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Front Buick Reatta license tag


Steve2150

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post-30596-143141833463_thumb.jpgThere were two Reatta tags sent to dealers by Buick. The black tag with silver letters was the 1988 version.

In 1990 Buick issued silver tags with red and blue lettering for all the Buick line. The tag that Bob had reproduced was the 1988 black tag

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Guest steveskyhawk

I like the look of the car without a tag. First thing I do when I get a car (or truck) is take the front tag and bracket off. The requirement to have a front tag is a law that is never enforced in California. Most cars and trucks dont have one here and I have never heard of someone getting a ticket for this. I assume the cops have better things to do. My Select 60 has a NOS bracket in the trunk in case the next owner wants it to be original. I think original is boring in this case.

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Guest HessLakeGuy

In Michigan they did away with front license plates some 25 +/- years or so ago. Nobody ever even thinks about them or misses them. Most have probably forgot we had them.

Not sure how many states require two plates, but the decision was controversial at the time but it has proven to be a good one.

What this has led to is a total lack of front license plate brackets in upulls and scrapyards in this state, except cars that come here from other states may have them--people then attach favorite sport teams/college logo plates on them.

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Agree with Steve on this. MO still requires front plates but I have been hassled only once for not having it on the 88. Just looks so much better without a front plate on the Reatta.

I see many new cars here without, so enforcement is clearly minimal.

KDirk

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Guest Mc_Reatta

With an increasing rash of hit and run accidents taking place now, I wonder if law enforcement in FL may try to bring them back to give witnesses or surveillance cameras an extra shot at IDing the vehicle at least?

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MC-

I think what we really need is the wide adoption of dash cams in passenger vehicles. This is apparently common in Russia due to so many drunk/uninsured/dangerous drivers that a LOT of people have just taken upon themselves to get video so they have the proof to nail the clowns who cause a wreck. There was talk about this after that meteor hit over there recently. The reason there was so much good footage of it incoming was because of all the cars that were video equipped (and smart phones too).

I have been more and more tempted to do this myself, but then the flip side is it could be used against me if I get in a wreck and other parties realize there is video from my vantage point. May also be useful against bent cops, not that I have had an issue with that - so far. A well concealed system would probably prevent it's (mis)use against me, but something to think about.

Missouri has discussed eliminating front plates (mostly for cost savings) for a few years not but never makes it out of committee at the state house. I figure when things get tight enough in the budget, it'll happen. The only ones lobbying against it are LEO and the company that is contracted to make the plates (big surprise there).

KDirk

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About 6 months after I bought the Red I got pulled over by a female state patrol officer. She spent 10-15 minutes talking to me about the car [how she always liked them and how rare they are, etc.] and then said that she was giving me a verbal warning to get a front plate. She said that if I got pulled over again the next officer would then give me a ticket for non compliance. She was nice enough but here in Wi. many cars don't have front plates. Sometimes it's a pain having a rare car that stands out...

BTW all my cars have front plates [my wife's car too].

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Dave,

My experience was similar. I actually think the officer pulled me over just to check out the car, and the missing front plate was the "official" pretense for the stop. He couldn't believe it was an 88, and commented on how he'd never seen one before (younger guy, probably late 20's). I explained to him I purchased it out of state with no front holder installed, and hadn't found a proper factory part yet (which is true) and didn't want to just go drilling holes in the bumper. He was sympathetic to that, gave me a verbal warning and sent me on my way. Been over a year since then, and no further trouble, including my trip up to see you that took me through a lot of small towns that are just itching for a stop.

The other funny thing is that I took it through a car wash the other day. I only go to the automatic car wash so I can get the underside cleaned off well after winter, so usually 1 or 2 times a year. Other than that, it is hand washing all the time. Guy went to get the plate number to enter into the computer (to track the receipt) and had to go around back when he saw there was no front plate. Another guy there (at the drying station) was going on and on about the car, as though it was the nicest thing he'd ever seen. I appreciated the compliments, but thought he was a bit over the top with it.

