Why I hate LeMans stripes

They were still an option, cheaper for the dealer to paint them...plus they made a few bucks...

 

Your right, not every Shelby had LeMans stripes. But some did get them installed at the dealer. I have a 68 that I purchased from the original owner. I asked him about the stripes and he told me the dealer put them on before he bought it. Now are they original? Not from the factory but as delivered to the original owner they are and I can prove it, how many others can, who knows. The problem with E-Bay is alittle knowledge is a dangerous thing. I laugh when people list something like "...original Shelby/Boss 429/CobraJet/Mach 1 sunvisor screws...buy now for some super high price" They are the same screws found on any Mustang. But they figure if say they fit a Shelby they MUST be worth more. The stripes sell the car easier. Next time someone asks why your Shelby dosen't have the stripes just say because I have the super high performance version with the ultra rare stripe delete package. Then ask where THIER Shelby is.

 

The stripes where a dealer option. I am completing a restoration on my 68 gt350 and I have added the LeMans stripes even though, since it was a hertz car, I doubt they where added on by the delivering dealer but who knows if it was or not. The car already had a repaint to a non original color with the strips when I bought it. At least I have painted it back to the original color. I just think the stripes makes the 67 and 68's look better.

 

This subject caused me much pain and agony in the restoration process of my 67GT350 (#1790). I realize the stripes are not factory original and I spent countless hours viewing magazines & books to compare Brittany Blue Shelby's both with and without the LeMans stripes. I went to car shows and to Vintage car dealers to view them up close as well. The bottom line decision for me was to go with the stripes and I think I made the right choice. I catch myself just staring at the car at times, (Yes, I know I need some therapy!!!) and I just feel the stripes add that certain "wow factor" and makes the cars body lines even more spectacular to look at. Now, on a 68 Shelby I have the "no stripe" opinion and feel that they are a bit too overpowering for that particular year. Maybe it's the different hood style or the Argent color in the rear Tail-light section that holds me to this opinion; I'm not sure. I told you guys I need some therapy!!! But in any event, paint your car whatever way you want. You need to be able to look at your car and say "Oh yea, I like it!!!". Hopefully I stated my opinion without offending anyone. Take care. David B)

 

My opinion is that 65 and 66 GT350's look better with stripes. 67's with the exception of Brittany Blue look good with stripes, I think the Brittany cars look better without. 68's look better without stripes, and I think 69/70's are ok without. But, it's your car, you make it look the way you want, and who cares what anyone thinks.

 

Well Commish you got a great topic going here! of all the Shelby Mustangs made, the 69/70 is the Car that Cannot have LeMans stripes due to the Hood design. I hear what you are saying as far as originality and what left the Factory was it. But most people do not know that All 68 GT350 & GT500 Cars left the Factory with Steel Wheels and Hub Caps! 10 Spokes were Dealer only. on My former 68 GT500, I put the Ten Spokes on and the Car was White. Too White. The LeMans Stripes gave the car a great Look. Now I met a guy who has owned his White 1968 GT500 for 32 years. He has leMans stripes that Stop at the end of the Scoops on the Front of the Hood! That is How his Dealer finished them! looked Different, but Cool!

 

I totaly agree with dv67shelby.

 

Rear and Front view of my former 68 GT500 #1428

I still like the stripes on 68's that are lighter in color. White, Red, Lime Green, Gold cars all look great with them. the Blue, Highland Green, Black, Yellow and Orange cars all look good without them.

 

Well, a ton of the photos of 69/70's that I have taken at SAAC, have stripes on the hoods incorporating the outer hood scoops.

 

I stand by my belief tha the 69/70 cars are better off without leMans stripes. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. or the owner as it may be! a Big part of Stripes and color combinations has to do with folks that strive for the look of the 60's versus what is Hot today. Hence the Silver and Black striped Eleanor Cars. I am 41 and loved being a child of the 60's. I also am an Artist and appreciate many efforts that others do not. I recall reading some time ago that the LeMans stripes were put on cars that wee running in Fog or dusty areas so that the driver would not become disoriented with where the front of the car is at all times. or something to that effect. so other than appearance, they did serve a purpose!

 

It is rather refreshing to see a 65-67 without stripes. We all have varying opinions, but I just don't think they look as good on a '68 as a '65-'67. I would love to have a '65 without stripes. When I paint my '67, I'm not sure what I will do. I think I will leave them off at first. I can always add them later. In the end, we only have to please ourselves, not others.
Jon

 

I guess that means we should take off all of the antenas as well since they were all put on by the dealers. Notice that they are in three different locations.

 

My '67 GT350 is Brittany Blue and had original paint when I got it, without stripes. I had it repainted without stripes, with the intention of trying to find some 10 inch wide white tape (3M perhaps?) with low-tack adhesive so that I could try them on the car and take them off if I didn't like them.

Does anyone know of any 10 inch white plastic tape with low-tack adhesive (so that it doesn't peel the paint of when removed)?

I understand that the Le Mans stripes were not exactly 10 inches wide all the way through to counter the optical effect of narrowing towards the back edge of the hood. But just as a try-out, tape could be the answer? (Business opportunity for someone?)

Skid

 

Go to a local sign shop as they can run them right off their vinyl machine.

 

DaltonDavid:
I've always understood it that LeMans stripes travel the entire length of the car, and I've never seen any '69-70 Shelby's that had full length stripes. However, I have seen them with hood stripes.

I've always read that from the factory, the '69 Shelby's did not have any hood stripes, and that the '70's (which were all carry-over '69s) only had the hood stripes added as a way to differentiate them from the previous model year.

As far as the '67-68 Shelby's go, it's all about personal preference, as someone previously stated. I guess if you are restoring your car, and they came with the dealer-installed stripes, then you should put them back on for value sake.

Personally, I think LeMans stripes only look good on the smaller '65-66's, because the stripes were kind of a "road-racey" thing to do. To me, the slightly larger '67-68s are more "muscle car" than road racer, and just don't look right with the stripes over the top. Give me a Brittany Blue '67 500 with no stripes, and I'm in heaven...

 

Hopefully I have managed to upload a picture of #02751 Brittany Blue with no stripes

 

I am firmly in the camp of whatever makes you happy; stripes or no stripes. I struggled with this decision for a while when I restored my gold 1968 GT-350 (fastback). I am very happy that I decided not to stripe. An opinion shared with me at decision time stuck .... "the argent rear pannel and 5 pannel chrome bezels on a 1968 make the rear treatment tasteful, but complex. Added Lemans stripes make the rear too busy." I am going to submit that this opinion firmly applies to 1968 convertibles as a whole. 1968 convertibles look very classy without stripes .... a 1968 convertible, particularly top down, with Lemans stripes look very cut up.

 

The lime green colored cars that everybody repainted a diff. color looks a lot better with stripes, imo.---S.