Decal and Paint Design Question
 

I'm repainting a Lotus Eclair. When I got it, it looked like this:

http://i.imgur.com/nDMBF.jpg

Here's a similar Eclair in better condition:

http://i.imgur.com/Ff9D7.jpg

I'm not doing a rattlecan job. I had the bike sandblasted and I used automotive epoxy primer. Now I'm planning out the paint. I'm going with metallic bronze with cream/white panels.

I can't decide on the decal. I figured out the font is Tahoma and I found a place to print them. But honestly I hate how they look. The design just looks plain and cheap, not something you'd find on a classic touring bike. I know the purists will hate this, but I'm thinking to doing something different and looking for ideas.

I'm not going with an authentic/original drivetrain or color scheme so I'm not concerned with keeping the bike authentic but the bike has a lot of nice stamped Lotus details and I was able to restore the headbadge so I'd like to put Lotus somewhere on the bike. I plan on still doing the headtube cream white and I like how the panel is on the seat tube more than the bottom tube.

So if you have any favorite decal designs or paint schemes, I'd love to hear some suggestions.

Maybe try to do something with text on an angle. I recently saw a nice example of a Follis that had been re-branded with the marquee wrapping around the seat tube in a fairly bold typeface... Aachen, I think. Of course, I can't locate the photograph now.

BTW, there's no way that font is Tahoma. I'm pretty sure Tahoma didn't exist when the Lotus was built.

I just think if you stay tasteful and accurate as far as the information, you'll be fine.

Personally, I would dispense with the vertical lettering in the ST entirely and change the scheme to a DT script logo, with but two simple bands about the seat tube to match the head tube panel.

PS - I would outline the panels in thin gold striping to complement the restored headbadge. Nice job on that BTW.

I like ST decals without the background color. Instead, I would have just the individual letters.

Like this Lotus for example, which was in my keeper fleet until the chrome Katakura showed up:

Closeup of the DT decal (seat tube decal is the same):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6...6208535e_z.jpg


And then the entire bike:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6185/6...6c900fc9_b.jpg

I like the idea, reminded me of the 2012 Raleigh Roper so I made this mockup
http://i.imgur.com/gVC5b.jpg

Tried it but I wasn't too hot on it. The place I'm ordering from doesn't do the letter outline, otherwise it might have looked good. But I love those chrome stays.

You could play off the Lotus Cars emblem:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Lotus_logo.png

Cream on British Racing Green might look nice with your paint scheme.

The letters only work with the letter outlining IMHO.

You could just go retro and use the first-generation ink transfer decals we've reproduced. We also have a few "custom" small LOTUS decals that we printed in both script and the Copperplate style in a vertical and horizontal format. We also have the script Eclair decal in the Edwardian font.

We also have two-color Lotus flower decals in black and gold.

If you want we could possibly put you together a custom combination for a reasonable price. Right now a basic set of 7 is $19.95 (includes shipping).

These are real decals, professionally screen printed ink, dry transfer, NOT cut or printed sign vinyl. We also have two different formulations of decals, one for top-mounting on existing paint and another that is super-thin for clearcoating.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...sheet-sale.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...lower-gold.jpg