'63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

[John D.]

Got my judging sheets from Marlborough & was pleased for the most part. I have a question for your old guru's though. This will be the first of many I am sure.
63, etc. license plate frames. I got dinged on both front and rear frames because the judge said they were not typical. He explained to me what was not typical about them but in the confusion I did not clearly understand him.
I am well aware of the rivet detail so let's not dwell on that. I know that my frames do NOT have SS rivets. Bob G said to look at the side view of the frame. I did and he said mine have offsets and should not. He said he expected them to be straight. Hard to explain but looking at a side view I see my frames have two offsets or indentations in them. I have had this frames for at least 25 to 30 years. Never saw a repro as I typically don't judge exterior but that's going to change for sure. Your imput please. (on the car this would be hard to see.)

[Michael H.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Betcha Jorjorian can post a pic of a real one.

[John D.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Mikey, Today I went over my dings for the exterior from the Boston show with RJ and we discussed this license plate frame bit that your buddy dinged me on. I wish I had the brains and a camera so I could post a pic of my frame. Looking at it from the side view -(have one in front of screen) it has an identation on the top and the bottom and its straight inbetween. Guess descrip no better than my orig question. RJ sleeping by now as he is early riser so no pic tonight. I bet a repro is made correctly except for the rivets don't you know. I would prefer though to use a GM SR part even though a repro may be more accurate. I know the rules though and doing the above results in little dings. Meanwhile Mikey guess whose idea it ws to put this qt up for discussion?

[Robert Jorjorian]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Nah he (me)is not smart enough to post pictures like you do. I'm sure other guys can do that for JD's learning lesson of the day.
I told him the answer to his shock question but it wasn't the one he wanted to hear.
Maybe next time Bob Gregory talks on why JD got dinged he will listen more attentively.

[John D.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Hey RJ, Cheep chot. White flag could be down. When Bob Gregory was explaining to me what the difference was between the SR and real deal he pointed to the offsets in my frame and said it should be straight with no offsets. Too bad you don't have any real ones to take a pic of though and then put the pic up...

[Robert Jorjorian]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

JD, that frame remained the same part number from 63 up through the seventies when GM stopped giving them away in new Corvettes.
I beleive they are still serviced through GM parts today, BUT the frame has gone through many changes. I'd say your chances of finding a 1963 NOS one (made in 63) is close to zero.
You will be much more likely to find a used 63 one to restore but those are not common either.

[John D.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Robert, Thanks for your reply on the license plate frames. I am amazed that in all these years of my judging 63-64's that I have not heard this discussed before either at a show or on this board. All I have ever heard is about the rivets and the fact that the repros have other "issues" besides rivets. I can see this is another "atwood" part that few pay attention to. Bob Gregory is a sharp old cookie and I was lucky to have done as well as I did with him and Rick judging because he didn't miss anything. I appreciate your kind answer sir and now would certainly appreciate a nice big photo of the "real deal". Michael Hanson said you were the one to do it as he said he knew you were into this rare part.
Last night I searched quite late for an old old frame but all I found were the GM replacements. Still don't know exactly what I am looking for though. Thanks, John

[Chuck G.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Tweaked my curiosity too. I know the "rivet thing", but never heard of the differences among various years of "originals" till now. Chuck

[John D.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Dr. Chuck, Just put a magnet on my old frame that I had stashed away for many man years and it does have the correct rivet but it's a SR for a '63. This is getting nit pickin for sure but whatta you going to do? I never saw a guy get dinged for these license plate frames for one reason. Most don't know that the early midyear lic. frames are unique. Jorjorian said to me that he doesn't know exactly how far up in years this frame was used but I can't quote him or I will get in trouble. He's one of my best friends you know. He forgot more about '63's than most everyone on the DB. I think I could take that statement to the bank. Told him to write a book about 63 trivia but he said I should write it. I am not writer. Just a bser.
Interesting trivia isn't it. Takes the old timers like Bob Gregory who knew the cars when they were new to come up with trivia like this. I find it highly unlikely a 63 can ever score a perfect score or even close with all the stuff that is coming up. Learn more crap all the time and you know that is what makes if interesting Dr. Chuck. Glad you got to revisit your old friend again in Carlisle. Thanks again for the life lone on the iteresting part. I've made a few bucks with it. John

[Chuck G.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

That "special part" that I loaned John on a permanent basis is a bent #8 connecting rod from my 63 FI car.

Thanks for letting me touch and feel it again. Chuck

[Dave S.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Chuck, John, Bob, et al,
The late 60's and 70's style original licence plate frames have patent numbers on the clips along with the different rivets, and the GM repros do not have any patent numbers. I'm not sure if the early/mid 60's frames were the same.

[John D.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

HI Dave, Saw the U.S. Pat 3.31418 on my clips. Neat stuff Dave. My frames are old ones for sure but probably not correct for 63 although I don't know for sure cause no one will post a pic of the real deal. hint. I might have one real one here and not know it. This frame I got the numbers from was stashed away for ever. The ones on the car are probably GM replacements. Some say that there is no ding if you use LI repros but I have never seen one. Thanks a lot, John

[Dave S.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

John,
Like so many other things it's hard (if not impossible) for all judges to know every little detail. I've rarely got credit for my original licence plate frames because the GM replacements are pretty close. We all learn from detailing our specific cars for the judging process. After all thats part of the challenge.

[Chuck G.]

Re: '63 trivia revisted-license plate frames

Hmmm. I'll dig mine out and start looking for patent numbers. Thanks for the tip, Dave. Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: Pictures. What Are These?

Here are some pix of a pair I have. They have the patent numbers. Chuck