Source for Reproduction Jeep Dash VIN Decals / Stickers

[maurywhurt]

For the past 7 years or so, I've been helping Jeep owners with the artwork for new dash VIN decals for their 1970-82 CJs and other Jeep models. An outfit called Bear Creek used to offer somewhat less accurate versions of these decals, but when they stopped doing so around 2018, I thought that ball needed to be picked up.

There was previously a thread on this subject from 2019 that contained the following information, but it was apparently deleted from the forum at some point. To get this info back into the forum, I'm re-posting what was previously included in that original thread:


Below are updated examples of the VIN decal / sticker formats I've put together for 1970 through 1982 CJ-5 & CJ-6s. Some of these formats are also appropriate for other Jeep vehicles such as the Jeepster and Scrambler, as well as the Wagoneer and other FSJs.

As these formats were being developed, I initially worked with Donny (Keys5A) to create the decal artwork for one of his CJs. To get his actual decal produced, I finally found a printer that can print the reproductions with a clear border to match the clear tape on the original VIN decals. These reproductions are very high-quality decals printed on white-backed vinyl with permanent adhesive, and covered with UV-resistant gloss laminate. As I have no interest in getting into the business of printing and mailing decals, I emailed the finished artwork to the printer, and sent their contact info to Donny. Donny then got in touch with them directly to arrange payment and shipping of the finished decal to him.

For anyone who would like one for their Jeep, this is the same process I currently use. You can contact me via PM or by email at snoopy2x @ gmail.com (leave out the spaces before and after the @ symbol).

I've spent a good deal of time refining these formats over the past several years, and was eventually able to locate the exact fonts used on the line-printed portions of the factory decals. On the artwork these are in 80% grey, rather than black, to help give the appearance of having been line-printed. I was also able to create and incorporate accurate header artwork for each of the decal formats.

I set out to make these reproduction formats as accurate to the originals as possible. Here's a sample of the current 1972-73 reproduction VIN decal artwork partially overlaid on the image of an original 1972 decal that Donny was kind enough to loan me. As I hope is evident, achieving this level of replication was anything but "a quick Photoshop job":

Below are photos found online of original VIN decals from the different year ranges, paired with low-resolution samples of the corresponding current reproduction sticker images.


Format 1 was used on the 1970 Kaiser CJ's, Jeepsters, and possibly FSJs. The printed portion, i.e. the area inside the clear borders, measured 2.25" x 6" on some earlier decals, but only 1.68" x 4.5" in later decals:

Format 2 was used on 1970 & '71 AMC Jeep vehicles. The printed portion of these decals measured 1.68" x 4.5".

Format 3 was used on 1972 & '73 AMC Jeep vehicles. The printed portion of these decals was 1.68" x 4.5":

Format 4 was used on the 1974 & '75 AMC Jeeps. The printed portion of these decals likewise all measured approx. 1.68" x 4.5":

Another variation, Format 5, was used in the DJ-5 Postal Jeeps built by AM General Corporation during the 1970s (though the exact year range is unknown). This VIN decal was also 1.68" x 4.5":

This VIN decal, Format 6, appears to have been used only during the 1976 model year. Some in this format had the manufacturing date line-printed on them, and some didn't, so it's up to the individual owner whether to include that or not. This sticker measured 1.75" x 4":

Variations of this VIN decal, Format 7, were used from 1977 until 1979 by AMC. They measured approx. 2.5" x 4.5", though there were variations in the dimensions. These decals sometimes included the assembly-line printed manufacturing date, but other times did not. At the owner's option, this date can either be left off or added as shown below:

This similar VIN decal used by American Motors in Canada from 1977 to '79, Format 8, also measured approx. 2.5" x 4.5", with some variations in size:

Variations of this VIN decal used by AMC in 1980 through early 1981, Format 9, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

Variations of this VIN decal used by American Motors in Canada during the 1980 through early 1981 model years, Format 10, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

This VIN decal used by AMC from the late 1981, and possibly through the 1982 model year, Format 11, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

 

[sterlclan]

I will be in touch as mine is in poor shape

 

[Bobert]

For the past 7 years or so, I've been helping Jeep owners with the artwork for new dash VIN decals for their 1970-82 CJs and other Jeep models. An outfit called Bear Creek used to offer somewhat less accurate versions of these decals, but when they stopped doing so around 2018, I thought that ball needed to be picked up.

