Protecting a signature on your car.

[CarMan]

For those who may have a famous person's signature on their car. There's been discussion on other forums on how to keep the signature intact without smearing. I have a signature on metal near the engine where heat is high on my GTO. I recently used Duplicolor engine enamel clear for my application. Sprayed on 2-3 light coats over the area. That should protect your signature from smearing or getting wiped off.

Just a little info should you want to do this on your car. Here's a picture of the paint can.31

[Shelly Harris]

That's interesting. I would never have that ON my car. I think "Carman" is referring to signatures I've seen IN cars at shows where someone signs under the hood or on the upper side of the radiator frame. One that comes to mind is Carrol Shelby's sig in Shelby Mustangs. I wonder whose signature one would consider worth having in a Mark II ?

[Barry Wolk]

IMO, I don't think it enhances the car, so I wouldn't do it, but that's just me.

I had a graffiti artist sign the bucket of my lift truck, but I didn't get any more for it when I sold it.:rolleyes:

[CarMan]

Oh yes, I did mean under the hood or thereabouts....

[Barry Wolk]

Sorry, I didn't mean to come off mean. It's just that I've never understood star power. Why is an Elvis Mark II worth half a million and a high standard Mark II less than a fifth of that?

My friend has a Lincoln that was used in the late 40s to transport the Queen of England on a tour of Canada. BFD, I wouldn't give him an extra nickel for it unless I had some nefarious use for her DNA.;)

I feel the same way about collecting art from famous artists. You wouldn't believe some of the crap people buy because of who signed it.

[vancec]

So Elvis's Mark II is still around. Damn, that was the signature I was going to forge on MY car. Who does that leave? Anybody know the whereabouts of Louis Prima's car? Now that would be the shizzle.

[SLK]

I believe Elvis Presley's white 56 Mark II is at the Graceland auto museum.

[Huffstutler]

Nope, not at Graceland.

The Elvis Presley Mark II is owned by Jim McIngvale (aka Matress Mack) of Grand Furniture stores of Houston, TX. He bought it in 1999 for $287,500. He use to display it at his store but apparently since moved it after a fire. No secret he owns it as it was published in the newspapers when he purchased it in Las Vegas to support Presley Palace - a home for the poor.

If someone can get the car number from him then it can be added to the registry list.

Eric

[5bird7]

Signatures - that's a serious field of collecting all by itself. Some go for it, some don't. Some like them on paper including books, art, etc... So why not a car?

I'd really like to get a signature on my 02 Thunderbird from Nancy Gioia, the chief engineer on that program. Someday, maybe the car, she, and I will be in the right place at the right time. I have had the luck to get Doug Gaffka, chief designer for the Thunderbird, to sign our 05. and the project manager, Jim Youngs, has signed both. I don't expect any extra value on the cars but they do make a conversation piece at shows. Some owners of 04s have discovered worker signatures on the underside of the hoods of their cars and the last 05 Thunderbird built was signed by the employees that had worked on the line with the Thunderbird - in inconspicuous places of course.

As for a signature on the MarkII, I think it's rather late for any signature from a lead designer or program head, which would be the only one's I'd like.

I sort of have a signature from Al Jardine of the Beach Boys on an old dash cover that was in our 57 'bird however it has faded so bad, it's hardly readable anymore. not much value to that signature when it can't be read!

[Chuck Lutz]

Our Govenator signed a bunch of sun visors in state vehicles that were getting auctioned off a few months ago. Not exactly sure how much that offset our $20 Bil budget shortfall.

[Doc]

Collecting signatures in and, yes, on cars (Shelby, for example, has autographed the hood of many of his cars along with the dash boards, etc.; strangely, I've even seen his autograph on Cobra replicas) is a particularly interesting niche within the car hobby. The signature of NASCAR drivers is another common one--typically on cars from the manufacturer they campaign. While I'm not a fan of it, I must admit, I'd let Henry Ford autograph the cowl of my Model A were he still around and that a possibility.

Like Barry, I'm not sure I totally understand the fascination, but some of my work has brought me into contact with a number of professional athletes and I've collected alot of autographs over the years for friends and relatives who seem to get alot of joy out of having a Kobe autographed basketball, etc. When I make a cynical comment, my wife reminds me how strange it is that I get pleasure out of collecting cars (and even worse out of having toy models of the cars I collect).

[5bird7]

When I make a cynical comment, my wife reminds me how strange it is that I get pleasure out of collecting cars (and even worse out of having toy models of the cars I collect).

Heck, Doc, I can have just about all the cars I admire, just by downsizing the scale, but I, too, tend to collect only the ones we have or have had in the past. Your wife might not understand how the collection affliction has spread around our house though.

[Stank-67-98]

If someone can get the car number from him then it can be added to the registry list.

Hi Eric,
I believe I have photos of his MkII, TN auto registration, Patent Plate and some interior pix, want to also check if it has a leather head liner? I was in the Graceland museum as it was closing and all the security headed home??? I stayed back and took the photos....

Will do some digging

[Roger Zimmermann]

I feel the same way about collecting art from famous artists. You wouldn't believe some of the crap people buy because of who signed it.
Barry, I like that comment!

[Huffstutler]

If someone can get the car number from him then it can be added to the registry list.

Hi Eric,
I believe I have photos of his MkII, TN auto registration, Patent Plate and some interior pix, want to also check if it has a leather head liner? I was in the Graceland museum as it was closing and all the security headed home??? I stayed back and took the photos....

Will do some digging

Great Stan, post when you find them!

Eric

[Huffstutler]

If someone can get the car number from him then it can be added to the registry list.

Hi Eric,
I believe I have photos of his MkII, TN auto registration, Patent Plate and some interior pix, want to also check if it has a leather head liner? I was in the Graceland museum as it was closing and all the security headed home??? I stayed back and took the photos....

Will do some digging

Did you find those photos so we can have the car's VIN number?

Or did anyone contact Jim McInvale (The Matress King)?

Thanks!

Eric

[Chuck Lutz]

Did you find those photos so we can have the car's VIN number?

Or did anyone contact Jim McInvale (The Matress King)?

Thanks!

Eric

I tried to contact Matress Mac through their store website where you can send an email. Never got a response and I was very nice about it too :).

[Barry Wolk]

I never got a response from the guy that owns #1120, either. Or Barris, for that matter.

[Stank-67-98]

I found the trip albums but no car photos, they may be in the car boxes.
Maybe someone near Matress King can stop by and ask.....does anyone know which store its at?

[Barry Wolk]

Reminds me of a joke about Sofa King and their low prices.;)

[Huffstutler]

Strange that this famous car is so elusive? I believe it was at the store that had a fire in it and it was moved out but where from there? I never got an email answer either when I sent one a while back. Best to call them or him I guess and ask out right.

[crystal59]

That's interesting. I would never have that ON my car. I think "Carman" is referring to signatures I've seen IN cars at shows where someone signs under the hood or on the upper side of the radiator frame. One that comes to mind is Carrol Shelby's sig in Shelby Mustangs. I wonder whose signature one would consider worth having in a Mark II ? Elvis Frank or The Shah of Iran