I am kicking around the idea of making my C3 look like one of the "road-race" cars that I see on here as they look outstanding...

As for the decals, are they easy to find? I searched the forum and google'd the subject to no avail'

Thanks!

kevin

 

I would go to a decal shop, the ones who do commercial lettering (for vans as a example). They usually can make a design along with you scale 1/1 and have them printed. Finding decals you want of the shelfs will be nearly impossible.
Regards,
Nick

 

Most local sign and banner company's, and companies that do truck lettering, can create vinyl graphics for you. Be aware that depending on the size, style and number of colors you want; custom vinyl graphics, it can get expansive. Though it's probably still cheaper than paint, and they can be changed easier.

If your looking for the sponsor logos found on many race cars (such as "Goodyear", "STP", Pennzoil", & "Holley"), I would be careful about having them made. Company logos are all copyrighted, and reproducing them without permission, could get you into legal infringement issues. Instead, a letter or email to these companies will often get you an envelope full of decals.

You may also check with some local racers and speed shops. It makes no difference if it's a dirt tracker, road racer, NASCAR or a drag racer; most racers usually have a pile of old decals laying around. Just about every speed part you buy comes with labels in the box, and manufacturers reps are always giving decals out to racers to use. If your near a drag strip or a road course, take a walk through the paddock on a Saturday afternoon and talk to some of the competitors, about what you need.

 

I bought my set from this site below who makes regular long term stick on vinyl graphics for race letters (he races) and those that are removable and held on via static cling which I bought since I am only doing a one day race track experience called Touring Lights. The ones I bought are held on by static cling and he says stay on up to 160 mph which I'm no threat to do with my car or in a Touring lights set of sessions.

http://www.gochecker.com/

You apply them by first cleaning all your wax off the application area with soap. then spray a diluted dishwashing soap and water solution on the area to be mounted to. Peel the decal which in my case is a white oval with the black race numbers "43" on it off the slick paper backing and apply. Wipe/press bubbles gently out to the edges with a soft cloth and your hand and position it correctly and you are done. To remove, get your spray bottle out, find an edge and spray then lift edge and keep it wet at the edge and slowly peel it off and put it back on the slick paper. They sent me three numbers full size and one half size as a bonus. I put the half size on the windshield a week ago to try it and it works well. Better to try it on the glass than the paint if there were removal problems which there were not. Will put the big ones on the two doors and the hood My 3, drive the car to the track May 4 and run the car May 5.

 

http://www.firestormgraphix.com/vinyl/catalog/

 

Try these guys too.

Gary

http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/

 

Buy a vinyl cutter and make your own.
http://www.uscutter.com/

 

Try Solotime. They have all the # and letters and decals you would need.

 

I simply took the pictures of the ones that I needed recreated (Impeca, NART, BP, TWA etc) to a signmaking company and they recreated them for me.
A word of caution here is that the time to recreate them is expensive, the actual printed decal was cheap. So if you have a friend that is good with digital media, have them create the decal in a .pps (photoshop) file and take the fiel to the print shop.
You can find most of the popular ones on ebay like Goodyear, Champion, Koni etc etc. let me know what you are looking for, I have a bunch of left over ones (Champion, Goodyear, Wilwood, Snap-On, Stahl) and I can cut the simpler one or two color ones on my vinyl cutter.

Nick

 

Are yours removable if you only want to use them one time or are they semi permanent on the paint? I am trying and have the "static cling" version from a guy in florida whose site I put on here earlier to help. I don't know the diff. between s.c. and others but the ones on my boat have been on there a long time and I don't want that on my Vette...what I have I know is removable.

Lance

 

Before you get held up by local shops for any custom work, check with STS Graphics in Sebring, FL. They've been doing custom race car decals for ages and IMOE at a good price.

 

If you have someone design them first and then take them in I believe it has to be in an .eps format. I don't know much about a static type, but a vinyl one will stick like a sticker, but remove w/ no mess.