Sometimes it looks good, like the BRE livery on the 350Z. Gulf on new cars, not so much.
By David S. Wallens
Feb 25, 2020
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Liveries
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| From the Aug. 2011 issue
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Story by David S. Wallens • Photography as Credited
How do you make a newer car stand out? Paint it up like an old one. Retro paint jobs may not be anything new, but they still manage to stop us in our tracks. Where can you find inspiration? Hop online, flip through old magazines, or visit some events.
Photography Courtesy Porsche
The Cayman Interseries is a spec road racing series for the Porsche Cayman, but there’s a twist: All of the cars entered in this HSR-sanctioned series must wear graphics carried by past Porsche race cars.
The Porsche 917 wore some of the most memorable graphics ever applied to a race car and provides some great inspiration for today. Steve Jenkins’s Cayman is influenced by the 917K that Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood drove to the 1970 Le Mans win.
Photography Credit: photosbyjuha.com
Photograph Courtesy Ford
Thanks to their Gulf Oil sponsorship, John Wyer Automotive ran one of the world’s most iconic paint jobs on their Porsche and Ford prototypes back in the 1960s and ’70s: light-blue bodies punctuated with an orange center stripe. Gulf has continued to use those colors in motorsports, while fans have applied the look to just about everything, from Porsche 911s to VW Rabbits. Frederick Motorsports shows that the livery works well on the Mustang FR500C, too.
Photography Credit: photosbyjuha.com
Photography Credit: Bob Hines
In 1969, Mark Donohue and Ronnie Bucknum practically dominated the SCCA Trans-Am series with a pair of dark-blue Camaros backed by Sunoco and fielded by Roger Penske. The latest Camaro seriously resembles the original. You know where this is going, right? Soon after the new Camaro’s return to the showrooms, Stevenson Motorsports debuted a Camaro done in the classic Penske colors—including the Sunoco sponsorship livery.
The big kicker was Stevenson’s driver lineup for that first Grand-Am race: David Donohue, son of Mark Donohue, and Jeff Bucknum, son of Ronnie Bucknum.
Photography Credit: Al Merion
Photograph Courtesy BRE Motorsports
Last year’s Mitty celebrated Peter Brock’s achievements in motorsports. He gave shape to the Corvette Sting Ray, turned the Cobra into a Le Mans winner, and earned a string of SCCA titles for Datsun, a new face on the American scene at the time.
The Mitty race weekend includes a round of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, and Mazda presented a special treat: a car done up in BRE Datsun colors for former team driver John Morton.
Photography Credit: Anthony Neste
Photography Courtesy Barrett-Jackson
No budget? No problem. Over the years, Team Mini Me has brought several retro paint jobs to our $2K Challenges, their latest being a 1988 Dodge Aries sporting the full 1969 Dodge Super Bee look: flat-black hood, functional hood scoop and tail stripes.
Photograph Courtesy Lotus
Photograph Courtesy Ford
During the 1960s, Lotus driver Jim Clark was one of the top formula car pilots. He earned two Formula 1 titles plus the 1965 Indy 500 win, the first one for a rear-engined car. To mark the 40th anniversary of his death, in 2008 Lotus released 50 copies of the Lotus Clark Type 25 Elise SC to the European market. Each one featured a color scheme made famous by Clark’s machines, British Racing Green broken by a yellow stripe.
Photography Credit: photosbyjuha.com
Photograph Courtesy Brumos
For more than 40 years, Brumos has fielded one of America’s top Porsche teams. When the team went back to a 911 program for 2011, they reissued the classic red, white and blue livery that Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg drove to so many victories in the ’70s. Haywood said that 2010 would be his last year, but fortunately for race fans he broke that promise to join the team during the Grand-Am season opener at Daytona.
Of course, you’re free to put together your own retro look, too. For some examples, we asked Rob Ebersol to break out his art supplies and bring some ideas to life. Rob has been racing Miatas for 20 years, and by day he’s a graphic artist whose clients include Georgia-Pacific, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Motorola. Free plug: ebersol.com.
Mazda Miata: I thought about going with the Panasport wheels, but that’s what everybody is doing. The Enkei mesh style isn’t so popular on the Miata—BBS is as close as it gets. This angle asks for some screaming wheels, too, so gold it is.
I then went with the orange numbers on the meatball and some tint on the directional/parking lights. I removed the passenger seat for looks and to call out the SCCA Production-style roll bar.
I went with the bolt-on flares and front and rear spoilers for simplicity, then painted out the black rockers to bring the car down and tie the rockers in with the lower front spoiler. I tried painting the windshield frame black, but with all the white add-ons I thought it kept the car from looking too bottom-heavy.
Ford Mustang: I followed some Trans-Am cues: hood pins, flat-black hood, side stripes reminiscent of the Boss, rear wing, smaller-diameter wheels, larger sidewalls, much fatter tires, and a new nose that calls on the original Trans-Am Stang’s front spoiler.
Wheels are from the era, but not the Panasport/Minilite style since I used them on the Mini. This is more of a Shelby flat face-type wheel, but I think it looks period-correct. I was going to go with a flamboyant primary paint like on the Trans-Am cars, but I really liked the silver and flat black. You could color the body if you wanted to.
