Young man in a red 1957 Rambler Rebel t-shirt standing beside New Brighton Pier.

From Banner to Tee: Designing a T-Shirt Inspired by the 1957 Rambler Rebel

March 12, 2025 / / No Comments

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.

Man wearing a red 1957 Rambler t-shirt standing beside New Brighton Pier, celebrating the Rambler Rebel’s legacy.
Rocking the rebel vibe at New Brighton Pier! This red 1957 Rambler t-shirt honours my friend’s restoration of the iconic Rambler Rebel—a bold nod to its underdog spirit!
Read More
Photocomposite of a 1957 Nash Rambler silk banner in lustrous red with a black-and-white 1957 Rambler Rebel sedan auto show image.

The 1957 Rambler Rebel: A Banner Worth Raising Again

March 8, 2025 / / No Comments

Picture this: it’s 1957, and the American automotive landscape is a parade of chrome and tail fins—cars flexing their excess like peacocks in Detroit showrooms. Then, rolling out of the chaos, comes the 1957 Rambler Rebel. Not a conformist, not a follower, but a four-door rebel with a metallic silver streak and a secret under the hood. My friend, a car nut with grease under his nails and a gleam in his eye, is restoring one of these rare beauties right now. And me? I’m the design guy who got roped into re-creating an American Motors dealership banner from that very year—a bold, period-perfect piece to match his labour of love.

But why go to all this trouble for a car most folks don’t know they’ve forgotten?

1957 Rambler Rebel sedan on a test-driving track, showcasing its silver finish and classic design.
Revving into history! This 1957 Rambler Rebel sedan tears up the test track, proving its muscle car credentials with style and grit—America’s forgotten badass in action!

Let me tell you a story about the Rebel that explains it all.

Photocomposite of a 1957 Rambler Rebel sedan in motion as a blurred silver streak backdrop, with a crisp red silk banner in the foreground featuring heat-pressed vinyl graphics.
Speeding into the spotlight! This photocomposite pairs a motion-blurred 1957 Rambler Rebel with its stunning red silk banner, reborn to honour a rebel with a cause!
Read More
Restored 1965 Rambler Classic 770 Countryman station wagon with a red, white, and blue authentic, re-created, American Motors dealership banner, at the 2024 McLeans Island swap meet.

Making American Motors Great Again

March 3, 2025 / / No Comments

The project: Re-Create an American Motors Classic American Car Dealership Banner from the 60s.

The Allure of a 1960s Car Dealer Banner

There’s an undeniable allure to an authentic car dealer banner from the 1960s, a cherished relic that transports us back to an era when automotive culture was as much about bold design statements as it was about engineering prowess and value for money.

A Symbol of Post-War Ingenuity

This 1960s Rambler banner, with its vibrantly patriotic red, white, and blue hues, served as proud beacons of post-war American ingenuity.

Drawing Crowds at the Swap Meet

This banner in association with the car drew enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike to the owners’ stall at the 2024 McLeans Island swap meet.

Handcrafted Authenticity

Handcrafted with care, they embodied a tactile authenticity—lustrous, pearly white polyester satin and solid cut vinyl colour printing re-creating the era’s optimism and craftsmanship.

Preserving a Legacy

Recreating such a piece, as my spouse and I did with the 1965 Rambler banner, preserves not just a design but a story, infusing it with durability for modern display while honouring its historical mid-century modern roots.

A Celebration of Nostalgia

It’s a celebration of nostalgia, a functional art piece that elevates any classic car showcase with its vivid presence and timeless appeal.

Driven by Design: Celebrating the 1965 Countryman with Mad Men-Era Panache

High front three-quarter view of a restored 1965 Rambler Classic 770 Countryman station wagon with a re-created Rambler dealer banner, shot at McLeans Island swap meet.
Behold the stunning 1965 Rambler Classic 770 Crosscountry, paired with our handcrafted 1965 Rambler dealer banner, shining at last year’s McLeans Island swap meet—a perfect blend of vintage design and modern craftsmanship.
Read More
Lindsay McKenzie, with his restored 1970 Rambler Rebel SST in royal blue, leaning against the driver's door, showcasing the culmination of a 33-year quest.

