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This is going to sound totally stupid, but does anyone have any experience cleaning their license plate--oops, I mean number plate? I've tried dishwashing detergent and a Scotch-Brite (Dobie) pad, but it's not doing the trick. For the most part, it does not appear to be surface grime. The reflective yellow has this odd, slight discoloration, especially at the edges of the letters. I'm hesitant to use anything harsher than soapy water.
Not stupid at all. If I'd fitted a genuine UK plate on my vehicle as one of the finishing touches, I'd want it to look good too. The "D" suffix will be a 1966 series registration.
Our current standard legal UK plates are clear acrylic with the yellow "Scotchbrite" reflective background and letters stuck on the back and have been this way for several years. Is that one of the old-style pressed metal with raised letters? If so, the yellow does discolour with age and only a re-paint is likely to fix that.
Yes, it's the original number plate from the car that is pressed metal (and yes it's a '66 registry). The yellow background is reflective (not painted) so I'll probably clean it up as best as I can and live with that.
PS: Durham was the first place I ever visited in the UK—it's been over 40 years but I remember it to be a lovely, lovely place. Lots of fond memories of the University and the cathedral…
If you want a new set of standard pressed metal plates, they are obtainable but the shipping cost could be prohibitive.
I haven't driven up to the Cathedral for a few years as it's less than a mile away but in a chargeable road zone now.
It was a great walk during the first lockdown when only city residents were here and the 20,000 students were off home. Almost like forty years ago again.
That was my second X100. I'm on to my second X150 since then. All great cars that took me around Europe in happier times. My XK hasn't been more than twenty miles from home in the ten months since the first lockdown started.
The newest number plates in my province are not pressed metal... and the layers of plastic are known to peel. I’m afraid to scrub them and keep them under a uv protecting, clear cover.
The previous plates were pressed metal... the paint was know to peel on those as well.
I’d much prefer driving the UK and EU in my car as opposed to the rental cars I get... getting the car there I suspect is cost inhibitive.
fvc496, I see you are in the US. I got a european style plate for my '97 XK8. I purchased it from https://www.customeuropeanplates.com
You may be able to design one from them.
UK License Plate Cleaning?