MINI: There’s classic Monte Carlo Mini in there along with influence from the ’80s and other rallies. The MINI’s got a slight lift and smaller-diameter wheels with larger-profile tires; wheels are Minilite style.
I bolted on an early Mini bumper to mount the front lights, then painted the car a satin-finish red in the spirit of the Monte Carlo cars that were nearly always red. I added the ’70s “Starsky & Hutch” stripe to pick up and integrate the front bumper line. The stripe goes to the roof over the side-rear window, which has been screened red and features a Monte Carlo tribute decal.
The rear spoiler up top is more of a modern-era item—maybe early ’80s. I could do a luggage rack up there—some of the original Minis had them—but it looks out of place on the car, sort of like it’s a safari truck.
Sometimes it looks good, like the BRE livery on the 350Z. Gulf on new cars, not so much.
In reply to Gearheadotaku :
Not that I agree or disagree, but there's an obvious exception to that theory:
slowbird said:In reply to Gearheadotaku :
Not that I agree or disagree, but there's an obvious exception to that theory:
That's because the car itself is trying to look old.
Liveries today are easy to do with a computer and a vinyl wrap. This means it's tempting to go all Red Bull on it and cover the car in detail. Too often, designers forgo simplicity and geometric strength, which is what makes the old designs work so well. Plus we associate them with certain successes.
Martini stripe all the things.
I could be convinced.
I've also always had a soft spot for Momo Livery.
I keep threatening to paint my wife's X-Terra Calsonic Blue.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Gulf colors on a Ford GT or Mustang? Works. Gulf colors on a battered Pinto...or even a Mustang II? NO.
But then, I am biased as I have considered doing BRE colors on a Sentra....doesn't really matter which generation after the 2006 model.
Some retro liveries look great on modern cars. A lot don't.
Modern liveries for the race cars that get a lot of national TV coverage are sterile, bland, or just cool kid Kyle edgy. I can't think of many that make me go "wow that's [insert adjective to describe the artists work here]." The Plaff Porsche GTD is an exception; but, then again it's just buffalo plaid.
Even the recent BMW art cars have been a bit of a drag.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
I like pre 60's livery where the car is painted the colors of the country. Absolutely no advertisements.
This would go over well down at the local 711....
In reply to Gearheadotaku :
Couldnt agree more!
If you get paid to drive then put all the sponsors you want on your car.
I dont see the appeal of brand loyalty to a sponsor decal when you are going to slow lap a new gt3 with the PCA at a DE no matter how cool it looked or historic the decal is.
Seems kinda poseur if you ask me. People get sore over putting M or GT badges on non-m or non-gt cars but then walk over to their street car with full racecar livery? PAHLEESE.
Now gulf livery on a ford escort? Yes. That would be approved by the board of Olemiss540 trustees.
The old Motorcraft stripe design holds up pretty well, actually.
So does the Wood Brothers NASCAR livery.
Our local dealer spent a considerable amount of money to have these done, including six figures (I heard) to have the Gulf logo embossed in the headrests. Sometimes, I think Vaughn has too much dough.
https://autofile.ca/en-ca/auto-articles/factory-finished-gulf-liveried-porsche-918s-only-in-canada
its easy now to have someone vinyl wrap your car in any logo design you can find ,
Think how many hours it took to do it back in the day !
I know exactly how long it takes! I was partway through masking out the red small stripes to paint coat #3 of 4 of the Martini livery when I realized why everyone goes with Gulf...
Putting Gulf and Martini aside, I think this A90 Supra in classic HKS livery looks absolutely spectacular.
G_Body_Man said:
Putting Gulf and Martini aside, I think this A90 Supra in classic HKS livery looks absolutely spectacular.
quoting because that's one of the few vintage liveries that looks excellent on a modern car.
Falken liveries always look great too.
Yeah gulf, reknown 787b, the pig, and martini are WAY over done and barely looked good in the original cars. They look hideous on anything new.
the last thing I want to see on a brand new 911 is a pork cutlet. And gulf on anything other than what it originally came on is hysterical. Comical at best.
If you search for original liveries, it's super hard to find any. Too many "control+C, control+V". That's why I use the livery maker in gran turismo. It makes for some very original designs. 
slowbird said:The old Motorcraft stripe design holds up pretty well, actually.
So does the Wood Brothers NASCAR livery.
Graphics made to compliment body lines are awesome. Translating straight lines to a bubble car, not so much.
Actually the 2nd rustang would look less bad if the lines didn't touch the top of the wheel arch, and the motorcraft logo was spread out a little.
I need a livery for a 1972 Corolla. One of you people that are handy with computer graphics programs ought to be able to whip up something stunning. 
_ said:. And gulf on anything other than what it originally came on is hysterical. Comical at best.
The Gulf colours are actually John Wyer's colours. After the Gt40 they were used on his Porsche 917s and the Mirage cars that JWAE built and won with.
frenchyd said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
I like pre 60's livery where the car is painted the colors of the country. Absolutely no advertisements.
