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Paint and Stripes! What Do You Think??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
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From: MA
Paint and Stripes! What Do You Think??
In about a year, I am looking to start on painting my 1979 Corvette. I want a nice show paint, but it also needs to be sporty. Please give all your ideas and thoughts.
Right now its maroon and its a beautiful color, so I'm having a hard time accepting other colors. So, SHOW ME YOUR PAINT!
I also have another issue. I like the stripes but I am a little OCD. I know the engine is off center by a few inches, which makes the supercharger off center, which makes the hole in the hood off center. If I wanted to do two stripes again, one would have to be wider than the other like it currently is, or I could make them the same width centered on the car and it will look weird compared to the hole in the hood. I wanted to keep the stripes, so what are your oppinions: Keep them, change the dimentions on them, different graphic, one stripe, ect....the input is appreciated.
Right now its maroon and its a beautiful color, so I'm having a hard time accepting other colors. So, SHOW ME YOUR PAINT!
I also have another issue. I like the stripes but I am a little OCD. I know the engine is off center by a few inches, which makes the supercharger off center, which makes the hole in the hood off center. If I wanted to do two stripes again, one would have to be wider than the other like it currently is, or I could make them the same width centered on the car and it will look weird compared to the hole in the hood. I wanted to keep the stripes, so what are your oppinions: Keep them, change the dimentions on them, different graphic, one stripe, ect....the input is appreciated.
Last edited by CorvetteFirstTimer; Feb 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 1,657
From: Arizona
Maybe he missed the whole point you made reference the stripes.
That is a bit weird how the engine is off center, making everything else off center, but perhaps making one stripe wider and one narrower compensates for that off-center mismatch and cleans it up.
Honestly, I think the maroon looks awesome, but the white stripes are not working for me. Maybe if they better matched the chrome wheels?
Or maybe black wheels, black stripes?
Or just remove the center stripes and go with a rally type stripe down one side with a smaller rail stripe?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sweden, Stockholm.
OT: Electric Blue with white stripes would look good. As well as having gray as base and stripes on black, hard to imagine but looks amazing, that is what i am going for in the future.
Last edited by 454LS6; Feb 24, 2012 at 08:01 AM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
I have always liked the Baldwin Motion stripes. I do not like the ones you currently have though I like the color and how the wheels and side pipes work with everything. I think a set of white BM striped would look good and since the entire L88 bulge would get the treatment your OCD wouldn't interfere as much with your interpretation of it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I like the maroon color. The white stripes seem a bit too much for me, but if I were to offer a suggestion,...How about an accenting maroon stripe, either a shade or two lighter than the body color, and styled like the old Chevelle SS cowl stripe.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
I would make the hole bigger so it is equal on both sides. For a stripe I would a do centered single RS stripe (say 8" wide with a 1/4" pinstripe either side) and run it all the way through the nose...or an RS stripe that starts wider in the back of the hood and comes thinner towards the front (to match the hood line)
So basically what you are left with is just the engine bieng over to one side, which will (if everything else is parrallel) only be noticeable if you are looking dead on from the front (and most people probably will not notice). If you leave the off center hole and the unmatched stripes, you are just emphasising the issue.
Other options...get a fiberglass scoop that dzus fastens to the hood...this can be placed in the middle and hide the offset issue.
Do some form of ghost stripes , so they arent as obvious and will not exaggerate the engine placement.
So basically what you are left with is just the engine bieng over to one side, which will (if everything else is parrallel) only be noticeable if you are looking dead on from the front (and most people probably will not notice). If you leave the off center hole and the unmatched stripes, you are just emphasising the issue.
Other options...get a fiberglass scoop that dzus fastens to the hood...this can be placed in the middle and hide the offset issue.
Do some form of ghost stripes , so they arent as obvious and will not exaggerate the engine placement.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
I agree with many of the preious posts.
My take is that it currently looks kind of wierd.
In my opinion, I think it would look better with:
1) A single stripe
2) Stripe should be centered on car
3) Stripe should be wider than supercharger
4) Stripe should continue thru the bumper
5) Stripe should not be white - too much contrast, I think a darker color such as black, or a very dark blue would work much better.
