A Cowgirl's Dream

May 1, 2006 9:07 AM

Where can I find Western-style truck decals?

I have this Subaru Forester, right, and though I love it as a car, it really bothers me that it is a standard soccer-mom vehicle. I'm not a soccer mom. I have plastered it with bumper stickers in an attempt to convey a crunchier outdoorsy image. But recently I had this new idea: it would be really, really fun to take all the other stickers off and just decorate with those long, curlicued Western-style flourishes that you often see on F-150 trucks in the South and West.

I don't know where those things come from, or what they even are. Are they painted on, or stickers? I've googled all sorts of things such as "western" "truck" "decals" "stickers" and I've found only a lot of cactuses and bucking-bronco stickers. What I'm looking for are more just the long decorative lines.

I think the Forester will look hilariously nifty dressed up to honky-tonk.

posted by Miko to grab bag (12 comments total)

This google search yielded some results, including these. Not quite what you're looking for, but may get you started.
posted by interrobang at 9:11 AM on May 1, 2006

I think you're looking for pinstriping? Despite having seen a million photos, I'm having trouble finding appropriate ones now. Sorry. More coffee.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 9:14 AM on May 1, 2006

If you mean pinstriping like you'd see on a big rig (F150s around here just have magnetic yellow ribbons) -- like this overkill example -- then that's typically painted on.
posted by mendel at 9:14 AM on May 1, 2006

I'd just make it a woody.
posted by kcm at 9:21 AM on May 1, 2006

Yes, mendel, like on the big rig! Only I'm sure I've seen them on normal pickup trucks. Maybe they were factory detail, though.

I'd just make it a woody.

That's a great idea. Am I ready to become a car customizer, though? I don't know. I already have a lot of expensive nerdy hobbies.
posted by Miko at 10:02 AM on May 1, 2006

Much of what you see are vinyl graphics. A lot of graphic installers do business with car dealerships and detail shops. Look around at various car dealerships in your area and if you see a dealer carrying cars with graphics, talk to the sales manager and see if he/she can set you up with their vendor.
posted by buggzzee23 at 10:10 AM on May 1, 2006

Yes, mendel, like on the big rig! Only I'm sure I've seen them on normal pickup trucks. Maybe they were factory detail, though.

To clarify: I didn't mean "no-one does that on pickup trucks", just "I don't remember seeing pickups like that around here so I better clarify before I tell you they're handpainted".
posted by mendel at 10:16 AM on May 1, 2006

How about a sticker of Calvin peeing on something, perhaps a Ford or Chevy? Or, if you live in So. Cal., Calvin wearing a sombrero peeing on "La Migra"? Or if you live in the South, Calvin peeing on the number 5...

/momentarily confusing Ask MeFi for Fark.com
posted by drmarcj at 10:59 AM on May 1, 2006

Miko, your profile says you live in Portsmouth, NH. Drive to the nearest truck stop and wander the accessories aisle. You're sure to find something tacky there.

Failing that, you could probably Froogle yourself some cow horns to mount on the hood.
posted by scratch at 11:11 AM on May 1, 2006

If you're a feminist, you could contact this blog and ask if you can use their logo, then try to get mudflaps made.

JC Whitney has a lot of fun-looking decals and stuff, including a wood grain customizing kit!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:17 PM on May 1, 2006

What do you mean, IF I'm a feminist?

Just kidding, and thanks. They do make Mudflap Boy stickers, meeting the need for statements such as that. But I'm not interested in images, just in decorative curlicues.
posted by Miko at 5:56 PM on May 1, 2006

Maybe give this site a try. It looks like they have decals for everything. Pirates! Kickboxing, sport of the future! Flames! A basilisk! Petroglyphs!
posted by MsMolly at 6:32 PM on May 1, 2006