Blame Colin Chapman he got the John Player Red Leaf sponsorship for Lotus and it's been downhill ever since.
DirtyBird222 said:G_Body_Man said:
Putting Gulf and Martini aside, I think this A90 Supra in classic HKS livery looks absolutely spectacular.
quoting because that's one of the few vintage liveries that looks excellent on a modern car.
Falken liveries always look great too.
Agreed!!
Shameless self promotion...
Somebody find me a red based one that would work on a first gen 4 door neon.....
Because other than momo, im striking out.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
I'll play along. I copied a BMW art car, I know I know...from manufacturer
In reply to Box4VIR :
That's beautiful, it was my favorite of the Art Cars and works well on the Boxster.
Rons said:_ said:. And gulf on anything other than what it originally came on is hysterical. Comical at best.
The Gulf colours are actually John Wyer's colours. After the Gt40 they were used on his Porsche 917s and the Mirage cars that JWAE built and won with.
I think you've got that backwards. JWA used the Gulf colors because they were sponsored by Gulf. https://www.gulfoilltd.com/timeline/sport/
You see Gulf a lot because it's really easy. Doing something that flatters the body lines of a car is a lot harder. Martini liveries - with a few lazy exceptions - were all designed to suit the specific body they were wrapped around.
Dusterbd13-michael said:Somebody find me a red based one that would work on a first gen 4 door neon.....
Because other than momo, im striking out.
Trying to keep it "in the family" somewhat I found the following.
This one seems like an obvious choice, but it's only about half red:
It's been done though:
Probably the easiest to execute, but perhaps not very recognizable on anything that's not a Viper:
This one's not that vintage, or widely recognizable, but I like it:
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
In reply to Keith Tanner :
I may have over stated the relationship - I read it as Wyer brought Gulf sponsorship to his WEC program that covered various chassis, and the colours were the programs, and not the chassis.
Agreed - the Gulf-sponsored JWE team ran a number of chassis under the same colors. IIRC JWE didn't run the blue and orange on GT40s until Gulf came on board as a sponsor.
Uuuum JPS!
In reply to John Welsh :
Build thread?
Justjim75 said:In reply to John Welsh :
Build thread?
Hey GRM, you spelled "BRE Datsuns" wrong.
No one mentioned the great Martini livery on the new 935
I like that Martini stripe on the 911. A local PCA'er here has done a much more extensive Martini livery on his 996 and it looks horrible IMO. Just the Martini stripe is more subtle.
my favorite racecar is Alain Prost's f1. What if Williams Renault made a sports racer, it might look like my Spec Racer Ford Gen3
Dusterbd13-michael said:Somebody find me a red based one that would work on a first gen 4 door neon.....
Because other than momo, im striking out.
Gran turismo 1 is your friend.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Dirt Late Models are guilty of this.
To me nothing will ever beat well-done Martini stripes on a white Porsche 911, especially if the rims are painted red as well. Although the gulf oil livery on the right car can look pretty awesome as well.
I'm kind of shocked there doesn't seem to be any examples of the Millen Motorsports Pikes Peak RX-7 livery on anything modern.
I kind of want a white ND RF Miata to do it to now. Also a trailer sporting Panasports, but that's a different story.
How about vintage or vintage-esque liveries on vintage 911's? 
My friend and dealer (kinda like drugs but Miata parts) did this in Birmingham Alabama and went to Pike's Peak and Miatas at Laguna Seca. Keith has seen it in person i believe.
Ohh.. an internet arguement about other peoples preferences.. Can I cast judgement as well?
Justjim75 said:
My friend and dealer (kinda like drugs but Miata parts) did this in Birmingham Alabama and went to Pike's Peak and Miatas at Laguna Seca. Keith has seen it in person i believe.
I have! He stopped by our shop. I was about to mention it in response to the Millen comment. Thanks.
The Renown livery on the ND Miata is new to me. I have to admit I don't think of it as vintage, but it is nearly 30 years old. It's also 100% appropriate for a Miata.
911s aren't modern cars, they wore those liveries when new :)
About Martini - it has to be modified to suit the car. There are a handful of basic designs but the main rule is that it works with the shape. The stripes are organic and can change width to accentuate the body lines. This also means it's difficult to do.
Those who just put a strip up the middle are being lazy and their cars don't do the history of the livery justice. That new 935 looks great and Williams really rocked it on the F1 cars.
Not really vintage livery on modern car, but vintage livery on vintage car. I'd sure love to replicate the Archer Brothers livery on my 1990 Eagle Talon for rallycross duty
The0retical said:I'm kind of shocked there doesn't seem to be any examples of the Millen Motorsports Pikes Peak RX-7 livery on anything modern.
I kind of want a white ND RF Miata to do it to now. Also a trailer sporting Panasports, but that's a different story.
It's sort of been done! Courtesy of engiekevs buddy, midwestwankel!
He is a GRMer, Rx7Kevin or some such.
In reply to engiekev :
Ha I didn't know that
Fueled by Caffeine said:Ohh.. an internet arguement about other peoples preferences.. Can I cast judgement as well?
Yeah, who needs debate over cars and car stuff? That should be limited to only websites about car stuff!
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