Can anyone please provide photos of exactly how the license plate retaining bracket "retains" the plate for a '68?

I have to drill the holes in the new tail pan for the plate, and want to ensure that everything is in the right place first.

Alternatively, does anyone have a template for the plate holes relative to the cutout?

Can't help with the bracket mounting arrangement Yellowbird. Like many things with '68's, I suspect there were different rear plate mounting arrangements. Mine doesn't have a bracket but instead two rubber bumpers that the top of the plate sits on while being secured at the bottom by screws into two nylon mountings.

A December '67 built '68 I had was mounted just like that. Our August '67 built car had been smacked hard in the back and had the square nylon buttons on the bottom, and screws where the bumpers should be.

Anyone have an earlier car? Any other mounting styles observed?

The part I have but question is shown in View B here, it slips over the bolt square shanks. This was something shown in the parts index and service manual.

http://thefirstgensite.com/library/68sm/bump/bump15.jpg

My second week Sept. '67 vert looks just like what Jim shows.

here are some of my 68 with the bracket front and bushings in rear. anybody know what the upper fron hole is for if anything what do i need there?

I welded a reinforcement on the front bracket to get use of the third whole.

Ok then, I will be pulling that bracket back off and making more holes! Thanks for the pics.

My 68 is the same as the pic Jim posted.

Where can one find the round with square peg license plate mounting posts?

My mid-June '67 coupe has the square holes at the bottom. I got the replacment nylon retainers from the "Help" section at the local auto parts place.

I think you`ll find that the third hole is for a rubber bumper to keep the plate from scratching/nicking the paint

The set in the picture from my files that I posted, I just happened to see in an EBay ad 5-6 years ago. I purchased them to fix a flaw on mine some time in the future. They have to be somewhere around here but right now I cannot locate them. I was hoping the GM packaging would have a part number that you could search for.

The GM part number leads back to the auto parts flat button nylon inserts. Although they would "work" it's clear that the taller ones would display the plate at a better angle. I am sure I can find some nylon spacers at the hardware store that will suffice.

Speaking of hardware store substitutes...I needed a pair of the rubber bumpers for the convertible top frame. Rubber stoppers from the hardware bins were perfect, I just ran them down a little on the bench grinder, used the Forstner bit to countersink a bore, and drilled through the rest. A little weatherstrip adhesive and a screw and they are good as original.

ace hardware had the plate screws and plastic inserts. rubber bumper? must be longer than the rear stops and square fitting. are they available?

Wonder how close these are to the originals?
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_info.p...2f804e538c46956

I still cannot find the package of two I bought a few years ago.

Finally! I knew I would eventually find the parts with their original package. I was looking for some house painting supplies last night and found a box of Firebird parts.

These are the correct '67-'68 rear license plate mountings. The package shows they are GM Part Group 7.800 and the very faded part number ends in 591 (the first part of the number is torn off).

Looking at the parts book, group 7.800:
67-68 F/6-F/8 9789591 Nut, rear valance panel - (1/4"-14 nylon)

im drooling over them.

Mine are round but they are stripped so I tossed them yesterday...

Those are exactly the ones I hoped to find. I found some from Camaro Specialties in an old front end bolt kit that worked, but were much smaller in all dimensions. They hold the plate just fine, but they fall out if the screw is removed and are shorter than stock.

Here are a couple pictures of an original part removed from our '68 RAII. Of the two parts on our car, both are cracked, and one as a piece missing. Apparently the nylon used 49 years ago isn't as pliable and long-lasting as today's nylon?

I believe these spacer/nuts full under the same nearly impossibly to find category as as a 68 F/B M21 transmission tag (#9792531).

There are similar parts, issued by GM in the mid 1970s, being sold on ebay. This later-issue part is similar, but not the same, however, if you cover them wit ha license place, then no one will know.

Unless someone steers me to a source for an NOS stash, I might just try to get these reproduced. For fun, we're 3D printing a prototype piece now.

Wow I would be interested if you can get them reproduced. I've never seen a NOS one but they may be some out there.

Also, welcome to FirstGenFirebird!

Good idea!

I found a package of NOS ones several years ago on EBay. But that was the only time I've seen any.

Here is that rear mounting bracket from "View B" yellowbird was talking about.