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Well, thought I had it covered. Ordered new RED letters in vinyl for my soon to be white tailgate in January. Today I applied them. They sent the wrong ones , though they did spell FORD, and once applied and feeling that the raised lettering did not seem to match very well, then I pulled the release cover. If I had used them on a smooth surface, never would have noticed. I photographed them, then pealed them off, they was stuck good, was good quality vinyl. Original tailgate with letters used in 1989 They didn't look too bad in shade. Not so good in sun with shadows though. If a flat surface with no stamping, I'd have called it "Good".
Superb Graphics LLC out of Tipton, Mi. Their web sight shows so really great looking graphics of all sorts, and these are obvious high quality, just wrong. I looked at the web page, I can't find them listed now ... so I sent an Email and a bunch of pics. I looked on Ebay, saw some by "Vinyl Flex" that the seller had one set of red, he had bought out a stock from a body shop. I used those exact same ones on that old red & white tailgate in 1989, they fit perfectly. I know they are the same because I bought two sets then in 1989, still have a set, but they are white. I lookerd at seller, listing is from Waynesboro just 30 miles north of me ... I know those are right ... and they will last. I jumped on them.
I tried the vinyl also. I did not like the look or fit. I decided to remove them and then had a friend help me paint the letters. I used Ford candy apple red.
I had a second set of the Vinyl Flex letters in white that I had bought when I bought the ones on my then red tailgate panel in 1989, I bought them for $17 a set at a automotive paint supply store used by painters. , I had bought them as spares. These red letters just purchased off Ebay from a seller who picked them at a shop sale are exactly the same, just red. The white ones endured a lot, I expect the red to last as well as they are a known quality.
Detailed placement instructions are in the package.
They came yesterday ... Not bad for under $15 ... I'll get them on soon.
I had an idea before finding these of maybe using those old white letters as templates to trace out and then cut my own letters from sheet vinyl, maybe use reflective red vinyl even? Back in the '70s, would have maybe done that using "chroma-graphics" sheet, it was a real popular thing. It was available in color sheets, tapes, it was on a lot of race cars and trucks, I even used some on a motorcycle for accents, but one fellow I knew completely covered his Honda 750's tank and side covers and fenders. It still couldn't take my Trident though.
I know, sissy bar was hinky, but it did hold a extra helmet if a young lass wanted a ride. I could change the sprocket pretty quick.
Last edited by tbear853; Jun 24, 2022 at 11:24 AM.
Reason: added idea
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Back in the '70s, would have maybe done that using "chroma-graphics" sheet, it was a real popular thing. It was available in color sheets, tapes, it was on a lot of race cars and trucks, I even used some on a motorcycle for accents, but one fellow I knew completely covered his Honda 750's tank and side covers and fenders. It still couldn't take my Trident though. 
