Emblem Restoration

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 model years, 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 & 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.

Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

Want to learn more about me?  Go to this article:   Meet The Vehicle Nanny