By signcraft
Posted on Monday, April 7th, 2025
For David Showalter [David Design, Bryan, Ohio] the first sign of spring is when customers start calling about getting a “show sign” for their car or truck. Car show season is coming, and they want something cool to identify their vehicle.
And if there’s any instance that begs for a custom sign, it’s the sign that gives the details on a classic or custom vehicle at a car or truck show. After spending thousands (often tens of thousands!) restoring or building a vehicle, it’s no time to use a generic sign to tell its story.
David has spent plenty of time at car shows and has done quite a few show signs as a result. The signs are 18-by-24-in. panels made of aluminum composite material [ACM]. David primes them then finishes with 1 Shot lettering enamel. If he needs to match the car’s color, he uses a base coat/clear coat automotive paint. They are then hand lettered, with an occasional line of lettering done with the computer.
The wood base is a 12-by-12-in. square of 2-in. hard pine. The groove that accepts the sign face is a saw blade-width cut on a 15-degree angle. It’s primed and painted at the same time as the sign panel.
David Showalter has been a fan of cars and trucks even longer than he’s been painting signs. When he was first featured in SignCraft, the article included his 1950 Chevy shop truck, which he drove daily for 15 years. For the past few years, his ride is a mint condition 1955 Chevy Delray coupe.
Search for David’s name in our Article Index to see more examples of his work!
David did the faux marble background by daubing on the paint with a plastic bag that was rolled up into a ball.
…and here’s that fine 1950 Chevy pickup that was David’s shop truck for the first ten years of his business!
