So eventually, my car will get a respray. When that happens I'm seriously considering debadging it completely. The front and rear "MAZDA" emblems would go, along with the "GSL-SE" badge and both fender badges. All holes would be welded and ground flush.

What do you guys think about debadging? I used to be against it until someone pointed out that:

A. It's essentially free advertising for the brand, and we're surrounded by enough advertising competing for our attention as it is,
B. The badges very frequently distract from the lines of the car, and
C. Those who know the cars don't need a badge to tell them what it is, and those who don't know the cars don't care.

My only exceptions are badges that are somehow integral to the look of the car from a design standpoint. Originally, I was of the opinion that the FB nose badge fit that qualification, but the more I look at it, the more arbitrary and like a pencil-thin mustache on the nose of the car it looks. So it'll probably go too.

 

As one of my favorite ex employees used to say "it doesn't really matter what you do, it's just gonna ruin your life anyway".

 

I debadged my old car and I got really sick of people saying they liked my Supra or Z. I decided to keep them for my current car.

 

I can see doing it if you are ashamed its a mazda or a rotary or an rx7. Really its your choice but
the badges are cool on their own. Might as well get rid of the GSL-SE wheels and RWL tires too!

 

I debadged mine 20 years ago when I restored it the first time, but now I am considering putting them back on.

If you are considering it then do it, then you can go back if you decide its a mistake with 3m double sided tape, and its not permanent, after the initial debadging you have your choice of the look you want.

 

I debadged mine except for the left front fender.....just kept the one.

 

I think debadged cars looks cheap. Like theyre missing something. It takes away from the original look. My 2 cents.

 

I'm not ashamed of the badges, but on a certain level, it's sort of like walking around in public with a "Hello, my name is _____ " sticker on your shirt, IMO...

Again, I make an exception when the badges are integral to the design of the car, like the BMW roundel between the trademark kidneys, or the Audi rings framed out by the grille. In those cases, debadging it definitely makes it look like it's missing something.

For the FB, though: Its lines are clean and classic enough to stand on their own without the badges.

I like the suggestion about 3M tape. I tried to debadge my old BMW 540, but the adhesive was so old it ended up pulling off the top layer of paint, so I had to re-badge it with some exact-oed Tessa tape.

 

Since the badges on our cars are so low-key anyhow, I'd keep 'em. Two mazda logos front and back and two Rx-7 badges on the fenders is tasteful. If you've got any GS/GSL badging, I'd totally get rid of those. But keep the mazda/rx logos.

 

I'm with RWatson - leave em off, fill the holes. If you think it doesn't look good, 3M them back on!
Nothing lost and you have eliminated a source of rust and water-entry. Win-win.
For the record, I put the BLACK FB "Mazda" badges on both ends, JDM SavannaRX7 badges on the fenders, and of _course_ the "Rotary Engine" badge on the back. I'm all about The Badges.

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

If you like a smoother, sleeker feel, shave them off. If your more into original or nostalgia, leave em on. You might find your taste may change over time and they are easily removed or added if as stated above, the mounting holes are filled in when re painting.

 

I have gone back and forth on the badges. The cars looks odd without them. When the right rear one broke on my GSL-EV I fixed it and made a mold and tried a couple of things. Here is what is currently on the car. Its clear resin where I frosted the back with 600 grit and then sprayed it with plastic chrome paint. On the black car it really stands out. I have been thinking of doing this for the GSL badge as well but instead I am going to make one that says GSL-EV or maybe Electric using the same font as the OEM badges. I think this badge would look good on just about anything but silver and white. But then the black badge looks good on those colors.

 

Such a clean look without them. Also without the side strips.

Heres a few examples :P







Last pic has badges, but removes side strips. Mmm

 

Well it needs the sides strips, IMO, since they flow into the bumper and the car looks anachronistically monochromatic without them.

I have to say y'all are mellowing me away from my hard anti-badge line. I may keep the nose badge.

But the back will be completely debadged. Although---the hatch latch will still be there, what with its faint embossed "RX-7." No getting around that.

I think part of what drives me is the fact that I'm secretly a displaced European and debadged cars are very common over there.

 

Shaving emblems was kinda popular 20 or so years ago.
Now its just a matter of the look you like. I bought my current seven with shaved emblems, and I am now hunting down replacements to reinstall.. because I like them.
I am proud to advertise the things I love. That's why Im looking for a Chicago Blackhawks sticker to install on a rear window....

 

I think 1st gens look like a sex toy without the rubber strips and badges, one of those shiny plastic ones.

The distinctive and classic RX-7 trim makes the car, removing it will anger the Rotary Gods.

 

Ha! Shiny sex toy. Hehehehe

Sent from my iPad using RX7Club. how bout that!

 

i'm in the pro badge camp too, although my current car has stickers instead.

actually try Zenfolio | 5HP Decals | 5HP Decals | Photo 30

and Zenfolio | 5HP Decals | 5HP Decals | Photo 32

if you like em, Alvin can make anything pretty much

 

Can Alvin make the imsu/gtu sticker? He would make a killing

Sent from my iPad using RX7Club. how bout that!

 

Ill trade you a non embossed hatch trim badge for your "RX7" one.

 

i'm sure if you sent him some GOOD pics and a measurement, he could.

with peepers he made the font for the rx7 coupe stickers from a teeny black and white pic

 

Didn't know they made such a thing. Were they on earlier cars or something (my only experience is with '85s)?

 

My opinion; yours may vary:

A "Debadged, Destriped" car screams to me "My owner painted me on the cheap and didn't have the money to replace the badges & moldings."

The vast majority of debadged cars I've seen belong to flat-out posers who want to pretend they paid Acura money for their Honda, or some such.

You might as well just bondo up the side-creases & put a Ferarri sticker on the car. It'll fool just as many people.

Granted, debadging doesn't look as trashy as the horrid 'gold-bling' logo plating fad from the 90's, but it's a difference of scale only, not direction.

A car's factory livery is the artist's signature on a work of art, it's not advertising.

Again, just my opinion.

 

Lots of strong opinions!

I think that these cars are a little like their owners, they all have different personalities and character.

I have seen some debadged cars that fit DDs description of cheaply done paint job or "my badges looked bad so I just took them off", others, like the silver one above look pretty slick and let you enjoy the shape of the car without the visual distractions of badges.

In the end I say some look better with and some look better without, depends on the personality of the car or the look you are going for and how well its done. (If I had a totally stock car I would NEVER take them off.)

But, that silver car made me a little curious about how one would look without the door handles.

That having been said, Im still going to put badges back on mine and Im thinking of adding the Euro side light as well since I also do not have the front side light.

 

My SA didnt have badges on them when i got it, and i miss them terribly
so many people think its a Z, or just ask what the hell it is.

but i did paint it on the cheap (roll on), lol, so I guess I'm in that club