In CT it's a law to have a front plate and I've never had a front plate on any car I've ever owned. I never once got pulled over for not having one, and if I got pulled over, the fact that I had no front plate was never mentioned. I'm sure CT is less strict though.
First thing I did to my Cobra when I bought it was had the license plate holes filled in and had the bumper painted.
Heat exchanger looks good though. I need to get one myself.