Customizing GBMINI#3

Posted on by Ian C.

My plan for GBMINI#3 was to customize the exterior with chrome bonnet stripes and a “moving S” on the roof.
Julian at Sublime Restorations has been working with Scott Mackay of Thin Air Grafx; this is the design he has proposed for the roof:

GBMINI#3 “S” roof design

For the bonnet stripes, I originally investigated painting them but the cost & labor was prohibitive, so we decided to try clearcoating over vinyl chrome stripes in the hope of getting a paint-like finish; unfortunately the results are not what I hoped for:

GBMINI#3 chrome stripes mock-up

The “orange peel” mottled effect is disappointing – I was hoping for a mirror finish like the rest of the chrome on the car but somewhere between the vinyl stripes & the clearcoat, the “orange peel” appears.

I don’t know yet what to do about this … I might just try some “plain” chrome vinyl stripes; at least the cost is not too bad if I decide they are not right.
John at MINI Peabody suggested that I actually chrome a MINI hood! Expensive no doubt …

5 thoughts on “Customizing GBMINI#3”

  1. It’s a slippery slope you start talking about chroming parts of the body of a car.

    BTW have you thought about the a silver Union Jack on the top?

  2. The chrome stripe seems to be coming an ordeal now. It doesn’t seem like there’s a middle-of-the-road alternative. Perhaps you should do what I often do with things, go the cheap way (with the vinyl stripes), and after a while it may grow on you and you will feel more strongly about doing it the right way with the chrome paint, or if not you can remove them (or even replace them each year). Or perhaps the vinyl won’t look so bad with some quality wax on it.

  3. Ian,

    I used to be a “signwriter” in the IATSE union. We used many diff types of vinyl stripes. Star Trek loved that stuff but it rarely saw the light of day.

    I also had a sign company back in the 70 – 80’s and chrome vinyl wasn’t that good or flexible then. A friend of mine, who still has a sign shop, tells me the new chrome vinyls are much better and more flexible now but still have a limited exterior life. Clear coating just makes it less flexible and could start to flake depending out exterior conditions. They also tend to get more scratches.

    Seems you only keep your cars for a really limited time so why not go for it? There are great vinyl removers out there that won’t hurt you paint, so I’m told.

    I had my friend cut my stripes and I installed them. But even with the more flexible long life vinyl colors I used I have to keep wax on it. SoCal doesn’t have snow but we do have heavy sun damage.

    When I installed the stripes on my MCS I thought the hood would be the hardest part but I found that the trunk gave me the most problems. But most Mini stripes stop at the license plate and hood scoop but I took those items off for a cleaner look.

    Good Luck

  4. Ian,
    have you looked into the new chrome paint that companies are doing now? they are a little expensive, but might be what you are after. Here is a website of someone who did their entire car in the Chrome. Maybe you can get your roof, and bonnet stripes done this way?
    Chrome M3

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