A Spark of Inspiration Mid-Project
When I was deep into the process of re-creating a 1957 American Motors dealership banner for my friend’s Rambler Rebel restoration, I found myself intrigued by the car’s oddball charm. Its rarity fascinated me. My friend had showed me the 1957 Rambler Rebel in his workshop, which he’s been pouring his heart into restoring, it was in its bare metal current state. Its unibody design was clearly visible and surprising, I didn’t know that any cars were made by American Automakers in the 1950s where the body structure itself provides the main strength.
Curious to understand how this innovation came about, I dove into research. I uncovered fascinating details about the car’s legacy. Monocoque construction contributed to its lightweight agility and record-breaking 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds in 1957 at the Daytona Beach Speed Week. The research also yielded low-resolution images of the car speeding along the test track, and still images of it at Daytona Beach Speed Week.
It occurred to me that the bold graphic design of the banner, with its vintage fonts and striking colours, would look great on a t-shirt. This would be especially true if I paired it with a digital illustration of the Rebel in motion on the track.
Crafting the T-Shirt Design: From Banner to Apparel
The design process kicked off with an adaptation of the banner’s core elements, starting with its classic red, yellow, black, and white color scheme. Next came a careful recreation of the iconic “Rambler Rebel” typographic logo, lifted straight from the front cover of a 1957 brochure sourced from a friend’s prized American Motors automobilia collection. These elements were then formatted to suit apparel, setting the stage for a digital illustration of the 1957 Rambler Rebel. The car’s sleek silhouette and silver sheen sprang to life, depicted racing along the AMC test track, infusing a dynamic sense of motion to contrast the banner’s static elegance.
Bringing the Vision to Life
This final artwork found its home prominently on the front of a vibrant red t-shirt, where the car and banner graphic popped vividly against the fabric. For a subtle nod to vintage dealership style, a small “Rambler Rebel” badge print was added to the back, nestled between the shoulders. The result weaves together mid-century design with modern flair, crafting a wearable tribute to the Rebel’s pioneering spirit as America’s first muscle car.
Showcasing the Finished Garment
The photographed garment, a red t-shirt, brings the design to life. This project wasn’t just about creating a t-shirt. It was about celebrating a forgotten American muscle car. This icon still resonates with car enthusiasts like my friend. Available now for fellow Rambler fans, this tee lets you wear a piece of automotive history with pride.
Surface Active Custom T-Shirt Order Form
Here’s how you shop for your Men’s, Women’s or Kids’ 57 Rambler Rebel t-shirts, sweatshirts or hoodies:
- Direct from New Brighton: Order directly from Shaun Waugh for a custom made heat-pressed shirt. Ideal for pick-up at my New Brighton Seaside Market stall Saturdays, or to send further afield via courier post.
- This design is available in red only, on t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies.
- Note t-shirt size information is below the order form
Details: Our high resolution artwork and water-based ink system ensure that our art prints are crisp and vibrant. The sharpness and details of small dots and fine lines are clear and well defined. The prints are securely bonded to the fabric. They feel soft, smooth and blended in with the garment. While our T-shirts are well made from 100% combed ring-spun cotton*, they’re constructed from 185gsm (mid-weight) fabric, pre-shrunk, anti-pill.
- Tight knit for superior printability and handfeel
- Side seams for better fit and to prevent twisting
- Shoulder to shoulder reinforcing tape
- Twin-needle stitching on body and sleeve hems
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Thank you so much for purchasing one of our Surface Active tees.
While our delivery target is 1 week, we ask that you allow us up to 2 weeks to print and deliver your custom made T-shirt to you.
Shaun Waugh from Surface Active (note: if you are a New Brighton local, he’s the T-Shirt man at the Saturday Brighton Market) is the guy creating you custom tee for you with the assistance of his Christchurch custom print provider Merch Kings, and the crew of volunteers at his primary local retail outlet The Creatives Edit at 105 New Brighton Mall (where locals can pick-up their orders from Monday–Saturday).
The print quality delivered by the DTF heat press printing process is exceptional and the finished product is carefully designed to be durable, reflecting the pride that Shaun has in hand-crafting his work.
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