mk1-forum.net

as part of my restoration the inner wings are being replaced and consequently the FE number plate has been taken out. it's in fairly bad condition and so i was wondering whether anyone knows where i can have another one made up to be reinstalled.....

i'm not totally opposed to refitting the old one but it will look a bit out of place. photo attached FYI

thanks in advance for any advice you may come up with!

I know mini-mail have the reverse stamps for chassis plates but don't know if they can do FE#.

Hi

I may be wrong but I don't think Mini Mail can reproduce the FE number plate.
You could try cleaning it up, I did mine and it came up better than expected.
If you totally strip the paint first then dipping in a citric acid solution works quite well. You can buy small amounts for de-scaling kettles and the like. Add around 10% to warm water and leave to soak for about 1 hour then scrub with a small toothbrush sized wire brush. If its still got rust in the pits just repeat process. I did mine in a sauce pan in the kitchen.
If you do give it a go just be sure to wash off the citric acid afterwards to neutralise then paint in a weld through or zinc based primer as it flash rusts quite quick otherwise.

Ollie

Amazing transformation and final result

FYI
Taken from the minimail site

'Body Number:
We can supply the earliest style of body number that was fitted on Mk1 cars. This was a stamped rectangular plate welded to the front slam panel. We are unable to supply other steel embossed body production identity plates (such as the FE number above the radiator side panel) Later cars had an embossed steel body number plate on the slam panel that we are unable to supply.'

yours did come up really nicely Ollie. Alas i fear mine may well be going back in its partially corroded state! Extreme patina!

Better let the body shop know not to through away!

Thanks all!

Adam