Car designers, generally, have a lot of difficulty dealing with asymmetry. While there are some cars with asymmetric elements, and some even with entire design languages built around asymmetry, it’s not exactly common.
One good example of this is how uncommon a particular automotive detail is: the off-center rear license plate. In fact, I can only think of three examples of cars with off-center rear plates, and that sort of surprises me. And also doesn’t, but I think it’s still worth noting – The Bishop and I were discussing this, and he agrees – this is important. Whatever you think about the gravity of off-center rear license plates, we’re going to talk about this, so if you can’t deal with that, you best clear out now, before shit gets real.
I should qualify this a bit: pre-WWII, there were a lot of cars that had off-center rear license plates, mostly because they often just had one lone taillight, and that taillight incorporated a window for a license plate light, and so the whole taillight/license plate mounting assembly was one unit.
You know what I mean, stuff like this:
That was really common. So, I’m talking about, let’s say, post-WWII cars here. Also, for whatever reason, trucks and SUVs and off-road-type vehicles aren’t bound by the same aesthetic and conceptual rules as most passenger cars, so they can have off-center rear license plates with impunity, sometimes even seemingly willfully, like in the case of some Land Rovers.
I’m just talking about passenger cars, road cars, ones designed for driving on pavement or perhaps the occasional carpet. In this category of car, I think there are only three with off-center rear license plates:
It’s an odd triumvirate here, these three: we have Chrysler’s mid-century flagship, a limited-production supercar, and a Buick with a dramatic, nautical butt. All were sort of daring in their own ways, and of these three, only the Buick had a design that really demanded an off-center plate; the Vector probably could have easily had a center plate, and even the Imperial, with a tiny bit of bumper re-design, likely could have, too.
But they didn’t, and for that I’m thankful! It’s a bold choice, a subtle choice, perhaps, but. the more you think about it, the more gravity it seems to command. Cars generally just don’t do this, so if this choice is made, you can bet it was made for a reason. I’m not entirely clear what that reason is, but still.
I also sort of suspect there are other cars that may be in this rarified club, but at the moment, I can’t think of any. But if you can, tell me in the comments! Please!
Most license plates are inherently asymmetrical, so why not just lean in with the placement too?
Confoundingly, the highly asymmetric Nissan Cube put it dead center. Such a missed opportunity. Oh the hypocrisy!
1950-1951 Ford Country Squire (Woody) had an offset plate due to the spare on the back.
The Mini Moke usually has an offset license plate in the rear with the rear spare tire offset to the other side. While off roady, it’s not an SUV or truck.
I know you said SUVs don’t count, but the 1960-1966 Suburban could be had with either a center mounted rear plate, or one off to the side. The ones that came with a clamshell tailgate had them centered, while barndoor ones had them off to the side.
Are there any other models that had both?
This is all well and good, but how many vehicles sold in the US have the offset plate on the right like the (new) Ford Maverick?
Seems like most of them are on the left.
Discovery 5 has entered the chat.
I like the asymmetric design of the previous Discoverys, and I think it was perfected in the Discovery 3/4.
The Discovery 5 would have been better off without it imo.
Yes. The previous Discoverys all had if for a reason: the split tailgate. The 5 doesn’t have a split tailgate, so it’s bullshit. But Gerry wanted it.
The South American (specifically developed in Brazil, but also sold in Argentina) Citroën C3 Picasso facelift had this goofy offset rear end design.
https://i.imgur.com/WwD7n4x.jpg
Why? Well to make the faux off-roady variant able to have a swing-out spare, of course!
https://i.imgur.com/ODeaemk.png
The only thing funkier than a French car is a South American French car.
https://i.imgur.com/O6fvqs3.jpg
Google brings up photos of mid-sixties 2CVs with rear plates offset to the left. Perhaps for some markets only?
I just want to see more asymmetry in car design. It’s not nearly common enough.
All Vanderhall 3 wheelers
(Carmel, Venice, Laguna, Santa Rosa, Edison)
Yeah but those are more motorcycle than car, I wouldn’t count that here.
I’ve never seen a motorcycle with doors and automatic transmission – have you?
Automatic? Plenty. Doors, eh only some of the Vanderhall’s have those. But I haven’t ever seen a car that requires a helmet in many states like the 3 wheel “autocycles” do.
Are we counting the Geo Tracker as an off-road vehicle? They had an offset rear plate, but it didn’t seem visually jarring like some of the car examples.
