De-badging the Jimny

I did the rear badges first. I used kite line to remove the rear badges.
It's an old dodge I learned when they started sticking badges on instead of using clips and such. You need something like fishing line, kite string (better cos it is rough) or string used for ceiling light switches would do (like in toilets). By using a length of say 2 feet you can do a sawing motion to cut along behind the badge. keep your hands in close to the car bodywork, you don't want the string pulling on the badge and buckling it. It removes most of the sticky and the badge comes right off in seconds.

Then I used various solvents to shift the gunk (petrol, meth but not thinners) with the aid of a wooden peg (the tapered end of one half) as a scraper then some T Cut for deep scratches to restore the finish and remove any final weathering lines. Some slight imperceptible ghosting is still there. Take a look









After doing the rear badges



I decided to do the front. Took off the whole trim that the S is on, removed the chrome badge and had intended to leave it black but as the S shape was still there I decided to go for gold and bling it up.



Finally replaced the S with a plain insert.

I do like a gold jimny

Genuine question: why de-badge?

its free! :whistle:

GuardianAngel wrote: Genuine question: why de-badge?

Good one too. Short answer I don't know.

I've had a lot of motors in the past where the badge on the back has attracted driving behaviour that ticks me off. There is always someone who has to try their luck and have a pissing contest so I think I got into a routine of removing tells like RS, Lotus, AMG. TBH in general it works they leave me alone. Started to do it first when I had a Twin Cam Cortina and had it debadged and plain paint job from the factory.

One of the nicest surprise givers was my Cherokee - again no badges. If I felt like storming off I could cos it went like the clappers.

Another was a V8 Rover from yonks ago. Foot down and whoosh.

Maybe I have an inferiority complex but I don't think so. The SJ and Vitaras attracted the same bully boys attitude.

Now you've brought it up, just the other day I had a Jeep on my six, itching to get in front and went to pass like a fool then had to cut in to get out of trouble. I know if I had been in the Mitsy that would not have happened.

Getting back on track, the front badge (and rear) of this Jimny was chrome and it seems to clash with gold. I just preferred gold is all.

I can see something else that needs doing :whistle:

is that a silver "S" on that hub cap