A Journey Through Time: The Quest for a 1970 Rambler Rebel SST

January 31, 2025 / / 1 Comment

For Lindsay McKenzie, the pursuit of owning a 1970 Rambler Rebel SST Coupe was not just a whim but a decades-long odyssey. The Rebel SST, revered among American muscle car enthusiasts, is celebrated for its unique blend of style, performance, and rarity. With its 304 V8 engine, the Rebel offers a potent mix of power and character, encapsulated in a design that stands out even among its contemporaries. Its right-hand drive configuration, a special feature for this particular model built in Kenosha, USA, adds a layer of exclusivity, making it a prized possession in the classic car community.

Three-quarter front view of a restored 1970 Rambler Rebel SST in royal blue, featuring chrome details and vinyl roof.
Classic Beauty: The front profile of the 1970 Rambler Rebel SST, where mid-century classic charm meets modern restoration.

McKenzie’s story begins in 1983, under the dim lights of a Friday night in Timaru, where a dark blue Rebel SST with a “For Sale” sign caught his eye. The car, with its vinyl roof and black interior, was in surprisingly tidy condition for its age. However, the absence of contact details meant McKenzie had to return later, only to find the car had vanished by Sunday. What followed was years of inquiries and searches, all in vain, until the car seemed more like a ghost than a tangible goal.

Restored 1970 Rambler Rebel SST in royal blue, showcasing its classic design and powerful 304 V8 engine, parked in a scenic outdoor setting.
Revived Royalty: The 1970 Rambler Rebel SST, as fast as she is pretty reborn in royal blue, narrates a tale of passion and precision. A testament to the enduring allure of American muscle cars.
Read More
Bearded man in grey marle t-shirt with 1970 Rebel SST design stands beside New Brighton Pier, pointing symbolically towards Chile.

Revving up a Classic Rambler: The Making of a 1970 Rambler Rebel SST Tee

January 23, 2025 / / No Comments

Living in a small New Zealand country town, my friend and client, a Freezing Worker with a passion for restoring classic American muscle cars, especially those from American Motors, approached me with a unique commission. His project was to immortalise his cherished 1970 Rambler Rebel SST on apparel, inspired by an advertisement from the April 1970 issue of New Zealand’s Reader’s Digest.

Concept Development

The brief was clear—to recreate the black and white ad of the Rambler Rebel SST in colour, but with a modern twist suitable for today’s fashion. The first step was understanding the nostalgia and the essence of the car’s era. The brief to maintain the advertisement’s simplicity yet enhance it with a contemporary touch to resonate with both car enthusiasts and fashion aficionados.

The 1970 Rebel SST, one of the coolest muscle cars to come out of AMC… she’s as fast as she is pretty, and looks great on a grey marle t-shirt.
Back view of a bearded man in a grey marle t-shirt featuring a 1970 Rambler Rebel SST large print on the shirt front and an American Motors logo on the back, posed next to New Brighton Pier, a concrete structure stretching towards the ocean.
Reviving the spirit of 70s American muscle on New Zealand shores. This custom print of the 1970 Rambler Rebel SST, complete with the iconic American Motors logo, is captured beside the robust New Brighton Pier. If this pier were a freeway, it would take you all the way to Chile’s west coast!
Read More
Bearded man wearing a navy blue t-shirt featuring a 1967 AMC Marlin in a 1960s Grand Prix poster style, beside New Brighton Pier.

American Motors Marlin: From shutter to screen to t-shirt

December 4, 2024 / / No Comments

Hey there! I’m just starting a project that’s close to my heart as a child of the 60s and a Graphic Designer. It involves a big, flashy 1967 American Motors car, the Marlin. This two-door fastback car produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1965 to 1967 is not your everyday car. The automakers really wanted to make something special, something that stood out. That’s how the 1967 American Motors Marlin was born. It came equipped with a powerful 343 cubic inch V8 engine to boot, which was a statement in itself. It was initially launched as the Rambler Marlin in 1965, but in 1966 and 1967 it was rebranded as the AMC Marlin.

1967 was the last year of production for the Marlin and is considered by many to be the most desirable due to its culmination of Marlin styling and beautiful proportions.

