C8 License Plate Mounting Info, SpyPics & Renderings

[John]

We have some preliminary ME license plate mounting info and options, but as of yet it is not based on confirmed facts. Probabilities however would be “yes.”

Here is what we believe the front grille area will look like (unauthorized picture taken within BGA by a contractor during the fall, 2017 during the 13 week shutdown).



That picture eventually lead to this the open grille front rendering consequently rendered by Chazcron.



However despite the complete openness we see in the above picture, there are 30 states that require a front license plate. Hence, here is one option with an MECF plate as rendered by fvs.



The ME’s spy pictures we have shown us a grille center insert. Is this optional? I think it is.



Just like the C7 when GM provided us an optional, easily removable, front plate mounting system, we hope for the same for the C8. Starting with what we saw in the leaked Jalopnik specs, here are some probable C8 options to help accomplish front plate mounting.

1. Option Code “VKE”: Front License Plate Bracket;
2. GM appears to have provided us an alternative LPO, dealer installed, visible carbon fiber version: Option Code “RZ9”: Grille Insert, Visible Carbon Fiber

Noticing that the one is called a “plate bracket” while the other one is called a “grill insert,” is the wording difference due to the fact that the Jalopnik leaked specs are initial ones? Or, in order for a C8 to have a front plate, do we need to both have a grille insert and a license plate bracket? Note: The Jalopnik specs contain a fair amount of typos for other options, so maybe there is just a wrong word or a missing word, and consequently might one only of those options be needed for a front plate required state? We do not know at this time.

Meanwhile, what if one or both of the GM C8 options were to turn out to be not your cup of tea? This was the case for more than few of us C7 owners, who went aftermarket for other LP mounting options. I am already communicating with one high quality company, Sto N Show (a great made-in-America, family business). I have their system on our C7 Z06; it has been exceptionally useful many’s years, yet is instantaneously and easily detachable and re-attachable without any tools.



At the reveal I will try and assist in hopefully getting C8 LP mounting system info and measurements, so their C8 LP mounting system could be ready to go at the time the next gens start to arrive at dealerships early next year, e.g., taking various measurements at the reveal. Specifically, if possible, I want to learn at the reveal the following four things:

1. If the center grille insert we have seen in many spy pictures, not required on all first year C8’s in order to mount a front plate?
2. And if not required, what is the vertical, inside-the-grille, clear-span height — to determine if a 6” tall American License plate would fit inside the grille opening? Could it be tall enough take both the plate and a surrounding decorative LP frame?
3. If a plate would fit height-wise, how many inches might a plate be hopefully recessed backwards within the grille.
4. Lastly, I will take pictures of the below fascia and inside the grille center areas to learn what are potential mounting points for such a product(s) might be.

Meanwhile, separately and across the ocean to Europe, thanks to ZoraC2 for noting/providing us this print screen from an earlier video showing what a C8 European plate mounting option looks like:



One issue not previously addressed is that some states require a front plate to be at a minimum mounting height, a height that precludes mounting the plate system under the front fascia (as is Sto N Sho’s mounting system used for my C7), and for those states, also would probably preclude mounting the U.S.plate within the grille. Yuk, perhaps back to a above grille, nose-location plate mounting system for some US states with such requirements.

This thread is literally just another tiny piece of the hundreds of things we will eventually need to learn about the C8.

[ZORA 69]

Front License plates ruin the look of a car. I am thankful we do not have them in Florida. In New York it is required. My New York car does not have a front license plate and I have never been ticketed. I am not even sure why states even require them.

[John]

Half of my friends run without the required front plate. But with our traveling all over, just not worth the hassle for us. And for “shows” and the like, it takes me two seconds to remove the plate for improved looks. Frankly the C8 is going to look so great, it will still look so even with a front plate. But given a choice, I would not be running with it on.

[455SDguy]

Front License plates ruin the look of a car. I am thankful we do not have them in Florida. In New York it is required. My New York car does not have a front license plate and I have never been ticketed. I am not even sure why states even require them.

