Painting - Stripes or No Stripes

[biker]

I am currently applying last coats of undercoat to my 1973 Zed and will be moving to colour in the next week.

I am painting the car Metallic Green (or similar) but am tossing up whether to apply striping to the bonnet roof and hatch lid along the same vein as the GT40 e.g two thick stripes.

The stripes colour I was considering was a metallic silver. When I ask the missus of her opinion i get a shrug and "whatever you think" reply.

I always thought that the car was "too green" and neede something to break it up (will also assist finding it when I park it on the lawn).:laugh:

So I turn to the experts (you) and would greatfully appreciate all criticism and encouragement on which is the best way to go. Any links to photos of cars with similar striping would be also appreciated.

PS - Recently went to the Car Museum in Sacramento California - great place with some really great cars.

Thanks

Biker

[Zedrally]

While not "exactly pure", I like the idea!

I remember seeing a photo of a 280Z painted with stripes and like what I see.

[ktm]

http://web.mac.com/markrolston/iWeb/Site/New%20Paint.html

[EScanlon]

Stripes, as with other paint modifications, tend to be an item that is more in the "Eye of the Beholder" class.

Done well, they look great...in my opinion. But done poorly they don't, again...my opinion. What defines great and poor is where the individual's perception lies.

I painted the lower rocker panel and the flat portion of the wheel openings in black and then highlighted with a thin gold stripe. I've had comments ranging from "Gaudy" to "Looks Sharp!" to "It's your car, do what you want!", so you can see what you can expect. I've also had people "recall" that that was the way they came from the factory!

I was looking to repaint the rocker panels after having sanded off the rock chips. The paint I had matched, although a good match, would not have stretched to doing both rocker panels. Black Gloss was available on the shelf and considerably cheaper than having a quart of paint mixed up.

Afterwards, I kind of liked it, and it blends in well with the molded mud flaps. When I repaint the car, I may or may not keep the black. That's half the fun of painting!

FWIW

Enrique

[Zedrally]

The one I saw had "fatter" stripes, however as E wrote, everyone has different perception...

[EScanlon]

The stripes in the link provided by KTM look pretty darn GOOD! (IMO).

The offset color and the width balance to the rest of the body make them look correct. Then again, those are some healthy wheel flares!

That's half the "fun" in doing stripes, too thin and they won't look right, too wide and again they won't look right, and once again...the eye of the beholder.

2¢

E

[biker]

Thanks guys - you are all correct regarding "if you like it do it" opinion. Personally I like them but once they are on it would be expensive to turn back and fix the problem hence I was looking for some consensus or "dont be an idiot" opinions.

The pics provided by KTM is exactly the look I was hoping to achieve (without the flares though). That car looks great.

I am leaning towards the stripes.

Correction - the car museum I went to was in Reno and not Sacramento. Got it confused with all the old stars cars such as Al Jolson, John Wayne, etc. The museum is sponsored by some Casino owner but cannot recall the name.

Thanks again

[CANDYBLUE2+2]

I like the example shown in the earlier thread. I say go for it! I personally like 1/4" pinstripes on either side of the big stripes too. I had seriously thought about doing that to mine as well...but got lazy after applying all those other coats of paint. However, now that it's all done. I may go back in there one day and have at it...Good Luck with your decision.

[veritech-z]

I went with the zzzap! stripes on my car when I was spraying it. I liked them better than the "rally" style stripes.

[CoastGuardZ]

Hey, whatever floats your boat...

I'm not a big fan of the "racing stripes" on the Z. On the other hand, I do tend to like variations of the BRE paint scheme. I've attached a pic of a fella's car up here in New York. I really like the colors he chose. I also like the 1/4" outlining pinstripe that candyblue refered to but I feel like that would look very out of place on a Z. That seem's to be more of a American Muscle Car thing, but I'd have to see it on a Z before I made I final judgement. See the picture of the Chevelle for reference.

Another thing I like are Ghost stripes/flames, when the graphic is just a slightly different tint than the base color. Done right you can hardly tell it's there, except from certain angles. Attached a pic of a Cobra that show's what I mean.

[toecutter]

ktm that a beautiful car that silver Z with the stripes.

I stuck mine one, at least you have the option of easily removing them. These have been on the car for years and i've used high pressure washer on them many times.

[webdawg1]

Hey...Whatever floats your boat....I kind of like the "Ghost Stripes" myself. I kind of think "Silver MetalFlake" might look really good if done in a tastefull way...But hey...that's just my 2 cents worth...Do what ever makes you happy...It's your CAR...

webdawg1