A Cleaner Finish: How to hide the Number Plate Light Wiring on a Series Tailgate

One of the quirks (and charms) of the Land Rover Series is its utilitarian design. Everything is exposed, bolted on, and easy to get to—but not always pretty. A good example? The wiring for the number plate light on the rear tailgate.

On the Series 2A, the number plate is mounted on a pivoting bracket so it stays visible whether the tailgate is up or down. It’s a clever bit of functionality, but the original wiring solution? Not so much. When that cars were assembled in Australia from a Knock Down Kit, the wire was run crudely along the outside of the tailgate—tacked on with metal clips and fully exposed to the elements.

Original number plate light cable running on the outside of the tailgate.

Sure it worked 100%, but I thought that I could make it much neater.

Hiding the wires

My goal was to hide the wire completely inside the tailgate and have it exit neatly near the bottom corner where it joins the main loom. I wasn’t sure it would work, but I figured it was worth a shot.

The plan was to drill holes in the top and bottom of the tailgate's reinforcing channel and run the wire vertically inside reinforcing channel, then feed it horizontally through the bottom section and out a hole that I drilled in the lower right-hand corner. From there, it could connect directly to the main loom under the tub almost completely out of site.

Easier Said Than Done

Feeding the wire through was not easy. It took me three or four attempts to get it right. The wire kept snagging—especially on the sharp bends at the bottom where the vertical and horizontal sections meet. At one point I nearly gave up and just went back to the ugly external clips.

After heat shrinking the wires and using a welding wire to pull it slowly, I finally got it through.

The End Result

Once the wire was in place, I soldered the bullet head connections, added some heat shrink for weather protection, and stood back to admire the result. No exposed wire. No clips. No fuss.

Finished result with the wires hidden.

It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference. The back of the car looks cleaner, more finished—and somehow more intentional. It’s the kind of detail most people wouldn’t notice unless you pointed it out, but for anyone who’s spent time working on old cars, it’s the kind of win that feels really satisfying.

If you’re restoring or tidying up your Series, I highly recommend giving this mod a go. It’s fiddly, yes—but totally worth the effort.