There was previously a thread on this subject from 2019 that contained the following information, but it was apparently deleted from the forum at some point. To get this info back into the forum, I'm re-posting what was previously included in that original thread:


Below are updated examples of the VIN decal / sticker formats I've put together for 1970 through 1982 CJ-5 & CJ-6s. Some of these formats are also appropriate for other Jeep vehicles such as the Jeepster and Scrambler, as well as the Wagoneer and other FSJs.

As these formats were being developed, I initially worked with Donny (Keys5A) to create the decal artwork for one of his CJs. To get his actual decal produced, I finally found a printer that can print the reproductions with a clear border to match the clear tape on the original VIN decals. These reproductions are very high-quality decals printed on white-backed vinyl with permanent adhesive, and covered with UV-resistant gloss laminate. As I have no interest in getting into the business of printing and mailing decals, I emailed the finished artwork to the printer, and sent their contact info to Donny. Donny then got in touch with them directly to arrange payment and shipping of the finished decal to him.

For anyone who would like one for their Jeep, this is the same process I currently use. You can contact me via PM or by email at snoopy2x @ gmail.com (leave out the spaces before and after the @ symbol).

I've spent a good deal of time refining these formats over the past several years, and was eventually able to locate the exact fonts used on the line-printed portions of the factory decals. On the artwork these are in 80% grey, rather than black, to help give the appearance of having been line-printed. I was also able to create and incorporate accurate header artwork for each of the decal formats.

I set out to make these reproduction formats as accurate to the originals as possible. Here's a sample of the current 1972-73 reproduction VIN decal artwork partially overlaid on the image of an original 1972 decal that Donny was kind enough to loan me. As I hope is evident, achieving this level of replication was anything but "a quick Photoshop job":

Below are photos found online of original VIN decals from the different year ranges, paired with low-resolution samples of the corresponding current reproduction sticker images.


Format 1 was used on the 1970 Kaiser CJ's, Jeepsters, and possibly FSJs. The printed portion, i.e. the area inside the clear borders, measured 2.25" x 6" on some earlier decals, but only 1.68" x 4.5" in later decals:

Format 2 was used on 1970 & '71 AMC Jeep vehicles. The printed portion of these decals measured 1.68" x 4.5".

Format 3 was used on 1972 & '73 AMC Jeep vehicles. The printed portion of these decals was 1.68" x 4.5":

Format 4 was used on the 1974 & '75 AMC Jeeps. The printed portion of these decals likewise all measured approx. 1.68" x 4.5":

Another variation, Format 5, was used in the DJ-5 Postal Jeeps built by AM General Corporation during the 1970s (though the exact year range is unknown). This VIN decal was also 1.68" x 4.5":

This VIN decal, Format 6, appears to have been used only during the 1976 model year. Some in this format had the manufacturing date line-printed on them, and some didn't, so it's up to the individual owner whether to include that or not. This sticker measured 1.75" x 4":

Variations of this VIN decal, Format 7, were used from 1977 until 1979 by AMC. They measured approx. 2.5" x 4.5", though there were variations in the dimensions. These decals sometimes included the assembly-line printed manufacturing date, but other times did not. At the owner's option, this date can either be left off or added as shown below:

This similar VIN decal used by American Motors in Canada from 1977 to '79, Format 8, also measured approx. 2.5" x 4.5", with some variations in size:

Variations of this VIN decal used by AMC in 1980 through early 1981, Format 9, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

Variations of this VIN decal used by American Motors in Canada during the 1980 through early 1981 model years, Format 10, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

This VIN decal used by AMC from the late 1981, and possibly through the 1982 model year, Format 11, also measured 2.5" x 4.5":

I have a 1969-70 Canadian made Cj5, vin 8305 C17 356882. Do you make decals for these?

 

[maurywhurt]

I have a 1969-70 Canadian made Cj5, vin 8305 C17 356882. Do you make decals for these?

If you have a photo of the factory VIN decal, please send it to my email at snoopy2x @ gmail.com (leaving out the spaces before and after the @ symbol). If it’s different from those shown above, there's a good chance I can adapt one of those formats to match it.

It's also possible that the 1970 Canadian-built CJ-5's used one of the same decal formats as were used on the 1970 American-manufactured Kaiser Jeep vehicles (build dates from Aug 1969 through early 1970) or 1970 AMC Jeep vehicles (built through mid summer 1970).

 

[Warloch]

Moved to the Member Market so it doesn't get lost.

 

[HeavyIron]

I can vouch for the quality of the reproduction vin decal, as well as the communication.
Top Notch!

 

[sterlclan]

got my repro sticker today looks good