centerpunch

All of these vinyl graphics go on wet. (This is NOT like old model car decals that have water-based adhesives.)

You mix up a quart of water plus a couple drops of dishwashing liquid, put that in a spray bottle, then after you clean the car really well, you actually wet it down with the spray. Then remove the backing from the sticker, and spray it too.

This mixture allows you to carefully position the graphic on the car, and even lift and reposition if necessary. After the sticker is in place, you carefully squeegee the water out, then wet the alignment sheet, wait for it to soften, then carefully peel it back. Then you cover the decal with the backing sheet (slipper side toward you), and squeegee again and again, to assure that the vinyl is firmly attached.

I had never done this before. I started with the Recaro logo (on the side windows), and got the hang of it.

I taped stickers on the car to review my initial design, and changed a few things after I saw them in person.

The Dunlop on the front bumper was tricky. Since the bumper is curved, I had to actually do that one letter at a time, otherwise the ends would have been lower, like the logo was frowning.

I read and watched all the tutorials here before I tried it.
http://www.signspecialist.com/helpdesk.html#ins
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centerpunch

For your red car, here's what I would do.

First, do a google image search on "944 race," and see which cars you like, and which you don't like.

I personally think nothing says race car like big white circles with numbers, so I'd start there.

Them pick a few of the appropriate historically-correct logos, and play around with size and location. I'd start with Goodyear, Road & Track, Schneider-Nelson, plus Mobil 1 for a touch of color. And obviously SCCA and "GT" class stickers.

(You can just have your designer or the sign place make the "Schneider Nelson" with a similar font to your photos....)

This is one of the sites I found with vector logos.
http://www.seeklogo.com/goodyear-logo-62126.html

You don't have to worry about the color on the logo, the sign place is only using the outline to cut his material, which can be any color you like.

And obviously, your car should have Escort logo on the windshield. (I can get the artwork file for that for you if you can't find it.)

Also have a kill-switch decal, make sure the tow hook is installed and contrasting color from the car. My car should have the fog light blocked off, probably with a brake cooling duct there, but for the moment I just covered the foglights with red duct tape.

I took a few photos of my car today, and actually added the wheel center caps (that haven't been on the car for 24 years).

That was a mistake. Race cars don't have center caps!
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centerpunch

I liked my design, but didn't know what to do with the hood. All I had initially was the white-on-white circle. Most of the cars had another sponsor across the bottom of the hood, but I didn't want to add another name.

Then I realized the Shell logotype would look good there, and added that. (I actually used a newer shell logotype, and will be changing that to the historically-correct fatter type this week).

Newer wrong "Shell" at top, correct "Shell" on hood.
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centerpunch

So that's really it. Do a rough design, do one thing at a time, and see how it goes.

It's easy to change.

I may add one or two additional stickers to my car, but I'm gonna wait and see how I feel in a few weeks- I've had this all-white car almost 24 years, it's going to take some time to get used to its new look!
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Oddjob

Arnie, I dont have any more insight to ad to Paul's recommendation. I agree that the original Escort cars had relative boring graphics. And unless the car was somewhat famous with a recognizable graphics scheme, there probably is no need to be historically accurate with the vinyl. Do what you like. And can always change it in the future if you want to put the "as-raced" decals on it.

Here are some more pics of Cups (Euro, Canadian and US), from mild to wild, vintage and recent:

ahetzel

Thanks guys, you have helped a lot. My car is definitely NOT famous so its time to start designing with a little new mixed in with the old. More soon!

Oddjob

some more...

Oddjob

And some more...

centerpunch

Corrected the Shell logotype today, had my buddy Dave (DaveWendt.com) take a few shots, here are a few.
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hamlin

That just looks fantastic!! Nice job.

sydneyman

Yes it does!

Oddjob

Here's a cool Carrera Cup restoration/build thread from the 964 forum:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=15894

Includes the graphics application in the last couple pages (similar Blaupunkt, Bosch, Shell sponsors as the Turbo Cup series cars).

gruhsy

I sat in that car when it was at Norden in Edmonton. It was $60000 asking price at the time. I was looking at another stock 87 turbo they had at the same time as that one. The cup car when I saw it was in really nice condition. Was about 10 years ago give or take a year. The car was red with white wheels when I saw it.

Always wondered were it ended up.

Jason

centerpunch

On another thread someone requested higher-res photos of my car, so I put five shots in a zipped folder, anyone interested can download them, the link should be active for a week.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/T2...VnMzMWxjR0E9PQ

Oddjob

Just came across this pic - German cup with very similar graphics.