Stripes worst enemy

[Sean_W]

Hello,

First time car-with-stripe owner. So what can really damage a stripe these days. Is it using the wrong kind of wax, using the wrong kind of car washing soap or is it just plain too much direct sunlight? What's the sectret to keeping the stripes looking good beyond the first few years?

Thanks,
Sean

[Rodrunner]

Car soap will not harm the vinyl, but the sun's ultraviolet rays certainly will. You'll want to keep a good coat of wax on them, and use a wax with little or no cleaner (grit) in it so as not to scratch them. Other than that about the only thing you can do is keep the car out of direct sunlight. Someone else may have more suggestions.

[Rodrunner]

Sorry, but the stripes are most definitely vinyl, not paint.

[blackZbandit]

Originally Posted by Sandman

They are vinyl stripes?!? This is news to me... I was hoping GM wouldn't be so cheap and would actually paint them on there, If I wanted cheap stripes I would have vinyls custom made for $100. :\

How many auto manufactures do you know that offer painted stripes? $100K + Vipers and GT500 (not the Mustang, the real one) come with vinyl stripes.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

They are vinyl stripes?!? This is news to me... I was hoping GM wouldn't be so cheap and would actually paint them on there, If I wanted cheap stripes I would have vinyls custom made for $100. :\

Z28s have had vinyl stripes for over 30 years now. It's nothing new.

Like Rodrunner said, their worst enemy will be direct sunlight. Other than that, they're pretty sturdy and require no special care or attention. The stripes on my 1974, 1980, and 1984 Z28s all lasted for years and never peeled or cracked.