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I just got my '82 repainted (original silver). It had black tape pinstriping on it when I bought it back in '85 so when I took it to the shop, I told them to paint the pinstripes on it.
The car is ready but the paint shop told me that, in their opinion, the car looks fantastic without the pinstripes. They said that they would still do it if I wanted it done, but they honestly wouldn't suggest doing it with the way the car looks right now.
Thoughts? I'm not really sure what to do and opinions would help.
I personally like solid color. Pinstripes used to highlight lines on a light color or subtle body line. Corvette has great body lines so maybe not required but your car. Google some pin stripes on corvettes and see what you want?
I feel pinstriping detracts from the cars looks. If pinstriping is done, I feel "less is more". Try living without the stripes and if you still feel the need for them, add them later.
Pinstripes enjoyed a very solid run in the '70's and very early 80's. They were magnificent in their time without a doubt. They brought out the beautiful lines in a car. I hired a body shop to put them on my Pontiac in 1977 and they were drop dead gorgeous.
But, even though they are still a personal preference in 2018 - absolutely no questioning that - they were never an EO option on the C3 (or, any Corvette to my knowledge) and they have been out of aftermarket styling favor for about three decades and unfortunately they will immediately date your expensive new paint job - even if it is a white car which so many of them did to amp it up a bit. Bottom line, it's no longer mainstream and the reason that your body & paint guys are politely cringing at the idea.
That said, if you still want them for nostalgia reasons, have at it. And, our C3 brethern on this forum with current/former pin stripes will sing their praise as they should (as I used to). They bring back great memories. But, this could be the perfect time to move away from aftermarket pinstripes if you want to try someting both, original as Larry Shinoda design-intended, and in style today.
Good luck with your decision - it's always fun to be in a position to have options!!
Last edited by Lakeside49; 01-13-2018 at 10:18 PM.
Good arguments on both sides for this one. I believe the pin stripes are "period correct" for the car and think they look great. I compare it to many of the 60's/70's cars that originally came with vinyl roofs. Once the vinyl aged and also fell out of favor many people simply had the roofs painted body color. Now in an ocean of painted roofs a period correct vinyl roof car really stands out.
A couple of years ago I had a '68 Firebird real 400, 4 speed car that had been painted red (just like most Corvettes!) and the vinyl roof was long gone. I restored it back to orig. color combination and re-installed the correct vinyl roof. Got compliments everywhere I went.
Long story short, go with the stripes if that's what you like.
...Thoughts? I'm not really sure what to do and opinions would help...
Your choice. There was no factory pin striping for regular production 82s, so what you had was done by a previous owner. If you liked the stripes, have at it. It's your car.
My black 79 had red painted on pinstripes on it when I bought it and I took many pictures of how they were laid out, as it needed to be stripped and repainted. After having it repainted in black, I decided not to put them back on and am glad I did, even with the matching red interior. It sounds like you haven't even seen the car without the pinstripes, but whether you have or haven't wouldn't matter to me, as said above, I'd live without them for a while.
Got the chance to take a look at it today (still a few issues to finish with pick-up day scheduled for this Friday). Waiting on two "Cross-Fire Injection" badges, and window pillar weatherstripping).
I really appreciate all the comments...it really helped. I'm going without the pinstriping because the car really turned-out nice. Thanks again to all for the input. Here's the best picture I could get...
I just got my '82 repainted (original silver). It had black tape pinstriping on it when I bought it back in '85 so when I took it to the shop, I told them to paint the pinstripes on it.
The car is ready but the paint shop told me that, in their opinion, the car looks fantastic without the pinstripes. They said that they would still do it if I wanted it done, but they honestly wouldn't suggest doing it with the way the car looks right now.
Thoughts? I'm not really sure what to do and opinions would help.
Thanks!
Collector edition has pinstripes...lots of them $399 for the OEM stripes.
Your car, your way...IMHO...leave them off...not stock.
do any of you have the paint code / name / brand for the darker paint on the taillight indents and pinstripes of a 1982 Collector Edition. I see only code 59 on the data plate. Wanted to get some touch up for emergency. Local paint store scoffs if you don't have a big order which this is not. Thanks.
Not a fan of pinstripping, but the two-tone like mentioned came with...along with the CE. Yours looks fine after the paint job, let-er-rip the way it is, your choice.
do any of you have the paint code / name / brand for the darker paint on the taillight indents and pinstripes of a 1982 Collector Edition. I see only code 59 on the data plate. Wanted to get some touch up for emergency. Local paint store scoffs if you don't have a big order which this is not. Thanks.
From the factory, those darker colored areas are all decals, so there is no 'paint code' for that. Code 59, Silver Beige, is the paint. All stripes are decals. These declas can be found on eBay. Good luck.
01-13-2018, 01:08 PM
'82 Pinstriping
