Preserving Original Stripes and Decals During Restoration

When restoring a classic or historic vehicle, sometimes the smallest details are the hardest to reproduce. Original stripes, lettering, sponsor decals, logos, and graphics may no longer be available, and photographs alone may not provide the exact size and placement needed to recreate them accurately.

One simple method we use is white masking paper and crayons.

Before removing the original finish, carefully place white masking paper over the stripe, decal, lettering, or graphic. Then rub a crayon across the paper. As the crayon passes over the surface, the edges and details underneath are transferred onto the paper, creating a full-size rubbing of the original design.

The template can also be marked with reference measurements showing its exact location in relation to body lines, panel edges, door gaps, handles, trim, or other fixed points. These measurements become especially important after the vehicle has been stripped, repaired, primed, and painted.

Transferring the Design Back to the Vehicle

Once the body and paint work is complete, the original paper rubbing can be used to help recreate the graphics. A tracing wheel is used to perforate the important outlines of the design. The template is then positioned back on the vehicle using the reference measurements recorded before restoration.

A quilt pounce pad can then be rubbed or tapped over the perforated lines. The pounce powder passes through the tiny holes made by the tracing wheel, leaving a temporary outline on the painted surface. This provides a guide for laying out stripes, lettering, or hand-painted graphics in their original locations.

For restorations where historical accuracy matters, this old-fashioned technique can be extremely valuable. Before sanding away the past, document it. Once an original stripe or graphic is gone, the information underneath the sandpaper cannot always be recovered.

Sometimes the best restoration tools aren't the most complicated—a roll of masking paper, a crayon, a tracing wheel, and a pounce pad can help preserve a piece of automotive history.