Rear License Plate Bracket?

[dtuttle123]

Is there a rear US license plate bracket for the W113 - or is the plate just secured to the body?  If there is one - who would be a good source?

[Jonny B]

On my early 250 SL (US) there is no rear license plate bracket. There are two mounting holes to secure the top of the license plate to the body.

[dtuttle123]

Thanks Jonny - that's what I have also (an early 250SL) - and no bracket.

[thelews]

Best shots I have.

[Mike Hughes]

My 1966 230SL does have a rear license plate bracket that effectively allows the plate to "float" approximately 1/2 inch above the painted surface of the body, thus preventing possible paint damage from the edges of the license plate or license plate frame.  It is a very simple straight bracket with elongated slots in the raised "wings" at either end for the plate attachment hardware.  One cannot now say if it came with the car since the original owner has now passed on, but it was there when I first saw the car while still in the first owner's care.  I'll remove the rear plate and take a picture of it for you in the next day or so.

[hauser]

On my car I only have two holes to secure the license plate.  I didn't want it to make contact with the plate so I used spacers for the bolts and stick on rubber bumpers to the back of the lower portion of the frame. 

[dtuttle123]

Thanks Fernando - that's what I'll probably do also - add some spacers, and glue on bumbers to the bottom of the plate.  By the way, Paul at Star is installing the Euro headlights as we speak - haven't seen them yet. 

[hauser]

Doug, you might be able to find self adhesive silicone bumpers at an auto parts store.

[thelews]

Doug, you might be able to find self adhesive silicone bumpers at an auto parts store.

You can find them at any big or small box hardware store for placing on the back of pictures for wall hanging.

[badali]

This is what I have to mount the plate to.  I need to get a plate holder that will fit the 2 factory holes.

[Mike Hughes]

Your car must be a Euro or non-North America export model.  The holes are much farther apart than would be required for U.S. or Canadian plates.  You could go one of two ways:  Make up a custom bracket to suit your U.S. plate.  Or buy a wide european backing plate, mount it with a pair of 1/4" spacers behind, center your U.S. plate on it and find a pair of attractive car club badges to mount on the backing plate flanking the license plate.  I did this on another sports car I own and it works vary well.

[badali]

I like the badge idea.  I may have a few on some old euro licence plates.  I may order a factory plate holder to mount the plate.

[hauser]

I remember when you could buy a frame with 'wings' to attach the badges.  I'd like to get one of those for my rear plate.

[dtuttle123]

I just picked up a really cool badge - and I like the idea of a holder with 'wings' to attached the badge - anyone out there have a photo of such a thing?

[hauser]

It's been over twenty years since I have seen one of those.  I think it was available through Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories.  They are no longer in business and I miss that store.

[Mike Hughes]

Here's a place you might know if you have any British cars:  Moss Motors!

The Euro (U.K.) backing plate I use is item #59 in the link below:
http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29049

The backing plate with "wings" is item #46 and the Euro (U.K.) backing plate is item #47 in the link below:
http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29052

The "wings" are actually for mounting rear license plate lamps on a late model "rubber bumper" M.G. Midget or MGB.

I have no financial interest in Moss Motors (other than they seem to be on the receiving end of a lot of my money from time to time keeping five M.G.s and a Jaguar on the road!).

[Mike Hughes]

...and here is the promised picture of the rear bracket on my 1966 230SL that I described in an earlier post:

[dtuttle123]

Thanks Mike!

[Bob G]

The W113 never came with a license plate rear holder. In fact they had to drill thee two holes at the dealer to mount your license plate with regular n bolts and nut from behine the two small access plates in the trunk. I purchased a plate holder that   is more refined ,but I cannot remember who I purchase it from it work s off the slits in the front bumper and would work wonderfull in the rear with out doing any damage to the car.

Bob Geco

[Mike Hughes]

I had often wondered about that, because I have seen many different brackets on these cars, as well as none at all!  Still, I am aware that my car's delivering dealer was one of the original M-B dealers set up in the 1950's, many of which were Studebaker Packard dealers as this one was.  Studebaker was still delivering cars as late as 1966, although they all came from Canada after South Bend was shuttered.  It wouldn't surprise me in the least to discover that my rear license plate bracket was a Studebaker piece straight from that dealer's parts department.

[john.mancini]

I have seen a facory rear bracket on a number of 107's. I have one and it fits well on my 69 280SL without any modifications. Maybe these can still be ordered.
John

[dtuttle123]

(correction: this is the front --> not rear )

To John's suggestion - here is a photo of a 107 rear license plate bracket.  I think this might work.  The mounting holes are in fact aligned with the US license plate holes, and that's what I would need for my car.