How to paint around original body lettering?

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

After much deliberation, I have decided to restore Lil Twister as the Lil Twister drag race car instead of doing it as a restored car for Flight judging, so I guess I'll look for another '57 project in the future to use all my extra '57 parts on!

A pic of the left door is attached showing the painted on letters, car and twister close up. The side pic of the body shows everything else. As you see, they need touching up AND the paint on the body you see is the third paint job and it is cracking. Before I take everything off and just get an artist to replace everything on both sides of the body over a fresh paint job, I wanted to check with all you NCRS experts.

(1) Is there some way to paint the car and still preserve the hand-painted stuff, or should I just have it replaced after painting the car?
(2) Since the car came with the hood and trunk lid stripped, any ideas as to what, if anything, such as numbers, etc. might have been painted on them and where?
(3) Also, I am researching the car, but haven't come up with any race history as yet, so suggestions as to whom I might contact will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

[Steven B.]

Re: How to paint around original body lettering?

Bob, I had a buddy who tried to mask some flames and lettering on a F--- and it did not look good. The new paint was higher than the flames and letters, big contrast in color and gloss of original, and you could feel and see the difference. He finally stripped and repainted the whole car after taking pictures, measuring, and tracing the original. You could keep the door skins with the original lettering or do as was done to an original GS and rebody the car keeping the original paint and body with the Wintersteen/Murph lettering ($$$). Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: How to paint around original body lettering?

Hi all,

After much deliberation, I have decided to restore Lil Twister as the Lil Twister drag race car instead of doing it as a restored car for Flight judging, so I guess I'll look for another '57 project in the future to use all my extra '57 parts on!

A pic of the left door is attached showing the painted on letters, car and twister close up. The side pic of the body shows everything else. As you see, they need touching up AND the paint on the body you see is the third paint job and it is cracking. Before I take everything off and just get an artist to replace everything on both sides of the body over a fresh paint job, I wanted to check with all you NCRS experts.

(1) Is there some way to paint the car and still preserve the hand-painted stuff, or should I just have it replaced after painting the car?
(2) Since the car came with the hood and trunk lid stripped, any ideas as to what, if anything, such as numbers, etc. might have been painted on them and where?
(3) Also, I am researching the car, but haven't come up with any race history as yet, so suggestions as to whom I might contact will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

#1. I doubt it, but don't rush into anything. Others may have some ideas.
#2 & #3 - You have some research to do. Find where the car may have raced even if only the general area and then start looking on the internet for race tracks in that area. Some of the race sanctioning bodies may have records, but you are going to have to dig and dig. Pictures of when and where the car raced may answer your question about missing graphics. Tracking previous owners may also help with that. If you can get back to those who raced it you may find photos. Just take your time and keep digging. This is unlikely to be a quick task.