Viper Stripes - Page 2

redshoes · 26 Dec 2006, 20:22 (Ref:1799520)

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnh875

Never heard the term "Viper stripes" before reading this thread - must be a UK only term, probably invented by someone with no awareness of cars prior to the Viper GTS coupe (~10 yrs ago?)

"Viper Stripes" seems to be the modern term coined by the car modifying scene.

Quote:

To pick up on Adam's idea, I wonder what was the first road car sold with stripes as standard? I would open the bidding with the 1965 Shelby GT350 Mustang

I would have gone for the Cobra, although not sure if they were standard or simply an option.

To follow on from the Viper idea, since that was the car the re-popularised stripes, what was the last (road) car prior to the Vipir to feature them?

AU N EGL · 27 Dec 2006, 00:12 (Ref:1799637)

Viper Stripes

johnh875 · 27 Dec 2006, 01:38 (Ref:1799674)

Cobras were definitely available in plain colours, think of the original 427SC's you see and most of them seem to be plain red.

I can't give a good answer to the second question for cars sold in the UK or USA, but in Australia the only cars with full length top stripes were the 1968 Holden Monaro GTS327 (HK model), 1969 Holden Monaro GTS350 (HT model), and 1978 Ford Falcon Cobra (limited edition of 400). The Falcon GT's had side stripes and bonnet blackouts while the Chryslers had transverse stripes. More recently the HSV GTO LE (limited edition last of line) had stripes but not full length - on the bonnet and boot only.

HK and HT GTS Monaro (the car pictured on the left sold for $220k at auction recently)

Ford Falcon Cobra & HSV GTO LE

woodyracing · 27 Dec 2006, 10:37 (Ref:1799812)

a lot of vinyl graphics companies/websites call them viper stripes aswell.

redshoes · 27 Dec 2006, 13:46 (Ref:1799913)

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnh875

Cobras were definitely available in plain colours, think of the original 427SC's you see and most of them seem to be plain red.

I have seen period examples with stripes, although as I said I don't know if you'd class that as "standard equipment"

Quote:

I can't give a good answer to the second question for cars sold in the UK or USA, but in Australia the only cars with full length top stripes were...

Actually you have answered it, or at least confirmed what I thought. To me "Viper stripes" means two wide stripes across the middle of the car running the full length of the vehicle, not the off-centre narrow stripes on the Monaro. You've reminded me of a few UK cars from the 70s with similar stripes but nothing approaching what you'd class as proper Viper/GT stripes.

For anyone whose not aware of 1950/60s Le Mans racers then the Viper would probably have been their first experience of these stripes so I can understand why the name "Viper stripes" has been adopted.

**Adam43** · 27 Dec 2006, 14:13 (Ref:1799920)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

For anyone whose not aware of 1950/60s Le Mans racers then the Viper would probably have been their first experience of these stripes so I can understand why the name "Viper stripes" has been adopted.

Oh definitely. As you say it is the Viper that made them popular in modern times. People think that they are cool because they make a car (a little) like a Viper. Dodge like them because they make the Viper (a bit) like the old charasmatic Le Mans racers of the 1950/60s!

**Peter Mallett** · 28 Dec 2006, 07:14 (Ref:1800242)

Actually I suspect they were originally used as an easy way to identify the US racing teams whose colours (colors) were blue on white.

The term "Viper stripes" is I agree, a modern idea and used to attract the "Burberry clad Neanderthals". See http://www.viperstripes.co.uk/

However striping is not a new craze. The sixties saw many vehicles with "go faster" stripes. The most popular being Minis with checker tape down the sides.

vorsprung · 28 Dec 2006, 11:50 (Ref:1800424)

I've allways called them "Shelby stripes"

Knowlesy · 29 Dec 2006, 01:40 (Ref:1800876)

We'll just call them stripes shall we, lest we are all lumped into categories.

I see I am in the "Burberry clad neanderthal" sector here, which is mildly upsetting.

**Peter Mallett** · 29 Dec 2006, 05:32 (Ref:1800921)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I see I am in the "Burberry clad neanderthal" sector here, which is mildly upsetting.

If the cap fits..........................................

Alan Raine · 29 Dec 2006, 07:55 (Ref:1800964)

I followed a dark blue car with "Viper Stripes" into Tescos in Wallasey a couple of weeks ago. It even said Viper V10 on the back. It was actually a Mazda RX5 - sad or what!

**Adam43** · 29 Dec 2006, 08:56 (Ref:1800996)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

We'll just call them stripes shall we, lest we are all lumped into categories.

