Before: damaged stripe section following panel repair.
After: fully restored to original factory specification.
There are cars, and then there are cars. A Vermillion Orange Ford GT 351 with its classic black bonnet and side stripes isn't just a vehicle — it's a piece of Australian automotive history. When one of these is involved in an accident and the bodywork gets repaired, there's one job left that a panel beater can't do: restoring the original striping to factory specification so it looks like it was never touched.
That's exactly why the owner of this beautiful GT 351 called Bodymold Signs.
The job: insurance repair meets vintage stripe restoration
After an accident damaged one side of the vehicle, the car went through a full panel repair. The bodywork was immaculate — but the original Ford GT 351 black stripe across the affected section was gone. For most modern cars, replacing a graphic or decal is straightforward. For a vintage classic like this, it's a completely different challenge.
The original stripe graphics on a GT 351 are decades old. The factory specifications, the exact widths, the precise positioning relative to body lines, the original vinyl type — none of this is off-the-shelf. And because the stripes span both sides of the vehicle symmetrically, any replacement that doesn't match the untouched side perfectly is going to be immediately obvious to anyone who knows these cars.
This is where most signage shops would either turn the job away — or produce a result the owner would never be satisfied with.
With a car like this, close isn't good enough. The stripe has to be right — original width, original position, original colour. A GT 351 owner will spot a millimetre's difference from ten metres away.
— Andrew, Bodymold Signs, Kingsgrove NSWHow we restored the stripes to factory specification
Our approach to vintage car stripe restoration and classic car decal replication is methodical. We don't guess, and we don't approximate. Here's exactly how we worked through this job:
Australia's most comprehensive vintage vehicle aftermarket stripe catalogue
One of the reasons we could tackle this job with confidence is what's behind us: Australia's most comprehensive aftermarket stripe and decal catalogue for vintage and classic vehicles. We've been building this catalogue since 1973 — over 50 years of documenting, measuring and producing replica graphics for Australian and imported classic cars.
This means that for a huge range of classic Ford Falcon stripe kits — XW GT, XY GT, XA GT, XB GT — as well as Holden Monaros, early Toranas, Chargers and many more, we already hold the specifications. We don't need to start from scratch. If your classic car has lost its original stripes, there's a very strong chance we already have what we need to reproduce them to the original factory standard.
Classic vehicles we regularly restore stripes for
- Ford Falcon GT — XW, XY, XA, XB series (bonnet stripes, side stripes, GT blackouts)
- Ford Mustang — Boss 302, Boss 351, Mach 1, Shelby GT stripes
- Holden Monaro — HK, HT, HG, HQ GTS stripes and bonnet scoops
- Holden Torana — GTR, A9X stripes and racing liveries
- Chrysler Valiant Charger — E38, E49 racing stripes
- Ford Cortina, Capri and Escort RS stripe kits
- Classic Holden HQ, HJ, HX Kingswood and Premier graphics
- Any vintage vehicle where we can trace from the existing opposite panel
We can replicate stripes from photos, panels or existing vehicles
Even if your classic car's stripes are completely gone on both sides — or you're working from a historical photo, a magazine feature, or a reference vehicle — we can still produce an accurate replica. Our graphic replication service works from:
Existing vehicle panels — we trace and digitise directly from the car, as we did in this case, mirroring from the undamaged side.
High-resolution photographs — we can scale, correct and digitise stripe profiles from reference photos, including historical images and period car show photographs.
Our own catalogue — for most major Australian and imported classic vehicles from the 1960s through to the 1990s, specifications already exist in our database ready to produce.
Owner-supplied specifications — if you have measurements, original workshop manuals, or factory decal references, we can work from those too.
This capability is what makes us the go-to resource for classic car decal restoration in Sydney and nationally — we ship kits express Australia-wide for owners who want to do their own installation, and we offer a full on-site or workshop installation service for jobs that need a professional finish.
A note for panel beaters and insurance repairers
If you run a panel shop or manage insurance vehicle repairs in Sydney, this is worth bookmarking. One of the most common finishing gaps in classic car insurance repairs is the graphic and stripe restoration. The structural and paint repair is done perfectly — but then a 1970s GT Falcon leaves the workshop with no stripes, or with stripes that don't match the original specification, and the owner is unhappy.
We offer a direct callout service to panel shops and insurance repairers across the Sydney metro area. We come to you, assess the vehicle, produce the replacement graphics to original specification, and install them before the car leaves your workshop. It's a complete, professional finish — and it means your customer gets their classic car back looking exactly as it should.
Call Andrew on 0434 444 534 to discuss a trade account or regular referral arrangement.
The result
The finished car is exactly what it should be — a Vermillion Orange Ford GT 351 wearing its original black stripes with pride. The owner was able to take delivery from the panel shop with the restoration complete, and the vehicle is now back on the road looking every bit the icon it is.
If you look at both sides of this car today, you cannot tell which stripe is the original and which is the restoration. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every vintage car stripe restoration we undertake.
Frequently asked questions: vintage & classic car stripe restoration
Can you replicate stripes for a car where both sides are damaged or missing?
Yes. We can work from reference photographs, historical documentation, period magazine features, or our own extensive catalogue. For most major Australian and American classic vehicles, we already hold the specifications.
How accurate is the colour matching on vintage vinyl?
We cross-reference against original factory vinyl specifications and use premium vinyl stock to match the original finish as closely as possible. For most classic Australian vehicles, we can match the original factory colour to a standard that is visually indistinguishable under normal conditions.
Do you work with insurance companies and panel shops?
Yes — this is a significant part of what we do. We offer a direct callout service to panel shops and can provide itemised quotes that meet insurance repair documentation requirements. Call Andrew on 0434 444 534 to discuss.
Can I get a DIY stripe kit for my classic Ford Falcon or Holden Monaro?
Absolutely. We produce and ship replica stripe kits Australia-wide for a huge range of classic vehicles. If your model is in our catalogue, we can have a kit ready to ship within days. If it's not, contact us — we may still be able to produce one from reference material.
What's the difference between a replica stripe kit and an original?
Original factory stripes from the 1960s–80s were typically painted or applied using vinyl technology of the era — often less durable than modern materials. Our replica kits use contemporary cast vinyl that is actually more weather-resistant and longer-lasting than the originals, while maintaining accurate colours and dimensions.
Got a classic car that needs its stripes restored?
We hold Australia's most comprehensive vintage vehicle aftermarket stripe catalogue — and we can replicate from photos, existing panels, or our own records. Workshop at Kingsgrove, Sydney. Express shipping Australia-wide for DIY kits. Call Andrew on 0434 444 534 or email info@bodymoldsigns.com for a quote.
