Close-up pics of your 3200GT number plate light panel please!

[greeny12]

Bit of a strange one I know, but I'm keen to see what a good condition example of this colour-coded and chromed panel looks like, so I wonder if any 3200 owners with pristine ones would mind posting a close-up photo of theirs? Ideally showing the underside where the actual number plate lights are situated.

Mine's a bit scruffy and I can't work out if it's had some more recent 'doctoring' to the chrome, or indeed if it's supposed to have this paper-thin chrome sheet moulded and stuck onto it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[allandwf]

I can remember mine being quite solid, though the light screws rust, mine had to be drilled out and rattled about in the bootlid internals for ages until I managed to retrieve them. I'll try and find a pic.

 

[Contigo]

Yep most if not all 3200's I've seen have rusted screws in the bulb recess and are impossible to get out. If you get a bulb warning on the dash tap the bulb which is not lit and it will 9/10 come back on.

There is usually rust bubbling where the boot lid meets the boomerang section.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yep most if not all 3200's I've seen have rusted screws in the bulb recess and are impossible to get out.

Same on the 4200 (Same part I guess)

C

 

[highlander]

Is there not a CEL light for these when they rust? Lol

 

[StuartW]

Is there not a CEL light for these when they rust? Lol

Any excuse for it to show itself!

 

[highlander]

Any excuse for it to show itself!

It's just to show they love you really........

 

[StuartW]

Yep, mine really loved me until I treated it to a new throttle body then it blanked me!

 

[greeny12]

Anyone?

To kick it off I'll show you what I'm getting at. Look at the chrome strip on these pics, it's dimpled right across, and that's because the thin chrome material is coming away. I know it's only a small thing but it annoys me and I want to get it sorted. However, I don't really know what 'sorted' looks like as yet!

 

[allandwf]

Mine was not like that, I see what you mean now. It almost looks like the rust has got under the chrome plate and is lifting it.

 

[CatmanV2]

I think it's the same part as the 4200, and Wack's isn't like that either

C

 

[greeny12]

It's not the same part as the 4200 unfortunately. I've just been sent a 4200 one by mistake (they share the same part code, helpfully) - you can see the differences below, notably with the light fitting.



It can't be rust causing it, because the panel is 100% plastic. Just think my sticky-backed chrome has given up the ghost - Lord only knows how to fix that!!

 

[Contigo]

No signs of any type of corrosion or malforming on ours.

 

[greeny12]

Thanks Phil. Interesting.

If I can't source a new 3200 plate (which is looking extremely unlikely as not made any more) I may have to give someone like this a call:

http://www.invictavac.com/index.html

 

[Contigo]

Have you not tried all the usual suspects? Greg? David Askew and Stuart? Surely someone has a replacement section?

 

[greeny12]

Thing is, because it's colour-coded any used example would have to be resprayed to my colour; it's also pretty unlikely that it will be pristine having been on a car at least 14 years old.

So to do the job once and properly my intention was to source a new part from stock. Turns out they are unobtainable in the UK and I'm told there are only three possible chances in the world. One of those has already sent me the 4200 one by mistake!

Thus, doing a good quality rechroming job on my existing one is holding increasing appeal.

 

[alfatwo]

No signs of any type of corrosion or malforming on ours.

That a posh looking plate there Phil, mines just stuck on with double sided tape


Dave

 

[miket]

My chrome had started to flake away in a couple of locations, fortunately David Askew was able to supply a replacement for the spyder....

 

[davy83]

try some of the classic car restorers they may be able to rechrome it or plate it. I had the front grill done and the trident and it was very good. cant be as expensive as a new one!!!