We loved @VehicleNanny's blog showing how his DIY restoration of an emblem for his Camaro 🙌🏼
Reposted with permission from Vehicle Nanny.
It is the little details that count. This is especially true when putting the final touches on a vehicle restoration (or customization). I was looking for a cool emblem to put on my 2023 Camaro, and looked to the Camaro’s past for inspiration .
During the 1973-1974, Chevrolet used a tasteful badge on the “Type LT” trim for the Camaro. I started my search of one of these emblems, but was surprised at the cost. The “Type LT” emblems I found were either high dollar originals ($100+), near-high dollar reproductions ($45) or cheap used ones ($19).
DIY Solution
I wanted to add a custom touch to a new car, not a concours restoration. As such, I opted to buy the cheap used emblem. The one I found was in good shape but the black background had worn away after 50 years of use. That actually worked out for me, since I wanted the “LT” letters to be red.
Whether you are restoring an emblem to its original condition or modifying it for a custom look, the process is similar. The process I used is shown in the pictures below. I had all of the paint and material on hand, but you can get everything I used at your local hardware store.
Of course, I used Rust-Oleum paint for the entire project. The three paints are listed below:
- Primer: Rusty Metal Primer Spray
- Background: Stops Rust Enamel Spray Paint (Satin Black)
- Red letters: Protective Enamel Brush-On Paint (Sunrise Red)
Final thoughts and questions
I’m really happy with how this restored/modified emblem turned out, and plan to install it on the grill of my Camaro sometime soon. This was a fun and relatively quick project to tackle–one that I encourage you to try. Hand painting the LT letters requires a steady hand, but with the proper brush is quite easy.
Questions? Tag @VehicleNanny or @Pete in the comments below!