An occasional series where we semi-bravely call BS on people who are fleecing customers with fake tat*.
For an easy no effort required starter pack, where better than eBay where some grifty guy, who we are (as discussed) not actually brave enough to name, claims;
PLEASE NOTE WE CLEARED A WORKSHOP THAT MANUFACTURED THESE SIGNS For OVER 50 Years SOME ARE OLDER THAN OTHERS
I DO NOT MANUFACTURE THEM !
Oh, but you do, or your pal does to order. Seeing as every box has mysteriously also been repainted, this is a classic example of find any old box (and I can’t quite work out exactly what they’re using, not sure if it’s bits off a crashed Lancaster bomber from the Brecon Beacons or engine control panels from sunken narrowboats) but the acid washed, chuck a bit of dirt onto a weak glue wash & perspex cutout lark doesn’t fool me.
The supposed ex-sign manufacturer also seemed to have the confidence of every major automotive company and iconic brand that ever existed both sides of the Atlantic to make the same bland signs for them in the exact same way.
Checking the feedback, which is of course glowing, the poor mugs, the exact same Triumph sign has been sold about 4 times.
and also…
I’ve covered up the last item as we were drifting into the sellers personal items. Rav Wilding, I’m waiting for your call mate.
Just out of interest, here is what genuine 70s and 80s car dealership signs look like, courtesy of a trip to Coventry Transport Museum.
And isn’t it strange how the obscure or ephemeral never seems to feature in these ‘genuine’ collections? We all remember the Triumph Stag (alright, old farts like me do) but who the hell can remember some of the defunct 60s brands or god help us the branding for the BL used cars scheme? (Gauntlet, apparently).
Real signs are often also surprisingly large, due to having to be seen from the windows but likely placed at the rear of a large dealership often thanks to planning restrictions on lighted shopfront signs.
‘It’s not even a real Triumph, it’s a rebadged Honda… The only triumph, is my triumph over you… ‘
Rant over? Nope, rant barely begun :-). Check out our blog for more tales of lies and/or deception, but remember that signs such as these aren’t rare, so please, don’t have FOMO nightmares.
*You could argue we sell tat too. But we don’t lie about our tat, other than assuring you that your partner will LOVE it. Happy bank holiday! (This blog originally published at our Bark Signs site).