In the states that require front license plates, it is because the reflective material that is used on license plates will give the police radar a much longer range to pick up your vehicles speed. The front end of the corvette would be almost like a stealth airplane without the plate at longer range from the police radar. During my career as a police officer in Texas I never wrote somebody a ticket for not having a front license plate except those that gave me such a bad attitude they ask for it. The vast majority of corvette owners do not drive on the street like their hair is on fire but those who do usually end up paying the price down the road. I do agree that front license plates should be done away with because they are ugly.

[Bikerjulio]

Although required in Ontario, I'm thinking of going without it at first and see what happens. Each area is probably different, but the word here in Niagara is that there's no enforcement.

[John]

I was in line at my local Subway a couple of months back, thanking a local Deputy Sheriff in front of me for his keeping keeping us all safe, and he said, “you own that bright yellow Z06 don’t you?” I had never met him before. We talked at length, and as he was leaving with his sandwich in hand he turned back and said, “you’re known for observing speed laws; the two times I have seen your car, you’ve been doing just that.”

Corvettes are so noticeable in a small town with few of them, so running a front plate and staying to the speed limit in towns works well for me.

[Sparro]

In the states that require front license plates, it is because the reflective material that is used on license plates will give the police radar a much longer range to pick up your vehicles speed. The front end of the corvette would be almost like a stealth airplane without the plate at longer range from the police radar. During my career as a police officer in Texas I never wrote somebody a ticket for not having a front license plate except those that gave me such a bad attitude they ask for it. The vast majority of corvette owners do not drive on the street like their hair is on fire but those who do usually end up paying the price down the road. I do agree that front license plates should be done away with because they are ugly.

In my home province of Ontario (one of four left in Canada with front license plate requirement) our new Conservative government is talking about abolishing the front plate requirement but is getting blowback from the police. They are complaining how it will make their job more difficult in identifying cars with one plate. The police are not using the speeding scenario but on the lookout for an abducted child scenario and the no front plate poses a risk to public safety.

[455SDguy]

In my home province of Ontario (one of four left in Canada with front license plate requirement) our new Conservative government is talking about abolishing the front plate requirement but is getting blowback from the police. They are complaining how it will make their job more difficult in identifying cars with one plate. The police are not using the speeding scenario but on the lookout for an abducted child scenario and the no front plate poses a risk to public safety.

The blowback is probably from the firms that supply the automated license plate readers that scan your plate as you pass by the patrol car or stationary camera. These are great tools for catching crooks but I think you can accomplish the same thing reading the rear plate only.

[C8Driving]

I think the C8 front plate will sit completely inside the grill and be recessed back 2 or 3 inches. I can live with that.

[JustOneMore]

On my last two C6s and my ZL1 Camaro I trimmed the plate down to recess within the cavity. Have never had a problem concerning the height or trim, but with the new Illinois Governor requiring Federally licensed gun dealers to get a state license at close to 20 times the cost of the federal license, flying the rainbow flag over the capital, and banning The Confederate Railroad from performing at the state fair, he will probably require state troopers to carry a tape measure to check us.

[tooold2race]

I think if we are to believe anything in the 'leaked' ordering information, the license plate bracket is just that. The 'insert' is a panel much like the C4's that goes in place of a front license plate. Apparently one design is 'standard' and a carbon fiber version is 'optional'.

PS: I've never installed a front license plate on any of my cars since the 1960's and have a great collection of unused ones from over the years..... garage art!

[ltomn]

Most mid engine cars look so much better without a front plate. I try to get away with it but it doesn't last long.

[Lexterrae]

I live in Virginia and got ticketed for not having a front plate on. Installed it and took pictures and the judge let me off. This was after 3 years of not having one on. Guess I had a pretty good run? I think I’ll try it again with my C8.

[John]

I really like my plate as it, IMO, it a catchiness to my car, e.g., WRP SPD. If I can get it totally within the front grille and recessed, I will probably install it the day my temp tags are done.

[meyerweb]

In the states that require front license plates, it is because the reflective material that is used on license plates will give the police radar a much longer range to pick up your vehicles speed. The front end of the corvette would be almost like a stealth airplane without the plate at longer range from the police radar.

In addition, many police departments are now running cars equipped with cameras that read license plates and computer systems that do automatic, real time lookups on every plate scanned. A front plate increases the opportunities for the police to do those scans as cars drive by in the opposite direction.