Projects Corona Project,vintage STP display rack

A few weeks ago I came across an add on the internet for a case of 20 vintage STP cans. Now, I'm not a big fan of the stuff, but they only wanted 20 bucks for all of it so naturally I thought "That's a real value! I can't pass that up".
STP is one of the first Automotive products that I can remember from my childhood. In about 1964 I recall going to the local swimming pool and there, parked in the bike rack was a new Sting-Ray bike with an STP sticker stuck on the seat. MAN! to a 7 year old me, that was so cool!. Ever since then I've had at least an appreciation for their advertising if not the product itself.
So here I've got all these cans. I need a way to display them appropriately .

 

Cool.

 

Of course you can buy genuine STP racks on E-Bay, but they're pretty pricey, and besides, where's the challenge in that? So I decided that since I'm under "self quarantine" I'll whip one up myself. I just need to find material around the property that can be re-purposed in to a rack. A couple of old folding chairs looked like good candidates. After dis-assembling them I had the makings of my rack.

 

Watching with interest.

 

I laid out the basic dimensions on the operating table.

 

With some cutting and splicing I came up with a simple design for the shelving.

 

With one shelf done , a quick test was in order.

 

Let this be a source of inspiration to you, but NOT a road map to fruition! I too as a kid had STP stickers on my bike and just about everything!

 

Two shelves done. Have to keep checking it out to keep motivation going.

 

Top shelf done. Getting closer.

 

Bonus! I have enough stuff left over to do something else. Another time maybe.

 

Now bondo up all the holes.

 

Prime.

 

To add a little class, I'm going to re-use the anti-scuff caps on the leg bottoms. They were pretty bruised up. Turns out they fit on the big end of a 1/2 inch extension so I chucked one up in the drill press and turned them down a little with some sand paper. Not perfect but much nicer.

 

Super! Clever use of those old chairs, I’ll be keeping this in mind.


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Now it's painted with the caps in place. I went with an off white.

 

Now all you have to do is come up with a repo metal STP sign for the top section! Great project!!

 

Now for the finishing touch. An STP sign from E-Bay for $20. (I know, I'm getting buried in this project) I think it has a nice look to it though. Almost looks legit. The real ones are made out of wire and pretty cheap looking.

 

Here it is next to my oil can rack built the same way.

 

Love it. Thanks for sharing!

 

If you're wondering what UTOCO is , it's an offshoot of American oil that was here in Utah from about the 1930's until 1962. The cans are re-wrapped Quaker State with label's my graphic design daughter made up for me. A little application of the glue stick and they look really convincing.

 

That is one of the coolest home made racks I've seen. Hope you don't mind, I think I'm going to copy your idea.

 

Let me preface what I am going to say with this. This damn coronavirus is going to have wide ranging results. I mean it has guys setting quarantined in there homes taking chairs apart and making STP racks out of them, and using spray paint and "Bondo" in the process. Who knows how this is going to end up?

Now very cool project and I am envious of your results and hell just the idea to do it. Maybe this crap virus is bringing out the creativity in some of us. Maybe there are some side effects that we are not aware of just yet.

 

Love the STP project. When I was a kid growing up in the late 60's early 70's there was an ARCO station that would give all the kids in the neighborhood free STP stickers. Every one of our Stingray bikes had at the minimum an STP sticker on the banana seat. Some were on sissy bars, mini bikes, garage walls, in tree forts, etc. Don't know if it ever helped them sell any additional product but it sure got their name out there!

 

Very cool job on the STP rack. Great work.

 

Very nice job creating the rack. Outside of the box for sure.

 

The rack is nice, simple, not expensive, it does the job, and looks good to. Kudos to you.

 

Nice job! You've given me ideas!

 

Now I need to find 14 more cans of unopened STP oil and a couple of chairs...