The above is just my opinion, but my biggest recommendation is for you to do something that makes you smile and say to yourself - 'Damn...I can't believe that's MY car!', every time you look at it!
My take is that it currently looks kind of wierd.
In my opinion, I think it would look better with:
1) A single stripe
2) Stripe should be centered on car
3) Stripe should be wider than supercharger
4) Stripe should continue thru the bumper
5) Stripe should not be white - too much contrast, I think a darker color such as black, or a very dark blue would work much better.
The above is just my opinion, but my biggest recommendation is for you to do something that makes you smile and say to yourself - 'Damn...I can't believe that's MY car!', every time you look at it!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I would make the hole bigger so it is equal on both sides. For a stripe I would a do centered single RS stripe (say 8" wide with a 1/4" pinstripe either side) and run it all the way through the nose...or an RS stripe that starts wider in the back of the hood and comes thinner towards the front (to match the hood line)
So basically what you are left with is just the engine bieng over to one side, which will (if everything else is parrallel) only be noticeable if you are looking dead on from the front (and most people probably will not notice). If you leave the off center hole and the unmatched stripes, you are just emphasising the issue.
Other options...get a fiberglass scoop that dzus fastens to the hood...this can be placed in the middle and hide the offset issue.
Do some form of ghost stripes , so they arent as obvious and will not exaggerate the engine placement.
So basically what you are left with is just the engine bieng over to one side, which will (if everything else is parrallel) only be noticeable if you are looking dead on from the front (and most people probably will not notice). If you leave the off center hole and the unmatched stripes, you are just emphasising the issue.
Other options...get a fiberglass scoop that dzus fastens to the hood...this can be placed in the middle and hide the offset issue.
Do some form of ghost stripes , so they arent as obvious and will not exaggerate the engine placement.
ALL C3 engines are offset to the passenger side - a fact some Corvette owners don't even know.
Love the Maroon - Keep it. Add a metallic black single stripe about 14" wide starting right at the motor or a little before. Do a blunt pointed tip. Maybe add a C3 decal at the front of the stripe. Put small silver accent stripes on either side of the center stripe starting at a point, or coming off the C3 decal and increse width to about 2".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,353
From: Santa Ana CA
I'd do one fat stripe, with a pin stripe on each side, wide enough to encompass the entire top of the "bulge" section of the hood. Then the offset would not be visible and no longer an issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
One wide stripe that will encompass the entire opening in the hood. Small pin stripes outside that, if you want. Also, you need to run the stripe all the way around the front bumper. Cutting it off at the bumper looks a bit odd, IMO.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
I'm a graphic designer, I've just been to the Toronto Auto Show and paid a lot of attention to the new vettes. The theme these days is to accent with Carbon Fibre. I would look at a matt finish stipe, probably black. but only stripe the raised cowl area and only the top of the raised portion, not down the raised sides and keep the distance between the stripes to no more than 1 inch wide. If you use a Carbon Fibre vinyl, do the same treatment as I just mentioned. You only need to do the hood. Don't carry on to the roof or the rear deck. If you are looking for a brighter stripe, go for a silver but not charcoal, too dark against the burgundy. For a killer look, paint the car matt black with gloss black stripes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
For anyone wondering...I didn't paint the car like this. I bought it like this. The reason one stripe is wider than the other is because if you notice, the cut out for the pulley is off center to the actual hole in the hood that is off center. He made them two different sizes because he didn't want white paint to be just on one side of the hole and not show up on the other. I don't plan on making the hole bigger centered on the hood. I think that would looke even worse, plus, whoever cut the hood before did a really nice job. I like the suggestions. I always liked the stripes, but I think I would do one solid strip. Maybe a ghosted stripe for what ever paint I choose. What are your thoughts on a light metal flake? I saw a 2012 camaro with a charcoal color with a flake in it and it was gorgeous
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
Oh, and to be honest, I don't think the stripes are paint. It has a little edge to it and at first I thought the stripes were added after and just not cleared with the rest of the car, but I think the previous owner went the cheap way and used vinyl. I think that may be why he didn't allow the strip to go to the side of the hole on the right, because it would be in a pain in the neck. My goal is to make the car better than the way I bought it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA