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I made some cosmetic mods to the Vantage. I added some yellow lipstick and changed the color of the rear diffusers. I also removed the ugly bumperettes and the (redundant) Aston Martin script from the rear bumper. Finally, I had full PPF installed -- satin for the black pieces including the roof and glossy everywhere else. I really like the new look and the car was well received at the local cars and coffee.
BEFORE
Stock front 3/4
Stock rear 3/4
AFTER
Lipstick on a catfish
Rear diffusers in yellow
Aston Martin script removed along with bumperettes
I've personally never liked the lipstick look (and lol on the catfish), but the way you did the front as just an inner trim looks great. The rear diffuser I personally think is too much yellow.
Anything done to the front is an improvement (Smile) Props for having the courage to be different. I think it improves the overall look. Remember this is all subjective. The most important thing is that YOU like it.
^ He had to get the humongous holes left by them filled (some pics of the process in the official picture thread).
You know I approve of lipstick... but I'm waiting for the response of someone on here who won't, and who loves to use the internet as a tool for making himself feel superior to others. lol
Thanks, guys! I really like the yellow accents. I wasn't sure at first so I did them in vinyl on top of the PPF so it's removable if I change my mind. The yellow vinyl is a very close match to the OEM yellow brake calipers. It didn't have to be an exact match since the calipers and the yellow accents aren't really next to each other. If the vinyl covering the rear aero pieces start peeling off then I may have the aero pieces painted an exact match to the calipers. As for the Aston Martin script/text and rear bumperettes, the decision to get rid of those was a no brainer -- the bumper looks so much cleaner without them!
Removing the bumperettes took a lot of work. First, behind the black bumperettes are metal extrusions that bolt on to the bumper (it made sense the Aston would just bolt on the metal pieces instead of making a US-specific bumper). Removing the bumperettes and underlying metal pieces left the bumper cover with two big holes that needed to be covered (plastic welded some cutouts), refinished, then painted to match. Removing the bumper was the hard part since it bolts on from the inside, requiring removal of the trunk liner, etc. There was also about 30 feet of wiring for the parking sensors and camera that had to be labeled (so they go in the right spot on re-assembly) then put out of the way. Here is a pic of the prep that gives you an idea on the size of the holes left after removing the metal extrusions.
The lipstick was also done in yellow vinyl. The shape was laid out using 3M knifeless vinyl tape following the shape of the front edge of the splitter.
