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Legend car racing is fast, loud, and filled with energy — and if you’re serious about showing up looking sharp, wrapping your car is a step you can’t skip. In this post, Chad from Midlife Classic Cars takes you through his hands-on experience prepping and wrapping his INEX-legal legend car for the track.
It’s not a fancy show car — it’s a purpose-built machine. But putting effort into how it looks is part of the pride and process of racing. Whether you're gearing up for your first wrap job or just curious how one gets done, here's what it's really like from someone who lived through it.
Legend car racing features scaled-down 1930s and '40s-style coupes, modified for high performance. These cars are governed by INEX, the official sanctioning body that ensures drivers follow safety and competition rules.
Chad’s car is a prime example — a mid-size beast built to race, not to sit pretty in a garage. But that didn’t stop him from turning his car into something that looked ready for a professional circuit.
Before you even think about applying a wrap, you have to make sure your car is in working shape. In this case, a busted door hinge needed fixing. Chad had to grind down a bolt just to get it to fit right.
“No more dragging,” he says after stomping the door shut. Small fixes like this prevent bigger problems on the track.
You can’t wrap a broken fender. The new one needed to be trimmed to clear the radiator and chassis bars. Chad took a DIY approach, cutting it out to match the opposite side.
Pro Tip: Wear gloves and a mask when trimming — fiberglass can get real itchy.
Old stickers had to come off, and every panel needed to be wiped clean with alcohol to help the wrap stick. Chad and his dad removed riveted rear fenders and hosed down the car to prepare it for the transformation.
“I kind of liked the old masking tape number. Looked a little redneck — but I’m excited for the new look.”
The wrap was designed by Studio 10 Wraps — a black-and-white scheme to highlight the Midlife Classic Cars logo. It arrived rolled up, so it had to be flattened and warmed before use.
Chad admits he couldn’t have done this alone. His dad stepped in, helping hold, smooth, and heat the wrap with a heat gun.
Key Tools Used:
“No panel on this car lines up perfectly — we had to adjust so there weren’t waves in it.”
They began with one corner, peeled the backing slowly, and used heat to smooth out wrinkles — especially around rivets and body lines.
Once the main wrap was applied, the smaller stickers went on quickly — INEX logos, social media tags, and helmet decals included.
To protect the wrap, Chad installed chair sliders in areas where the fenders rub the body.
“Everybody’s wrap gets destroyed here — this is my fix.”
The trunk remains unfinished due to damage. Once repaired, it’ll sport the quote: “One foot in the grave, one foot on the throttle.”
Looking professional isn't just about pride — it helps sponsors take you seriously and makes your car identifiable on the track. Chad’s wrap transformation brought a scrappy but skilled racing build into the spotlight, helping Midlife Classic Cars stand out while still following INEX rules.
INEX is the international sanctioning body that sets safety and tech rules for legend car racing. Staying INEX-compliant is necessary if you want to compete in official events.
Technically yes, but it’s way easier with help. Lining up the wrap and removing air bubbles takes patience and a second set of hands.
Not quite. Chad’s project used a heavy-duty vinyl sticker, which doesn’t behave the same as flexible vinyl wrap. Vinyl wraps can be repositioned and are often sprayed with water to apply.
In some cases, yes. Removing the side skirt made the process easier and helped avoid misalignment.
If it's your first time — expect it to take 2–3 days including prep, cutting, fitting, and application.
Wrapping a legend car isn’t just about looks — it’s part of taking your racing seriously. With help from his father, tools from Midlife Classic Cars, and designs from Studio 10 Wraps, Chad brought his vision to life. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. That’s what racing is all about.
From busted bolts to smooth side panels, this project shows how commitment, patience, and a little help can turn an average race car into something that stands out on the track.
Want to learn more? Subscribe to Chad’s content and follow Midlife Classic Cars across social media — and maybe get your own wrap project rolling.
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