Magnetic license holder...mirrors?

[t walgamuth]

Hello, i am nearing the time when my 39 studebaker truck will need license plate. I am thinking of a magnetic holder a la used car dealers? Comments? Will this work ok? I don't want to run the hideous stock holder and don't wish to drill holes in the lovely panel under the tail gate (as it was when I got the truck)

Also my 65 Bonneville lacks an outside mirror on the right side. The door I park it in is not much larger than the car is wide so I want a mirror over there. I have advertised for a good one on the Pontiac forum and apparently nobody has one for sale. Is there a magnetic outside mirror available?

I also am thinking I might use the license plate magnetic thing to mount an outside mirrror.

[P.C.]

Won't you need rear license plate illumination to pass Indiana vehicle inspection requirements?

[t walgamuth]

Technically yes. But I won't be driving much at night and i would be surprised if I attract negative attention for that.

[INSIDIOUS]

RE: license plate illumination: Would the law require you to have it if it wasn't stock at the time? Or legally required then? Like old cars without seat belts.

[t walgamuth]

I think it was employed in 39...don't know about the law.

[P.C.]

I would consider making a custom magnetic illuminated license plate holder consisting of an aluminum plate serving as the license plate backing with an appropriately powerful magnetic strip epoxied to the back, an aftermarket led license plate light kit which replaces the upper license plate screws, and a small rechargeable battery pack serving as power. You would wire in a waterproof microswitch to turn the lights off and on.

Trophy Truck LED Stainless Steel License Plate Lights | eBay

[Idle]

If you need a right side mirror for your Pontiac check out a bunch called 'Original Parts Group'. They make a lot of repo stuff for GM cars of that era.

They show a right side mirror for GTO's for about $50. You would need to look at it to see if it fits your body style.

I don't know if they had remote adjustable right hand mirrors during that era.

[Idle]

When I was a kid there were lots of cars on the road with only one brake light. I don't remember the year break but I think it was sometime during the late 40's.

But it seems that the stop light/tail light combo was also the license plate light due to a small window in the bottom of the light pod. So this set-up bolted to the bumper and included the license plate bracket, the brake light, the tail light and the license plate light.

This was a bolt on type of thing for cars that either needed a light to pass inspection or for cars that never had a tail light to begin with.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Idle

If you need a right side mirror for your Pontiac check out a bunch called 'Original Parts Group'. They make a lot of repo stuff for GM cars of that era.

They show a right side mirror for GTO's for about $50. You would need to look at it to see if it fits your body style.

I don't know if they had remote adjustable right hand mirrors during that era.

There is a nice repop mirror for the goat, but it's slightly different.

[P.C.]

If you're googling for a mirror, try doing a search under "Catalina", as well as "Bonneville".

[t walgamuth]

Thanks,...good idea.