Bumble Bee Stripe

[1970RTSE]

Were stripes painted over the body color, or was the strip color painted first, and a masking used to block out the body color?

[Alaskan_TA]

The stripe color was painted first, then masked and body color applied.

It was easier to mask off the stripe that the whole rest of the car. 

T/Ake care,
Barry

[1970RTSE]

The stripe color was painted first, then masked and body color applied.

It was easier to mask off the stripe that the whole rest of the car. 

T/Ake care,
Barry

\

Thats what I thought.  I was goofing around with some sand paper on the challenger and it looked like the body paint was over the stripe.

[moparnut]

I thought all stripes were decals so how could painting matter since they were stuck on after the car was painted?

[HemiOrange70]

Maybe b body stripes, but E-body stripes were painted. Check out year one and they sell a stencil kit for the b stripes so you can paint one on.

[Carlwalski]

I thought all stripes were decals so how could painting matter since they were stuck on after the car was painted?

I'm with Moparnut on this, I thought they were decals too. 

If not, I continue to appreciate learning. 

[moparnut]

Maybe b body stripes, but E-body stripes were painted. Check out year one and they sell a stencil kit for the b stripes so you can paint one on.

They were all decals,maybe YO does sell a stencil kit to make them look nicer but that doesn't mean they came that way,unless my chally with side strobes was 1 of 1 with decals,since it has never been repainted.

[Carlwalski]

What I can't see is as rushed as most of these cars were out the factory, why Dodge/Plymouth would spend labour and time on painting stripes on these cars when decals would see them out the door 10 times quicker.

It's a money game in the car market and Mopar knew this. That's what I don't get if they were painted. 

[HemiOrange70]

Side strobes, hood stripes (r/t) hockey stick stripes were all decals. The Bumble bee stripe was painted when the car was a shell, before final assembly. The other decals were applied after assembly . The cuda challenger restoration guide is a good reference for paint codes for the stripe also

[Alaskan_TA]

I agree, the Challenger V9_ bumble bee stripes were painted on. It allowed for a greater color choice than was available in vinyl and with the contours of the rear of the Challenger it would be tough to get a vinyl bee stripe to lay down right.

Barry

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I agree, the Challenger V9_ bumble bee stripes were painted on. It allowed for a greater color choice than was available in vinyl and with the contours of the rear of the Challenger it would be tough to get a vinyl bee stripe to lay down right.

Barry

     

I can't think how tough that bumble-bee stripe would be to put on if it were a decal. My side stripes were tough enough.   


  Mike

[moparclown]

the ones on my 70 were painted on,stripped some of the paint off to reveal the original paint.Now if I can find the photo's that I took i'll post them.

[moparnut]

Yes bumble bee stripes were painted for sure-DOH forgot we were talking about them and not hockey,hood blackout and side/billboard decals

[73EStroker]

Alaskan Barry is right. The Bumble Bee stripe covers what is called a compound body curve and a decal is near impossible to install correctly. Factory only painted them acording to some of the books I have read. Barry has a drawing if you need to paint one. I used the drawing for mine and it looks so original.

[Alaskan_TA]

Link to drawing mentioned;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/engineeringDrawings/ei021.jpg