The classic Bronco has a look that holds up decades later, and the right graphics package can make one feel like it just rolled off a 1989 showroom floor — or better. This fifth-generation “brick nose” Bronco came to AZ Rag for a set of custom lower body graphics designed to complement the white paint and match the character of the truck. The result is clean, period-correct, and eye-catching without trying too hard.
What the Client Wanted
The goal was a custom graphics package that felt intentional, not aftermarket. The owner wanted something that honored the OBS Bronco’s heritage while standing out at shows and on the street. No full wrap, no chrome, no over-the-top design elements. Just a cohesive, factory-quality graphic that looked like it belonged.
That ruled out any off-the-shelf stripe kit. The design needed to be built specifically for this truck and this paint.
The Design: Gradient Blue Lower Body Graphics
The graphics run along the lower third of the truck, from the front fenders through the doors and wrapping around the rear quarters. The color transitions from a deep navy at the base, fading upward through mid-tone blue into sky blue, then blending into the white factory paint without a hard edge.
That kind of fade is not something you print and apply in an afternoon. Getting the gradient to read consistently across multiple panels — each with different curves, different gap spacing, and different installation angles — requires precise print work and careful installation sequencing. Any inconsistency in seam placement or panel alignment would break the illusion immediately.
These graphics were printed in-house on 3M IJ175cv3 cast film and laminated with 3M 8518 overlaminate, then templated to the specific contours of the fifth-gen Bronco body and installed in sections that line up cleanly across the doors, rockers, fenders, and rear quarters. Cast film is the right material for a job like this — it conforms to complex curves without lifting at edges, and the 8518 laminate protects the printed gradient from UV fade and surface abrasion for years of outdoor exposure.
For similar work on classic truck platforms, the process is comparable to what went into the retro stripe kit on a red Ford F-150 — the challenge is making printed vinyl look like it was designed as part of the vehicle, not applied to it.
Why Graphics Instead of a Full Wrap
The white paint on this Bronco is in solid condition and it is the right base for the design. A full wrap would have covered it unnecessarily and added cost without adding anything to the final look. Partial wraps and graphics packages are often the better call on classic trucks where the paint is sound and the design concept works with the factory color.
This is the same reasoning behind jobs like the partial wrap on a sixth-gen Bronco for Red Mirror Off-Road Events — the factory paint becomes part of the design rather than something to hide. When it works, it looks more intentional than a full wrap.
The spot graphics and partial wrap services at AZ Rag cover everything from simple decals to full printed graphic packages like this one.
Why AZ Rag
Jobs like this one are not cut-and-apply installs. They require print production, custom templating, and installation technique that accounts for body contours, panel gaps, and graphic alignment across multiple surfaces. AZ Rag handles print, design, and installation in-house as a 3M Preferred Installer, which means the same team that produces the file installs the vehicle. There is no handoff between a print shop and an installer — which matters when the design has to line up perfectly across six or more panels on a 35-year-old body.
Ready to Design Something for Your Truck?
Whether you own a classic Bronco or a current-gen truck, AZ Rag can design and install graphics that look like they belong on the vehicle. Get a free quote and let us build something worth photographing.