I am severely offended that you would ask such a foolish question. Lil zooks are the king of the trails. But yes, the spare tire mount and swing doors mandate the offset plate, including on the second gen. I’ve never noticed that they are offset until this article.
Also offended…wife had an 89 kick. Lock the hubs, put it in 4 low and it would go almost anywhere.
Also never thought about the left side rear plate until this article.
Renault 12 should count. At least if you had a european standard, wider plate. Should you for any reason have it with a narrower one, I guess it could be mounted centrally.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/russell_w_b/2940622327
Same principle goes for the Renault 16, btw. Which also had the unusual trait, when speaking of asymmetry, of having a different wheelbase on the left and right side. (Almost a decimeter in difference.)
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/car-show-classic-1973-renault-16-and-asymmetric-suspension-configuration/
10cm?? More than I’d have expected to offset the torsion bars.
Wheelbase difference was like that on the Renault 4 as well.
Isuzu Trooper
Does that count?
Geo-Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick, too, but Torch said SUVs aren’t counted in this one.
And Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Vitaras! (Newer gen of the sidekick)
I’m just talking about passenger cars, road cars, ones designed for driving on pavement or perhaps the occasional carpet.
The base, non SR5, non4x4 Tercel wagon counts then:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classic-1984-toyota-tercel-wagon-built-for-the-really-long-haul/
Thank you! I was offended to see the Tercel lumped in with SUVs like that. it’s just a cute wagon, let him live.
What about front plates?
Alfa Romeos seem to have offset front license plates.
Edsel
Or every other faux tuner enthusiast car. That is, those which aren’t already driving around with it in the front window b/c yeah just fell off (and took the entire mount with it) yesterday officer.
bonus points if its a 350z with no front bumper (i see it far too often)
When the (damaged before I got it) front bumper cover fell off of my 740 wagon, I figured I’d mount the plate offset “like the Subie bros do” as a laugh. Never got any flack about it, probably because they had other concerns… https://i.imgur.com/R8YjN.jpg
My folk’s first EcoBoosted F150 had the front license plate offset from the factory.
Car interior designers deal with asymmetry all the time. So I guess if asymmetry is your thing you pick interiors and hope you don’t end up working for Gordon Murray.
Of course if you’re into exterior car asymmetry, and also tail lights (and who isn’t into tail lights?), there are loads of European cars with a nice red fog light on one side and a white reverse light on the other. Citroen AXs for a start, and Renault 5s had not only asymmetric rear lights but also asymmetric wheelbases.
This is probably as good place as any to mention the Nissan Juke.
CRV until 2007
Gen 1
Gen 2
oh fine, these also don’t count because they aren’t cars ????
Do small vans with barn doors also count as long as they have rear seats and their cargo compartment isn’t separated? If so, then it’s been done to an entire segment of cars like Citroen Berlingo or Volkswagen Caddy. The ones with barn doors have their licence plate offset to the left.
Full-sized vans have offset plates, too.
Rav4 until 2013
Gen 1
Gen 2
Gen 3
oh fine, these don’t count because they aren’t cars ????
first and second gen rav4
also, vans with dual swing-out doors in the back
Third, too! https://static0.carbuzzimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/857387.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=750&h=415&dpr=1.5
Man, you guys got to get images in your comments.
I found that linking directly to the image seems to allow it to pop up in an overlay. Seems to work without having too much risk with allowing us to embed.
No way there isn’t a French car that has done this…
The Renault 12 and 16 had off-center rear plates, but just a little.
enough to make you think, “they couldn’t have done that on purpose” and not “hey that is a quirky styling”
The 2007 to 2021 Renault Kangoo II had an off center rear licence plate
First & second gen Honda CR-Vs also had offset rear plates due to the spare tire carrier.
Fight me if you want, but the Tercel is absolutely a passenger car. Especially in the 2WD version.
Back in the day, it absolutely was, if only by comparison. Then, a truck was something for primarily work use, an offroad vehicle of some sort, or my father’s beloved Grand Wagoneer with its carbs and fake wood paneling.
Seconded. Wagons were cars. That makes four – Imperial, Vector, Riviera and Tercel. A fine collection in itself with no need for an additional daily driver unless you live in a road-salt area where using the Tercel for its’ intended purpose would lead it to rust out. Not nearly as fast as contemporary Subarus did though!