LWesthaver

I may be in the minority but I love the early C4 belt-line molding. I was disappointed when the later C4's got the smoother, more integrated, body color molding.

But I came across this picture today. A late model C4 with a black belt-line! and I'm smitten again:



What do you guys think? I love it.

-Wes

pologreen1

Different.

DMITTZ

Yes, I like the early style belt line a bit better personally.

colo63sw

I liked the early belt line, what I really liked was the two-tone upper/lower body coloring chevy did. The light & dark bronze combo was my favorite.

JerriVette

I personally think the sharp edge styling of the earlier years of c4 worked a little better with that sharp beltline molding..

Once the styling of the c4 evolved into a more rounded appearance..I believe the painted body color molding was a smoother look

jsmcol

I had an '86 Convertible, dark red, with White top, and I always liked the look of the beltline, but of course there was no choice.


I have a Ruby 40th now, and while both are dark, I think on a dark car the belt line doesn't need to be black. I think it does make a lighter car look nice though, it accentuates the lines of the car, gives you something to compare against a straight line, like on the white one above. I have a picture of my '93 up right now trying to imagine if I'd like it with a black stripe in the middle or not. Probably not. Again, a light car, that may look good.

gerardvg

I actually prefer the late C4 smooth moldings .... that's just me ..

Paul Workman

Personally, esthetically i favor the older style. But, isn't the belt suppose to protect the paint in the inevitable bumps against the body?
. Yeah, I cringe when bumping or being bumped, but I take comfort knowing the paint is likely protected by the older (90) style belt. But, my heart leaps into my throat when the painted (91) belt gets bumped! I whirl around, holding my breath until I can see if the paint was damaged before I can breathe in relief.
WTF! Why have a belt if it is prone to paint damage - the very reason (I thought) it was put there?

91 black convert

I thought the belt line was there to cover up the body panel joints.

L98Justin

Love the belt line, it's why i'll always try to be in a 84-90 but I certainly don't hate the updated smoother body at all

billschroeder5842

I've got them both and never really thought too much about it. They just look them way they are supposed to for an 89 and a 91.

However, it is a PITA to wax the 89 as the belt line will pick up the wax. I've used painters tape and an improvised "trowel" barrier of cardboard to keep it clean.

GRIS

GOOD FOR A LITTLE CONTRAST

JungleCat

I never really thought about it that much but it looks good to me.

91 black convert

If it’s got to be there, (and I wish it didn’t have to be), then at least make it less noticeable by color matching it.

My $0.02

Edv92c4

Looks good on the older cars...not so good on the newer ones.

belairbrian

hcbph

I like it, especially when you see someone swing a door open in a parking lot without any care of who or what's on the end of that door.
I might excuse a little one but definitely don't excuse that action from an adult.

ETM

I used to hate it. I have come to appreciate the early C4s a lot more in recent years. I actually have grown to like it now. I like an early C4 that is clean and original.

jts90vette

I like the black “body side molding” on the 1984 - 1990 models, not so much on the 91 - 96 models. Chevrolet got it right.

Goldcylon

I'm a fan of the later style mouldings however I always thought the black belt line broke up the earlier body style lines better. And on white cars etc it made for a better look as a break up of the solid colors. For the earlier bodystyles I think GM did that right. GC