I was just wondering if anyone here knows the original procedure that the plant workers installed stripes on 70 Chevelles. Did they use stencils or tape free hand ? You see different dimensions and overspray on originals that always seems to add character to an original car. Anyone know how it was done ? Just another one of my dumb questions http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Tom,

Really don't know for sure on 70's. I assume they were stencile. Seems it would speed up production using a stencile.

It was interesting to learn about the 69's "Special Sport Stripe". The front clip was painted seperate from the rest of the car during assembely so the stripe was painted on the front clip. After the front clip was married up with the rest of the body further down the assy line then the rest of the stripe on the doors and rear quarters were finished in tape.

This also meant that sometimes the tint in the colors from the front clip to the rest of the car were a little off too.

If anyone else has any info contrary to this please let me know.

Ref: Stenciles and Stripes repro co.

FastSS396man

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69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!

[This message has been edited by fastss396man (edited 11-21-2001).]

I wondered about stencils but I couldn't imagine how much time that would have taken. Surely someone here knows how it was done. I wonder if there are any ex assembly line workers that are members here. Wouldn't their stories be priceless !

We bought our Baltimore built Chevelle new in '69. It is a late production number. When the car arrived at the dealers it had a little dent and scrape on the drivers fender right on the stripe. They repaired the fender, and ordered the new stripe piece which I installed myself. In '72 when we had the car painted I peeled all the stripe sections off with the aid of hot water. Other plants may have done things differently.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Keith Tedford:
We bought our Baltimore built Chevelle new in '69. It is a late production number. When the car arrived at the dealers it had a little dent and scrape on the drivers fender right on the stripe. They repaired the fender, and ordered the new stripe piece which I installed myself. In '72 when we had the car painted I peeled all the stripe sections off with the aid of hot water. Other plants may have done things differently.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keith, Thanks for this first hand info. I read the info I posted several years ago in a brochure from Stencils and Stripes. However about 2 weeks ago I looked at a 69' SS396 Chevelle that was very much original. And one thing I looked at real hard were the stripes. They were almost dry rotted or cracked. They sure looked to be tape all the way. And I think paint would have cracked but not shrunk.

FastSS396man



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Brian
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!

As far as I know the D96 stripes were tape.
The only cars I have seen like you have mentioned were the camaro ss stripes where the front was paint and the doors were tape. I would imagine that there was a stencil used for the 70 stripes as well.

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Micky Hale Restorations
69 L-89 Chevelle
68 Biscayne 427/425
34 Plymouth Drag Car
ACES #134
www.mickyhale.com (http://www.mickyhale.com)

A buddy of mine has a VERY original '70 LT-1 Vette that has the original stripes on the hood, they are painted and look like crap! Bt then the body work on the back where they mate the panels looks like the guys first day using a sander, it looks like it was done with amn electric ginder. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"