Re: [DML] DeLorean Body Stripes

[Bob Brandys <oehcs@xxxx>]

I have seen both styles of striping on the delorean. The bottom wide black
stripe was designed for follow the black bumper line. This is a typical
decor design that was first shown on the cover of Popular Science in 1954
and exemplified on the 92 full size Buick.

However , I found this dark semi gloss finish to visually distracting to the
stainless lines of the side of the car.

On the other hand, the upper fender light gray striping was truly and accent
to the lines of the car. The only problem was these was that they were only
visible close up. (10 ft.) They look nice but are understated.

Accent striping needs to accent and be easily visible on the car finish.
This is where the challenge comes on the Delorean. First, the Delorean
stainless is not a gloss finish. This is a possible advantage to make gloss
finished striping more visible.

On the other hand, the unique brushed stainless speaks to an underlying
grain in body panels. A solid color might clash with the grain lines of the
stainless.

What would be interesting would be striping that has a grain finish in it.
This is an available screen printing image. Further, this grain can be
finished with a transparent color. A nice example, would be a smoke
finished transparent over a grain running parallel to the car. This would
look like a transparent smoke strip on the stainless body!!!

Or it might even be possible to make a transparent dark smoke strip that
would still show the grain.

As for colors, this is a very difficult choice for a D since it is black and
silver grained. Complementary colors do not exists on a black and white
color wheel.

What this means is that color striping would have to be subtle. Again a
transparent strip still showing the grain could work. I have tried some of
the transparent color similar to overhead transparencies. The results were
very interesting.

This lead to experimenting with the tri color sequences similar to 3 M type
striping. A red, white and green stripe would speak to the British nature
of the car. Read white and blue, well,,... you know.

Black parallel stripe was also interesting.

Lastly, a chrome version of the original upper fender strip would
definitely accent the car.

Bob Brandys