TimC6Vertible

I just bought my 1st. Corvette and need some styling advice. It's a 2012 base convertible (3LT) in silver, black roof and floors with titanium seats and chrome wheels.
I'm considering adding the 'hashmarks' on the front fenders. I know this was a GS option only. Do you think it would look good on a base convertible? If so what color? I know black wasn't an option color for hashmarks but I'm leaning that way to match the roof. Any thoughts? Don't worry you won't hurt my feelings. I'm basically just trying to 'punch up' the silver color.

C6ToGo

I think they call it Gunmetal which I believe would look good on silver. It is same color as the Competition Gray wheels on my 07 so i used that color.

MikeERWNC

Don't do it...

It ruins the look of a great car.

Huskerman

Its kinda a Grand Sport thing but if you like the war paint then go for it. I have seen them on C4's and C5's usually on the drivers side only.........lot of colors look good on the silver, I like the red stripes or you can go with darker colors like mine in my avatar.......

I added the red stripes to mine which I like also......good luck with your choice......

Spiderxkx

I have red hashmarks on the drivers side only. I think it adds a nice look to the car. If it's something you're considering, go for it.

Not So Fast

Is this your car ?? Do as you wish, I personally don't think it would be a bad thing as you can see.
NSF

Leigh C. Herring

I've got matte black on my silver F55 C6

TimC6Vertible

Thanks for the responses. One last question, I see those that add hash marks often just do the driver side. Is that strictly a preference thing or is it something historical or traditional with Vettes and/or other cars? On a GS with factory hash marks are they on both sides?

Leigh C. Herring

Traditionally they were just on one side. They come from the Corvettes racing heritage when teams would mark their cars so they knew which was theirs out on the track. I have them on both side, I personally like the look. It's really up to you. I will say if you do decide to get some, got to a local vinyl shop and have them made out of automotive grade vinyl. It'll be WAY cheaper and they'll install them for you.

Huskerman

The story goes that the C2 Grand Sports of which only 5 were ever made, that when they raced they would put duct tape on the front fenders to ident the cars going by at speed. So that is why GS's have those stripes. The C6 Grand Sports with the Heritage package have them on both sides of the car.

jrose7004

It's your car but I wouldn't do it.

clearwaterms

I had read that when they did the original, each car number got the corresponding number of stripes (Car #1 got 1 stripe, car #2, got 2, etc.)

If that is true, why do people always use 2 stripes? was that car more popular, more successful?

Thanks

ruxvette

A lot of different theories on their origin. Most prevalent is that John Mecom Jr. was racing 3 identical '63 Corvettes and put a single stripe on the nose, just right of center, to identify which car was which as it came by the pits. In '96 Chevrolet, in a pitch to heritage, put 2 hash marks on the driver side of Grand Sports.
Now GS stripes, hash marks, war paint, whatever they are called, can be seen on just about any car on the road.
Use them, or not. Your car, your choice. I'm just not a fan.

Augie 79

I tried to find the history of these stripes online. Everything I find so far points to them being called FIA stripes, first used at Sebring in 1963 on a Cobra.
Anybody else know different?
augie

Hebebad

Here's mine. Ordered them from Vettestripes.com