KDirk

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Guest culus

I am all over with both of mine & dont have the front plate installed. Have never been stopped but then there is always the first time.

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The other reason why all my cars have front license plates is that I don't want any reason to get pulled over. My wife and I are fairly social, by the we go out for meals and visit at other couples houses and we will have a few drinks. The last thing I want is a cop pulling me over for improper registration and "things" start happening. I don't drink to excess, but I also don't want to run the risk either.

To that end I also check headlights/tail lights on a regular basis to be sure everything is in working order.

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Guest Reatta Bob

I had a piece missing in center of grill. Bought two of Bob's plates, zip tied a bracket to the grill and used Bob's plate, looks good

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Guest steveskyhawk

Blocking the grill with a license plate may be ok in a cold climate but I don't even like the original plate bracket. It is 70 degrees here today and it is not even 9 am!

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I used a bra for a while but saw the temps going up so removed it. If Florida ever requires one I think I'll pull the passenger side fog light (useless) and mount a bracket there. Looked ito it once and where there was a front plate law it just said "front" and not "centered".

OTOH when I moved from Texas to Florida, I put the proper Florida tag on the back but left the Texas plate on the front. A Florida policeman got upset about that.

ps last time I looked Florida has over 120 regular and special licence plates not including "bring your own plate". Suspect LEOs just look for the sticker.

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...Missouri has discussed eliminating front plates (mostly for cost savings) for a few years not but never makes it out of committee at the state house. I figure when things get tight enough in the budget, it'll happen. The only ones lobbying against it are LEO and the company that is contracted to make the plates (big surprise there).

Despite the ever-increasing budget woes, California still requires front plates. The State would much rather try to raise taxes and fines, than try to lower costs.

I had my front plate and brackets off for a while, and yes a lot of other cars do the same around here. But I put it back on when I drove to L.A. last year for the Reatta Rally. I figure why give the LEOs one more reason to pull me over during the trip? Been too lazy to pull it back off again.

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My convertible didn't come with one. No reason to put one on, so I didn't. Still have 3 or 4 sitting on the shelf though.

I've seen people here with their California plates on the front, and NC plates on the back. It does look a little funny.

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  • 1 month later...

I took my front one off before getting it restored and I won't put it on again. They can ticket me all they want if they want. In MA they were a bit strict about it for some reason, I got pulled over 3 times for it on a previous car. Here in CA I have never been pulled over yet for it between my two cars which neither now have it. (The other car I have driven for 3 years without it.) However I did once get a ticket for it while getting a parking violation.. (Not from a cop, just a meter patrol, real annoying that they tacked that on. It was kinda expensive too.)

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Lately in MA, your car will not pass inspection (a yearly requirement here) without an affixed front license plate.

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  • 3 weeks later...

State laws vary greatly. In Texas front plates are required. However if you register your old car as a Classic and the state issues you the plate you only get one...... go figure.

A few years back the inspection station could not pass my truck because it had a clear cover over the front plate (easier to clean the bugs off)

They said if I removed it they would pass it. I ask what would happen if I just removed the front plate, they said no problem, they did not check for front plates, but if they are covered, they could not pass the car...... another case of government at work.

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I know this was about the Reatta tag, but, I live near Daves89 and he has seen my front plate. It has eight louvers punched in it, and the center of the mount is removed. This gives me the illusion that air flow isn't as impeded :)

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Guest steveskyhawk

When I restored my Select 60 I refinished the bumpers and put on NOS rub strips. When it came time to put on the front plate bracket I didn't have the heart to drill holes in that new rub strip. Additionally I hate the way a front plate looks on a Reatta and the minor possibility that a front plate impairs the air flow to my new radiator. I decided on the perfect solution. I "installed" an NOS license plate bracket (still in the box) in the trunk where the front plate resides also. So if someone wants to put the front plate on my Select 60 they can buy it from my wife (when I become worm food) and do whatever they like.

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