Rear tag bracket

[Todd50]

My 1967 250sl has two mounting holes for a tag in the back. These 2 holes are 10 inches apart. I have ordered a rear tag bracket from a mercedes parts house and the holes don't match by a long shot. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem. Also my 250 sl is a european model, if that makes a difference.

[JamesL]

In the back where? Passenger compartment? Trunk?
If you can be a little more specific about the location of the holes, someone will know excatly what goes there - 10inches is a BIG tag so it's likely for something(s) else

[Cees Klumper]

If it was a European delivered car .... then some European country plates are much wider than US ones (German, French, Dutch, UK and many others I am sure). So the holes may have been fine for whatever country the car was first in, and subsequent US based owners may have just used those holes to mount 'adapter brackets' to be able to mount the narrower US sized plates.

[neelyrc]

I had a similar rear license plate situation except that the two holes on my valence were 11 inches apart.
I fabricated a mounting plate which I attached to the valence and to this plate I attached the standard size USA license plate.  There is a pdf format drawing on this post which could be adopted to your 10 inch spacing.

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=15847.msg183273#msg183273

[zoegrlh]

Ralph, I also have a euro model and had to fabricate the holder with an aluminum stock. Easy to do.

[lowpad]

I had a similar issue with my French 230SL. I bought one of these for my German BMW CS and just adapted it to the SL mounting holes. https://www.iemotorsport.com/product/rear-license-plate-holder-e9/

[Pawel66]

I had no holes in the rear cross member (new part, replaced during restoration). I have the license plate fitted with double sided tape, same as one used nowadays for stripes or emblems. Holds very well. I see there are also magnets available specifically for this purpose.

[zoegrlh]

Good idea Lowpad.