing front plate is pretty close!   The front plate would not have the month and year stickers.   The Sesquicentenial text can be deleted, too (optional).

That's an interesting story about your ability to keep the California plates on the car!



|UPDATED|2/22/2018 2:43:23 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Thanks, Hot Rod. That's a good suggestion that I'll look into. As you say, getting a mould from the rear plate would provide a base for painting in the rego. You have correctly noticed the slight variation in the 'California' script...well observed! Our Kiwi vanity plates are plain vanilla b/w, just like the standard ones. Apart from the damaged front plate, the car is in extremely tidy condition with no paint blemishes at all. I need to do a few cosmetic things on the interior (like damage to trim where screws have been overtightened, dang it!). And of course the famous driver window rattle needs a fix - these things are easy enough to get here as we have plenty of support for Corvettes.


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