bluewire

Ever since I bought my commemorative Z06 back in 2005 the stripes have been a love hate thing. Sometimes I thought the stripes looked good and other times I wanted them gone. I ended up leaving them on, but the desire to peel them off was always something I knew would eventually happen. Yesterday was that day. I'm sure many will disagree, but we all have different tastes. I'm happy with the new look and have always thought less is more. I plan on removing the front emblem as well, just need to figure out what to do with the holes.

grantv

Looks much better IMO. Thankfully no paint differences.
How about carbon fiber inlays for the badges, that would look great.
Edit; just noticed the piece is silver? Maybe paint it black or buy a black one, then the CF inlays?

bluewire

There were two paint imperfections/blemishes, one on the roof and one on the hood. They are not to bad though and you would have to look for them or catch the light just right.

FYRARMS

Excellent! Cleaner is meaner! The only reason I bought a 2003 instead of a 2004 is because I hate stripes on cars. And, I do like Electron Blue a little more than LeMans Blue. Regardless, you car looks great!

FYRARMS

This! Swapped my front silver 50th Anniversary emblem for a black one with carbon inlays. And I just removed the rear emblem completely.

grantv

See my revised note about the badges.
Also, are your tires factory size?

bluewire

Thanks, I am thinking about picking up a new black non-CE emblem and cutting the oval off and or possibly changing the inserts. I really want to have the holes filled and do no emblem but that will be for another day.

I also thought about just removing the inserts and placing them back on the bumper alone. If only the stupid holes weren't there.

Denny Kohlman

You are right. Less is more. Great looking Z. You did the right thing.

FYRARMS

Bro, we are on the same page. I thought about cutting off the ring and just leaving the flags, but where you cut the ring actually leaves visible cut marks. I thought about sanding the cut marks flush, but the emblem is like flexible plastic. I just gave in and got the full black emblem. Looks like this now...

bluewire

I honestly think they gave the C5 the worst looking emblem of all the vettes.
I am going to pickup either a cheap new or used black emblem then trim, sand and paint it.

FYRARMS

Rlb2002vette

Sweet! Your car looks GREAT.

DDaaryl

Looks more better

Vetteman Jack

It’s your car and you are the one that has to be happy. It looks OK without the stripes, but in all honesty I have always thought the Z16 with the stripes was one of the best looking C5s that were made. As you said, different tastes for different people.

Still, it’s a fine looking Z06.

Route99

I, too, liked the factory applied Z16 stripes and thought this was one of the better stripe packages any manufacturer put on a car.
But, the important thing is you prefer the car without the stripes, and it's great that the stripes came off with only two minor paint imperfections.

neutron82

looks better without in my opinion... so I always thought those stripes were painted on and I know the hood is carbon but I also thought the area on top was actual exposed carbon and not a vinyl sticker!

Ceedub53

I like it. Looks better, IMHO.

billschroeder5842

I like the look a lot.

MSG C5

The Z16 was one of my favorite all-time Corvette packages. I came really close to buying a new one in 2004, but the wife wanted a convertible so we went that route.

I came across a few over the years locally for sale and often thought about pulling the trigger as I liked it that much!

Great looking C5 either way!

Time for a C-5

Just last week I removed the rear emblem and I though it looked so good I removed the front. Surprise - the two holes. I trimmed the circle off and it came out clean, then remounted. I like the look w/out the circle. Too bad those holes are there, I wheeled out of the nose while the emblem was off and got 95%+ of the ghosting out.