1956 Ford Front License Plate Bracket

Bleach

Bleach

Well-known member
I've been trying to find a front plate bracket for my '56 Fairlane but haven't had any luck. Is there any sources for them?
 
No. I'm still looking for leads. There's a possibility that one from a '59 might work.
 
I'm pretty sure they did. The front plate bends when mounting straight to the bumper.
 
I'm wondering if you could just fab a couple of spacers for the bolts to pass thru just thick enough so the plate mounts straight?
 
I used one inch long one inch diameter rubber bumpers between the plate and the bumper. The plate stays straight, and when bugs hit, it gives just a little.
 
Never seen one that had a bracket on the front, but it would be pretty easy to rig something up with spacers if you don't want you license plate bent around that curve.
 
I was thinking about fabbing something but I didn't want to mickymouse something on a car that is mostly original. There is a listing for one in the Ford parts book but there is no illustration.
I just want to do things right.
 
What base # did you find in the book for the front bracket? I didn't see it listed for a '56. I'm thinking it would be 17A385 but it's not in my '49-'59 book.
 
raceron1120 said:
What base # did you find in the book for the front bracket? I didn't see it listed for a '56. I'm thinking it would be 17A385 but it's not in my '49-'59 book.
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I don't have the book in front of me but I think it was 17736. 17A385 looks like a newer number.
 
17A385 is a generic part # for a Ford license plate bracket. Just about every Ford bracket on ebay has 17A385 in it, for example; XL3Z-17A385-AA is for a 2002 Ford Expedition license plate bracket.

Are there any other numbers with it like B5A-17A385?
 
I'm aware of Ford's part numbering system and their base #s - it's one of the first things I learned when working Ford Parts Departments and why I said it. No, there isn't a B5A license bracket listed in the 1964 edition '49-'59 book I have.

But once in awhile those Ford folks will toss a zinger # in that's not the same or common base part #, and one has to scramble to find it.

Base #s 17244 and 17736 are also front license plate mounting brackets; there may be others as well. The B7A-17244-A so is for a '57. The other one I found has 3 apps - B5S-17736-A ('55-'56 Bird), B8S-A ('58 Bird) and B9A-A ('59 full size).
 
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I've searched the web for many of those part numbers but the only ones that ever come up are for Birds.
 
Hi Herman,
I stumbled across one about 2 months ago, but didn't tag the site. I will research and see if I can find it. It was really simple, a strip of metal, with ends bent up at 90 degree angles and a single hole in the angled section. In the main part of the strip were holes to mount it to the slots in the bumper.

Makes me crazy I can't find the site, I want to contribute and return all the good advice everyone's given me.
 
That would be great Steve. Try looking in your internet browser's history. If you use Firefox, it can be fairly easy.
 
Thanks but yes I have come across this before. I felt the asking price was a bit much for a simple rusty piece of metal.
 
Hi Herman,

Do you know if that part is the same as the original bracket from a '55 - '56? As I'm also trying to figure out what the correct design is.

Steve
 
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