I've known folks that have been pulled over for using baling wire or electrical wire to hold on plates. Granted, probably just an excuse to pull a fella over, but it isn't legal in Colorado, and I bet it isn't in other states either... so probably best for you to get that fixed. magnets aren't acceptable either, so if you don't want to drill holes in the trunk of your jaguar, you gotta hide the magnets... Plates gotta be bolted tight with threaded fasteners.

I've never had an ES, but in looking at pictures, it appears they sorted out the original problem with that illuminator light... on the earlier 1800s, the license plate mounted on the bumper, probably not unlike yours currently is. But the light was on the back of the trunk, and didn't light the plate at all... looks like they put the plate under the bumper. I don't know hwere the light is hid.

Here's the absolute best picture I could find online of the rear of an 1800es without the license plate so you can see the bracket... :-)

I bet you could get away with some of that steel strapping stuff with holes that you get at any hardware store.


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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC