55/56 Ford front bumper license plate holder

[steve fritz]

In 55/56 passenger car , did Ford have a bracket or holder for the front bumper to fix the front license plate? Or did the license plate bolt directly to the bumper ?
If so . is the bracket being reproduced by anybody ?

[dmsfrr]

I glanced at a few '55 full-sized car photos online and they seemed to have slots in the center of the bumper for directly mounting a license plate. The holes were slotted to allow for different width license plates.
I have an original '55 plate for my '55 Bird and it's almost 2 inches wider than a current 'standard' size plate. The '55 plate mounting hardware at the rear was usually adjustable for a larger size also.

[mercman from oz]

Very nice 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner. I believe that only slots were provided, as per photo posted by dmsfrr.

[paul2748]

54's had no front license plate bracket. Bolted direct to the bumper. Since the bumper comes to a point in the middle, the plate bends. I put some small spacers behind the plat to keep it straight

[evintho]

My '54 has a front license plate bracket. The bumper also has slots much like the '55/'56 bumpers. The license plate bracket attaches via those slots.

[54vicky]

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as Paul said 54 did not have a front license plate bracket.because of the design (point) you must space the sides of plate (holder)out.not one of the better designs.

[evintho]

Not disputing a senior member, just curious as to what you guys think. That bracket was behind my front license plate the day I bought a mostly original car. Aftermarket piece, maybe?

[54vicky]

in short it is aftermarket.no biggy I made one for mine as bent plate did not do it for me and I sure others did (do) same.

[Herman Munster]

I'd like to find a mount like evintho's. I've been looking for years with no luck. I have some perfect vintage plates but I've never mounted the front one. I just don't want to damage a 65 year old license plate.

[paul2748]

If your bumper comes to a point like the 54's did, then spacers between the plate and the bumper cures the bent plate problem

Originally Posted by Herman Munster

I'd like to find a mount like evintho's. I've been looking for years with no luck. I have some perfect vintage plates but I've never mounted the front one. I just don't want to damage a 65 year old license plate.

[miker98038]

I've usually got some 1/8 or 3/16" inch aluminum plate around, something hard that won't bend. I've made a lot of backing plates for license plates by tracing the frame onto the aluminum plate and cutting it off (band saw, jig saw, belt sander to round the corners). Then any bracket will mount the aluminum plate to the bumper, and the frame and license plate mounts to it. Let's me set the height as I want it. It's a little work, but I keep cars for a long time. It doesn't stop chips, but stops larger debris and small impacts from bending the whole works.

I've made spacers out of oak and painted them. Wish I had a mill, but who doesn't.

[Ole Don]

I used round rubber thingies about 5/8 thick. I have no idea what they were meant for, Used the same ones for the 21 years I owned the 55.

[Herman Munster]

Originally Posted by paul2748

If your bumper comes to a point like the 54's did, then spacers between the plate and the bumper cures the bent plate problem

I've thought about rubber spacers, sort of like rubber bushings but they needed to be thicker that anything that thick laying around.

[Stiggy]

`59's had them on the front bumper ~ here's a photo of one. Would they fit on a `55 -`56?

[Herman Munster]

I don't think it would work unless the angled parts were bent a bit more. I was actually thinking the front license bracket for a Continental MKII might work. There seems to be repops available.

[paul2748]

I used nylon spacers that I got a the hardware store. Angled them a bit to closer match the bumper.

Originally Posted by Herman Munster

I've thought about rubber spacers, sort of like rubber bushings but they needed to be thicker that anything that thick laying around.

[Jwawhite]

My Front Plate was mounted directly....

[mercman from oz]

Close-up photo of the Slotted Holes in the front Bumper of the 1956 Fords. It does not appear that there was an extra Bracket, or else the Holes would not have been Slotted?

[GLAmes]

Reviving an old thread.

Using the picture from post 15 I made one for a lot less than what the repops are selling for.

First the pattern for the frame. I cut it from a piece of scrap heavy gauge steel left over from floor pan replacement. A couple of bends using a pair of pliers, a propane torch and a vice. Installed the front and rear bolts, did a couple of spot welds to hold them in place. Added a stainless frame from O'Reilly. Works for me.

[KULTULZ]

Using the picture from post 15 I made one for a lot less than what the repops are selling for.

You realize you just messed up?

Everybody is going to beat your door wanting you to make them one ...