Older Builds

My VS has that - it's around a 2009 build... I suspect it's for strengthening? No idea really. I do know that it looks hokey, so I simply painted mine to disappear it..

Interesting, I’m thinking maybe stronger and possibly more expensive to produce but I’m just guessing.

My CMC (mid-90’s) has that Plate and I thought they all did til I went to a few shows.   Don’t know if it adds strength as much as predictably locates the latch when fitted to the door so the latch is (more-or-less) in the same place on each car.  

I could be wrong (some on here seem to think so regularly) but that’s my story and I’m stickin to it.

My CMC has it but I think the thin aluminum is probably less strong than thicker fiberglass.  I too think it is to accurately locate the latch.

There is constant vibration and impact there when closing the door and driving.  Fiberglass would splinter and crack.  I haven't seen any that don't have that attachment plate.

Interesting

That aluminum plate correctly positions the latch assembly ,  on new builds you have to open the precut fiberglass opening a bit at a time to hopefully get the plate to bed correctly to the FG,  for what ever the reason they pre drill a dozen or so holes in the aluminum and that's overkill. Then there's the issue of the both top and bottom two screws that are 90 degrees and interfere with each other, I screw one in, cut the  one at 90 degrees down to 3/8" dab some JB ands set it in place. The newer design by Special Edition, Vintage Motorcars and IM is somewhat centered on the door and way better

More good info. Thank you.

I would go with @Alan Merklin (aka: Dr. Clock) logic as he has built and refurbished 50 of these Speedster replicas. All 50 of his masterpieces have sold pretty much as soon as he lists them.

@Tonyvan your car looks bad-a$$!