Lump me into the Cunningham category then please

Quote:

I see I am in the "Burberry clad neanderthal" sector here, which is mildly upsetting.

Was this said, just so Peter could make the cap joke?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

I followed a dark blue car with "Viper Stripes" into Tescos in Wallasey a couple of weeks ago. It even said Viper V10 on the back. It was actually a Mazda RX5 - sad or what!

Not quite stripes, or a RX so a little of topic, but here is a striped MX5 seen kicking around the La Sarthe region of France:

**Peter Mallett** · 29 Dec 2006, 10:01 (Ref:1801029)

That's almost approprate because its the colours of the winning Mazda Group C car from (and you'll correct me on this) 1986(?) driven by among others Johnny Herbert. Mazda did market cars in those colours.

**Adam43** · 29 Dec 2006, 10:37 (Ref:1801050)

They won in 1991, which makes it even better!
I don't remember Mazda actually selling cars in this scheme - excellent.

At Le Mans I have also seen an old Volvo Estate made up in Silk Cut livery!

I suppose it is relevant because the stripes are meant to make a car look like a racing car.

Bluebottle · 29 Dec 2006, 10:45 (Ref:1801054)

Can't believe a thread about stripes has run to 3 pages!

Last time I saw the Silk Cut Volvo it was parked beside the Chinese during the race, with lots of people standing on a slightly less than straight roof!

woodyracing · 29 Dec 2006, 12:26 (Ref:1801139)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebottle

Can't believe a thread about stripes has run to 3 pages!

its a technical subject

I dont mind stripes if they are on a race car or a decent road car, they look pants IMO on 1 litre corsa or fiesta though.

redshoes · 29 Dec 2006, 13:26 (Ref:1801175)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

They won in 1991, which makes it even better!
I don't remember Mazda actually selling cars in this scheme - excellent.

As a Le Mans fan I'm surprised you'd not heard of it.
http://www.mx5-mazda.co.uk/24hrLeMans.htm
Only 24 built, 3 of which are believed to have been re-sprayed.

Quote:

At Le Mans I have also seen an old Volvo Estate made up in Silk Cut livery!

You'd be amazed what people will put Silk Cut livery on

**Adam43** · 29 Dec 2006, 13:54 (Ref:1801198)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

As a Le Mans fan I'm surprised you'd not heard of it.
http://www.mx5-mazda.co.uk/24hrLeMans.htm
Only 24 built, 3 of which are believed to have been re-sprayed.

You would, especially as I was there and my mother has an MX5!

Quote:

You'd be amazed what people will put Silk Cut livery on

True, although I hear the cool people go for Motul nowadays

I did consider stripes a few years ago. I thought about a big arrow off centre. Sort of like this, but the version with only one arrow.

Probably notthose colours too. However I changed my mind before I got round to it.

**Peter Mallett** · 29 Dec 2006, 20:10 (Ref:1801432)

So, if I've got this right, you wanted arrows, but only one, not two, pointing upwards, not down and on one side but not in the Gulf colours. Hmm, I think I can see the syntax of the underlying metaphor there.

Off topic comment alert
I have to type this or my brain will explode!

Carlos Pace had a down arrow on his race helmet until a "guru" of some kind told him it was bad Kharma or something so he went for the reversed upward pointing arrow. Sadly he was killed later that year.

Thanks for reading, you've been a wonderful audience. Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress. We now return you to the topic

**Adam43** · 29 Dec 2006, 21:41 (Ref:1801491)

Phew, I'm glad I abandoned the arrow plan.

Bluebottle · 29 Dec 2006, 22:05 (Ref:1801503)

head hurts now.

beau1 · 30 Dec 2006, 00:52 (Ref:1801573)

I Have always called them "go faster" stripes myself. Speaking of vipers i saw two the other day one behind another. One with White stripes and blue body and the other with blue stripes and white body. Sounded like a pair of tractors though

**Adam43** · 30 Dec 2006, 09:45 (Ref:1801672)

That is because they have truck engines! Although wonderfully powerful and torque engines

.

I always considered go faster stripes to be down the side of a car. Like this:

and like those wheels go-faster stripes probably don't make it.

**garcon** · 30 Dec 2006, 10:20 (Ref:1801686)

That was one of the best Escorts ever made until some chav got hold of it...

**Peter Mallett** · 30 Dec 2006, 13:25 (Ref:1801751)

Hmm,

Not sure what your problem is with that garc. It looks more or less like the standard RS Turbo job with slightly lowered suspension and larger wheels. Looks quite good actually.

Adam. Truck engines? Healey 100/6 anybody?

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