Man in navy blue t-shirt with 1967 AMC Marlin graphic standing next to New Brighton Pier.
Marlin Magic: This navy t-shirt brings the sleek design of the 1967 AMC Marlin to life, set against the iconic, concrete expanse of New Brighton Pier under a clear blue sky.
Read More
1928 Essex Super Six right hand side front three-quarter view

From Photo to Art: The 1928 Essex Super-Six Experience

December 3, 2024 / / No Comments

Welcome to a journey where the past meets the future, where the classic lines of a 1928 Essex Super Six four-door car, whose chief selling point was “affordable luxury,” intermingle with the art of modern graphic design. I recently had the incredible opportunity to photograph this rare American vintage beauty in the car park of the historic Richmond Workingmen’s Club in Christchurch. Note that the gallery of images from the photoshoot is at the foot of the page.An Essex Super Six USA bonnet emblem badge

Capturing the Essence:

A classic 1928 Essex Super Six four-door car photographed head-on
The 1928 Essex Super Six was designed to be an affordable luxury car, making it accessible to a wider range of car owners. It was equipped with a powerful 153.1 cubic inch inline-six engine that delivered 55 horsepower, providing ample power for its time.
Read More
A black Surface Active t-shirt with illustration of a 1961 Ford MkII Zephyr re-imagined as NASA’s space shuttle being worn by a man in sunglasses at New Brighton beach, beside the Pier.

This Kiwi Space Shuttle tee is a triumph of Kiwi ingenuity. 

May 9, 2024 / / No Comments

For the Kiwi who dares to dream big, this Kiwi Space Shuttle tee is a must-have. This black Surface Active tee showcases the beloved Kiwi icon of a classic MkII Zephyr transformed into a NASA spaceship, manned by three Kiwis soaring through space, bound for a drive on the moon.

The clever design incorporates the rocket science of the black fabric of the shirt as deep space for a comfortable fit. The design is also available on garments for women and kids.

Read More
Auto Restorations website homepage after redesign, showing Automotive Dreams marketing slideshow and table of links to website feature articles and pages.

Energise an image heavy website

April 9, 2019 / / No Comments

Energise an image heavy website by design

AUTO RESTORATIONS, 52 STEWART ST, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

Links to PDF of New Zealand Classic Car magazine cover story on the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Making it to the cover of Classic Car magazine, the superior quality of Auto Restorations’ work speaks for itself in this 6 page cover article  (linked).

Established in 1973 Auto Restorations has a story to tell. Every year it must mobilise new car restoration projects. To do this it relies on existing clientele, affluent, discerning people who might already know of the company by word of mouth, prestigious Concours D‘Elegance ‘First In Class’ wins, the publicity that generates in classic car enthusiasts’ media, their advertising, website and brochure—sales brochures, basically—designed to showcase the superior quality of the work they do. Showcase the process of restoration, the completed works, among them some of the most refined and rare cars in the world, and do it justice with advertising and promotional material that has the maximum effect and gives the impression to their select international clientele of an organization worthy of trusting one’s precious, valuable car to.

Well crafted and well made custom built motor cars, widely regarded as some of the most rare and beautiful, are the results of the restoration process, a process which varies.
Read More

Four of Auto Restorations skilled workforce wheel a custom body Delage Roadster into position in the carpark.

Informal portraiture at work

April 6, 2019 / / No Comments

Informal portraiture in the workplace using available light

AUTO RESTORATIONS WORKSHOP, STEWART STREET, CHRISTCHURCH 2009–2012

When shooting informal portraiture avoid distraction from the most important purpose—getting photographs. These photos were shot and photo composites produced 2009–2012, they offer a historical profile of Auto Restorations during that time soon after Allan Wylie stepped up from the Mechanical Shop floor to the role of General Manager. Pictures of their employees on their redesigned website, and capabilities brochure in print helped Auto Restorations transform from a faceless company to people that their customers can relate to. The highly specialised, high value personal service that Auto Restorations’ workforce offer to customers is an advantage that they have over large companies, their multiple international Concours D’Elegance awards attest to this. Good photos of their skilled workforce reinforce this.
Read More