Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Vinyl wrap a car for $120? 1 2 3

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  Dec. 27, 2010 11:27 a.m. Otto Maddox HalfDork

  It actually looks pretty good to me.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 11:53 a.m. PubBurgers Dork

  Impressive, looks like a good way to make a beater look good.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 11:54 a.m. Ian F Dork

  It does. However, I'm sure one of the reasons it looks good is because of the relatively new finish underneath.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 12:05 p.m. sachilles Dork

  Vinyl can cover a lot. I used it to cover up the rusty rockers on my truck to get through inspection. It won't completely eliminate imperfections, but it can do a lot to hide them.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 12:07 p.m. mndsm Dork

  I remember reading that article a ways back- I was thoroughly intrigued. Now if I could just find plaid vinyl........

  Go fast or go broke.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 12:12 p.m. Cone_Junky Reader

  Still a LOT less work then painting.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 12:46 p.m. Slyp_Dawg Reader

  one thing is for sure, vinyl would likely take cone scuffs a lot better than paint. not sure if I like the flat black all over the whole car just for practicality reasons (better hope your AC blows like Jack Frost if you have many bright sunny days...), but flat black on the hood and then something contrasting on the rest of the car (cue old Fiat 124 Abarth paintschemes) would look very purposeful I think

  I wonder if anyone has wrapped their car in clear vinyl, just to protect the paint but not change the color any?

  "We are on the cutting edge of cocking about" Richard Hammond

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  Dec. 27, 2010 12:59 p.m. triumph5 Dork

  Shrink wrap works, too.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 1:17 p.m. wearymicrobe Reader

  Slyp_Dawg wrote: I wonder if anyone has wrapped their car in clear vinyl, just to protect the paint but not change the color any?

  like STARSHIELD on the lotus elise. They do make it, it tends to be the first mod any exotic owner makes to save the front and sides of the car.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 1:18 p.m. oldsaw SuperDork

  And, my main questions are -

  How important is the condition of the finish that the wrap will cover?

  Will a wrap work when applied to a "bad" surface?

  Or does the "bad" surface require prepping before a wrap is applied?

  If so, what kind of prep is recommended?

  And what kind of "finish" is needed before a wrap is attempted?

  These queries come from one who has two cars with "textured" paint because the clear coat is way gone and both are constantly exposed to the elements........

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  Dec. 27, 2010 1:24 p.m. FlightService Reader

  How much did it weigh?

  Italian cars are like Italian woman, expensive and only beautiful on the outside.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 1:29 p.m. internetautomart SuperDork

  I wonder where to get that stuff. My dad would love me wrap the rust sol in bright red.

  Now I'm working for myself and making no money

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  Dec. 27, 2010 2:33 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  remember the vinyl is 2 millimeters thick and contours to any surface. Any flaws will show up. Any paint chips will just look like paint chips under vinyl...

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 3:25 p.m. Otto Maddox HalfDork

  If you have a scratched up car, or an old car with spiderwebbing paint or just a really faded car, this could work.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:06 p.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

  mndsm wrote: I remember reading that article a ways back- I was thoroughly intrigued. Now if I could just find plaid vinyl........

  There is a SMF CRX that is plaid. It is awesome.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:09 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

  wearymicrobe wrote:

  Slyp_Dawg wrote: I wonder if anyone has wrapped their car in clear vinyl, just to protect the paint but not change the color any?

  like STARSHIELD on the lotus elise. They do make it, it tends to be the first mod any exotic owner makes to save the front and sides of the car.

  We just sold a Doo Doo Brown Audi R8 that was completely clear wrapped.

  Internationally known as The Brown Stig

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:15 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

  What a great idea!

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:23 p.m. aeronca65t Dork

  My work-partner has a dark green SAAB 900 convertible. She liked my white Miata and thinks it's a better colour for convertible cars.

  She wanted to change the colour, but was happy with the SAAB.

  Her husband was is in the vinyl graphics business so he covered it with white vinyl for her (sadly, he has since died).

  This was done about 2 years ago and it seems to be wearing well (and now she's unlikely to change it back for sentimental reasons).

  

  Enjoy Every Sandwich ~ W.Z.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:30 p.m. Cone_Junky Reader

  aeronca65t wrote:

  Pretty impressive. Definitely good enough for GRM standards.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 5:37 p.m. iceracer Dork

  Cheaper than a paint job.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 7:54 p.m. kb58 Reader

  Some Locost guys are considering this route. I am too except it means either covering rivets, or wrapping the panels before installing them - with rivets. Then, if the wrap has to ever be changed, it means every single rivet's going to rip and retain a little ring of vinyl.

  Kimini, and now a mid-engine Seven, www.midlana.com

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  Dec. 27, 2010 8:05 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  There is a tool to cover rivets, the first few are a pain, but once you get the hang of it...

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 8:44 p.m. pigeon Dork

  I like this idea for my beater 944 - I can do the basic bodywork to fix the major problems and not have to worry about paint beyond primer. There's a shop just outside my neighborhood that does professional vinyl wraps on tractor trailers, full print graphics on cars and trucks for businesses, and all the graphics on the cop cars and emergency vehicles in the region. I'll have to see what they charge for a wrap or even just for the materials.

  I wish I could find a pic of the late 80s or early 90s Mercedes touring car that had the hood wrapped in a graphic that looked like the hood was peeled open. That would be cool to replicate.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 9:05 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

  I like this idea too, but I'll be damned if I can find it for $120. Prices look to be more in the $400-$900 range for enough material to do a car.

  A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.

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  Dec. 27, 2010 10:34 p.m. Lugnut HalfDork

  I did this to both my E30 325is and my P71. I bought one 48" roll of Oracal Matte Black 651, I think, for under $200. On the Vic there were a couple places I had to splice so if I were doing a car that had that much space between panel gaps I would go for the 72" roll next time.

  Applying it is definitely a skill, much like painting. But my Crown Vic had crappy Earl Scheib taxi special paint that had begun to peel before I even had it. It just takes some prep work to get it the way you want. It was definitely a satisfying experience and I think I will be doing it again to another car.

  I can't find pics of the 325 right now, but I have some WIPs of the P71.

  

  Became...

  

  Hrmph. I have more. I need to look for them.

  I am a King Prawn.

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