Dator Finishing Touch Opinions Please

[80spitfire]

I could use a couple opinions from you guys, especially the race sled guys. As most of you probably know I'm coming to the end of my long Liquidator restoration and I'm just getting ready to put the hood on along with the other final touches. I planned to restore my sled to as close to as raced as I possibly could, which I think I succeeded in, but one thing that I'm still trying to decide is what I want to do with the hood. The original hood has some really cool pin striping and 87 hand painted on it. I really like the look of the race trim on the hood, but at the same time I really like how a stock Dator hood looks. I'm kinda leaning towards trying to find someone to stripe it or possibly do the stripes in vinyl because I love the idea of letting this sled keep its race prominence on the exterior, but yet I'm still pretty undecided at the moment. What do you guys think I should do? All opinions welcome.

Thanks,
Brian

Here's some pictures of how the original hood from my sled looks.

[Norton]

My Liquidator has two hoods. One in race colors and the other like it came out of the shipping crate. The one not on the sled at the time is in the man cave.
See how easy it is when you spend someone else's money...

keith

[WinnipegStPaul9]

When I restored the 340/S I actually found the same guy who originally lettered my 75 race sled. Man has he gotten older!!! Just kidding. Anyway he lettered my repro'd hood as close as possible to the original. No vinyl graphics in those days LOL.

DA

[JDT]

I agree with DA.
The pinstriping looks cool and was very popular in that era.
But do it with paint. Not a sticker.

[TASKY]

I too have pondered this quandry. I have found many sleds with the obligatory pinstriping some very succesful in thier design others outright offensive. To me most sleds fully restored to factory specs all though beautiful in execution lack something, a soul if you will. Am I going to change my name to Jill to match my 82 Liquifire or Gary to match my 76 helmet? No! But, I do dig the sleds in there working clothes. Somehow it makes them more realistic to me. Give the sled a name and someone will remember it. When I think back to Dators alone that I have seen. The ones I remember are not the come to life ones from factory literature but the ones with pinstriping, numbers or sponsors on the hood or even made up sponsors or combinations of things.

Wade, Mitch and Don have done some cool things in this area with their 78 Liquifires. They look like they brought them back through a time machine.

Two Hoods is an excellent idea. Hell, why not two sleds?

[JDT]

Owner's names, snowclub stickers and dealer stickers always remain on any sled I do as I feel it adds something to it.

So I agree totally with Bill and others who have left them as found.

[80spitfire]

When I restored the 340/S I actually found the same guy who originally lettered my 75 race sled. Man has he gotten older!!! Just kidding. Anyway he lettered my repro'd hood as close as possible to the original. No vinyl graphics in those days LOL.

DA

Good thing the racer hasn't aged a bit right??

In all seriousness guys, thanks you for the responses. I love the idea of two hoods; probably won't be able to afford a second for a while, but maybe someday I could get one. I also really liked how Tasky put it about the sleds soul. I completely agree that sleds with racing numbers, striping, sponsors, and names among other things are what make the race sleds seem real. I was pretty sure before I made this thread that I would redo the hood as it was, but now I'm about 99.9% sure that I'm going to do it.

Thanks,
Brian

[JRC ETD]

Only original, no one can contest back in the day......anything else is a clone! If there is one out there in a barn never raced, different deal. Perfect is pretty, original rocks overcoming any time or history! JRC

[sledder670]

I like all the old pin striping. My 80&78 liquifire both have it. Nice touch to set them apart.

[80spitfire]

I'm confused Jon. So do you think I should go original as in as raced with the striping and numbers or factory original? I should add also that the hood that is going on the sled is a absolutely perfect Dator lite hood not the smashed one in the picture; that ones going on my wall cuz it's wayy to cool to fix.

Thanks,
Brian

[JRC ETD]

Brian, original pin stripes and numbers, very authentic! Nice job, cool sled!

[80spitfire]

Brian, original pin stripes and numbers, very authentic! Nice job, cool sled!

Good deal that's what I thought you meant! Thanks for the kind words about the sled. The sled has an appointment next week to get restriped and numbered and then she will finally be a race sled again after 30 years of sitting.

-Brian

[TASKY]

I would not dream of restoring this sled without its aftermarket lettering.

[80spitfire]

Cool sled Bill! I got my hood stickered today and tomorrow it goes up to the cities to get striped and numbered. The sled gets to keep its soul!

-Brian

[I500]

So what does a guy do to a sled that looks like this?????????