Specs?

[PunkinBug]

Jim and I were discussing being cheap and getting some shiney black vinyl to cover Lulus roof with. I saw a golf that was done this way and I liked it just as much as paint... maybe Trooper too.. Is there a site somewhere with specs so I can just go to a sign shop and have them cut it for me? We dont have a sunroof if that helps. Or can they just measure the car?

New to vinyl.

[noR]

They can probably just measure the car. I have NO idea how you could do that in one piece though; but it's probably possible; I just haven't seen any 4' wide rolls of vinyl before.

[PunkinBug]

Now to find a sign shop
It would be nice if theyd just do all the work, Im lazy. I think the golfs roof is wider than the beetles, or comparable at least. Maybe its something I can special order somewhere.

[FineExampl]

I'd find a place that's familiar with doing this sort of thing. You don't want to get any air pockets, moisture pockets, or dirt or dust underneath it. With the black, it will show up as bumps more clearly. Especially if it's shiny.

[FineExampl]

Originally Posted by noR

They can probably just measure the car. I have NO idea how you could do that in one piece though; but it's probably possible; I just haven't seen any 4' wide rolls of vinyl before.

I think i have. My cousin-in-law does vinyl cutting and he has had some wide rolls. 4ft though? Hmm you might be right.

[k8thegr8]

Vinyl most definately comes in rolls at least 52" wide, maybe wider. I work for a large format printer. 52" is the widest we can print or plot, so that's as wide as we ever order.

I would definitely suggest you have a pro apply the vinyl for you.

[xXRockyHorrorsXx]

Im trying to figure out how vinyl on the roof of a beetle would look. In my mind, i would picture it coming out looking kinda cheap. I guess i will just have to see it....

[noR]

Depends on the vinyl and installer I imagine.

Well laid vinyl should be near paint quality....

You won't get the same reflection off it (can you wax vinyl?) but it should look okay still.

I've seen a few nice vinyl jobs on hoods and such.

Biggest worry I'd have w/the roof is that it's eye level; so it'll be REAL easy to pick out imperfections.

[gilligan]

Generally they wrap it first then cut it to fit not cut it to fit then apply it. yes without a professional wrap installer you'll never get it nice enough to be proud of.

[PunkinBug]

It looking cheap doesnt bother me, the car looks pretty cheap as it is -covers Lulu's ears? Mirrors?- and I figure I could always have it ripped off if it looked like absolute crap. But it looked great on the golf, in fact she's a show winner, so its worth a try on Lulu since we have nothing to lose! -uncovers mirrors-

Any idea what to look for in a shop? Just any sign shop? How do I find someone who is "used to" such a thing?

[SilverSportNOLA]

Find the dealer in your area that sold/leased the BestBuy Geek Squad cars ... the ones in this area I have seen are black cars with white vinyl for all the white parts ... find out who laid the vinyl on them.

[SilverSportNOLA]

I saw them at the dealership here when they were delivered ... I was wondering if VW was offering a new even stranger paint color ... Police Two Tone when I first saw them coming off the truck one night when passing the dealer.

Here are a few pix I found on the net ....

See how the black really shines .... and the white is ... well vinyl white not so mirror finished.


you can see that it is white vinyl over the door in this one.




It didn't say it but ... this is probably the new California One ... the CHiPs made them change the color because they looked too much like highway patrol cars. So ... the just removed some of the white vinyl from the sides.

[PunkinBug]

Hey thanks! I didnt know they were vinylley (theres a new one for ya), i thought they were painted. Im excited to be the guinea pig.

[mgwerks]

I would think the toughest part of getting the roof vinylled would be getting it stretched to smoothly adhere to the compound curves over such a broad expanse. It was kinda like back in the day, wiht installers trying to get tint to cover the old beele rear windows in one piece, or the NB rears, for that matter. Some can do it, a lot cannot.