I've been keeping my eye open for period correct decals for the dragmaster and wandered across this. I like it but was only familiar with the rectangular one. What era does it come from? Thanks...
With Champion now being a division of Federal Mogul, the company's site provides no historical information that I could find. A Google Images search could prove interesting: http://images.google.com/images?q="champion spark plugs" Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
Try contacing the (no, I'm not kidding) Spark Plug Collectors of America. If they collect spark plugs, they probably collect spark plug advertising as well. Edit: I just did a bit of searching through some sites that sell old ads, and I couldn't find anything that looked like that. From what I found, their logo started out as a globe with Champion across it, then it went to Champion inside of a bow-tie shape sometime during the 40's or 50's, then it's been the Champion inside the bow-tie inside of the red and black rectangle since the early 60's. I'm thinking what you found was something designed by a third party and not actually from Champion. Edit part 2: What period are you shooting for with your dragmaster? The 1960's? If so, McLellan's has a genuine Champion Spark Plugs decal from 1968 for $5. http://www.mclellansautomotive.com/sales-lit/bytype/memorabilia/bymake/amc/index.shtml Item #F7440
I'm no way an expert or even 100% sure of this, but it sure looks familiar to me. I'm thinking of mid 50's contingicy(sp) decal and that I've seen it on restored circle track cars of mid 50's early 60's. Your guess is as good as mine. Frank
I found this picture of Don Garlits' Swamp Rat from 1959. If you look to the right of the header, it looks like the decal you posted. I can't say for sure as the picture is kind of small and blurry, but the colors and shape are there, and I know that his cars used Champion Spark Plugs.
Kerry, That logo was put into use in 1951 through 1962. In 1963 we changed it to the retangle version....... Glenn
Thanks Glen. Hmmmm. Maybe I'm building a late 1962 car instead of a 1963. ;-) I should add this will not be a period perfect car, I'm just shooting for the feel. I am going to use an Engle cam and put their decal on too. I've no idea if they even existed back then. Then there is the transmission...
Trust me Kerry...... it's OK....decal changes came at different times of the year each time. I'm certain that there were cars running that oval decal for years. Heck......I still see Speed Pro decals on NHRA Stockers and Super Stockers that are 25+ years old from time to time.......
A couple of good looking decals that were popular in the late 50's early 60's were the Jahns Pistons decal and the MobilGas Flying Horse decal. Iskenderian Cams decals were some of the best. The horse shaped decal (Pegasus the Flying Horse) was red and came in several sizes. Little ones were easy to come by, but if you could score a big one - about 8" high and 10" long or so they were usually put on the front fender, down low near the door. The Jahns Racing Pistons decal had the piston lying on its side with flames coming out from the bottom of the piston. I believe some of these have been re-popped as stickies, but water decals are out there. Keep in mind that drag cars back in the day weren't covered in decals like they are today. A few key ones from an actual sponsor and that was it. Imo, cars covered with stickies don't look all that good. I know, it's all about contingency money, but how often does a particular sticky laden wonder win the cl***?
Engle cams have been around since at least the early 50's, maybe sooner. We ran them in Oldsmobiles as early as 55-56. In fact, we used Engle, Jahns, Champion, Moon, Weiand, vertex, etal.
I'm not going to bury her in decals. In fact I'm going to stick with what I'm running. Here's my list so far. Mallory, Weiand, Champion, Engle I'm debating a Moon decal. I also plan on some sort of decal for Gary Roushkolb, who's doing my TIG welding and helping me get tubing bent. He built the blower for my coupe as well. Was there an earlier Engle decal?
Here's aother moon decal you might consider in place of the usual round one. I always thought this Stewart Warner decal was pretty cool. Might consider it if you're running SW gauges. Weiand also had one with a big roaring tiger head in the center.
Interesting. I had a couple of vac***-formed plastic Champion store signs - the logo, with a big 3-D spark plug over it. Got them at an old hardware store that went out of business. I bought the auto department cash register too (ever see one with keys for oil, gas, tires, etc?). Anyhow the logo on the signs is a rectangle, so now I know they're mid-60s or newer. I did keep one of them.
Please dont use peel & stick decals on your car, they just dont look right. Track down the waterslide versions. I have some of the ones you want, buy them from me or dont but whatever you do dont use peel & sticks.
What is the durability and longevity of water slide decals? Can you clear coat over them? I know that adhesive backed decals don't look the same but I don't think it's all that bad. Water slides can be pretty pricy compared to adhesive backed decals and I need to save the $$$ for the actual digger. I'd need a pretty compelling reason to go with the water slides.
After all of your hard work it's the small details that make or break. To me, I'd feel less than satisfied with a period piece, race or otherwise, that didn't look the part. New vinyl is just that...new vinyl. Very few ever cleared in their decals. Durability be dammed. As they gain that slight "tinge" of yellow over the years you now have what so many try to copy but never can. But it is after all your car. 50-60 bucks worth of proper stuff backs up the rest of your investment. For the record I don't know muttley.
I forget which one but I found one of the water slide decals for $25 each. X2 since It'll go on each side. X5 decals. That'd buy some real parts. I know I might find some cheaper but wow.
If yer gonna put Moon eyes on it, use the black & white Moon Equipped, the yellow stickers came later than 63. Water decals are made with lacquer inks, some last forever, a lot of them are died out & cracked. I've save several marginal but very cool water slide decals by lightly fogging them with Testors clear lacquer before using them.
The water slide decal on my towel holder is US Fuel & Gas Championships at Famoso 1966 and it's hanging in there just fine. Trick is, don't touch em much if you can help it. The SCTA decals on my 32 are doing well too. Those from 2000 or so. I'm fairly sure if you cleared over them they will melt. As for the Engle cams decal you showed, it's the same as the good ol daze. Little brother and I ran Engle exclusively and he still ran Engle in his 455 Olds engines in the Henry J drag racer. I like the Engle decal, but the all time best one had to be the Isky 404 jr decal. I have a small stack of a small time cam grinders decal based on the Iskenderian round pattern,but it's slightly different. And . . . like you'd figure it shows up everywere in the garage, but now that I'm looking for it. Along with the 6" x 14" piece of 1/4" stainless I bought last week for a project. Got to the point where I was ready to machine it and you guessed it . . . nowhere to be found....
Misery loves company Jay. Yesterday I laced the front wheels, trued them, cut part of the rim lip off that protruded (both sides) on the lathe, mounted tires, and went to put them on the spindles. You guessed it. I couldn't find the seals. :-/ I used to have some old SW water slides but I haven't seen them for years.
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