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[Avalon]

Well as you asked....

This is the 'modern' way (as mentioned above)
https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/how-does-the-uk-number-plate-system-work/

and this is the 'old' way that our age vehicles use.....

http://www.cvpg.co.uk/REG.pdf

Lot of reading but easier than trying to explain!

HTH

Thanks for the clarification.
John.

[oilstain]

In the 1970's Lotus Elans and some others used to have white/silver numbers and letters mounted on a black mesh grille under the front bumper. If we painted our mesh series grille black could we mount white/silver letters and numbers on it and claim it was a legal plate

or would it end in tears

[oilstain]

Also is it still legal (or was it ever) to mount the front plate on the front of the roof rack, on the bulkhead under or over the screen, a stick on  type on the front of the bonnet or hung under the front bumber (so it whent flat at speed and avoided speed cameras)

So many questions, so few answers

[Genem]

I would caution that these modern copy plates should be fitted with a solid backing plate behind if they are going to "overlap" into thin air whatever they are attached to - bumper etc. Mine were constructed with a pressing for the silver bits and the black bit is some sort of vinyl on a thinner metal backing, removed/cut out over the pressing. Offroad the whole thing bends when it hits stuff and the black bit peels off at the corners of the plate and at the edges of the letters/numbers. Superglue and bulldog clips deployed as a repair.  As I say, a solid backing plate would probably have prevented that...

 

[Genem]

Also is it still legal (or was it ever) to mount the front plate on the front of the roof rack, on the bulkhead under or over the screen, a stick on  type on the front of the bonnet or hung under the front bumber (so it whent flat at speed and avoided speed cameras)

So many questions, so few answers

Interestingly the UK Govt published a lot of stuff about the size, shape, font, letter spacing of the actual plates but not a lot on where you can put them.  Going back to the original legislation you find that the requirement is that the plates, front or rear be as vertical as possible and visible from set distances. Nothing about the physical location.

Extract from: The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001

 Fixing of front registration plates: vehicles registered on or after the relevant date

6.—(1) This regulation applies to vehicles, other than works trucks, road rollers and agricultural machines, first registered on or after the relevant date.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (5), a registration plate must be fixed on the front of the vehicle in the manner required by paragraph (3).

(3) This paragraph requires the plate to be fixed—

(a)vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable,
(b)in such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length specified in paragraph (4).
(4) The diagonal length of the relevant area is—

(a)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is at least 57 millimetres, 22 metres,
(b)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 50 millimetres, 21.5 metres,
(c)in the case of a mark having characters the width of which is 44 millimetres, 18 metres.

....and the same distances and "near vertical" for rear plates too.

[Wittsend]

I would caution that these modern copy plates should be fitted with a solid backing plate behind if they are going to "overlap" into thin air whatever they are attached to - bumper etc.

Good point ...

The Panda camper's front plate is backed by a surplus modern perspex plate off an old car we had.
Fits perfectly and strengthens up the LWR repro plate 

[Herald1360]

Also is it still legal (or was it ever) to mount the front plate on the front of the roof rack, on the bulkhead under or over the screen, a stick on  type on the front of the bonnet or hung under the front bumber (so it whent flat at speed and avoided speed cameras)

So many questions, so few answers

Other than the swing plate falling foul of the requirement for it to be clearly visible at the appropriate distance when the vehicle is moving, yes.