Camaro Z28 Stripes - Getting Striped

One of the features that separates mediocre cars from the really cool ones is their paint schemes. We're not talking about color choices; we're talking about graphics-like flames, scallops, and those classic musclecar stripes. The thing about really cool, timeless graphics is that the car will look just as good in 20 years as it does today. That's just part of the appeal of '60s and '70s musclecars and the graphics that adorned them. They're not overstated, but they do just enough to enhance the car's attitude.

Take second-generation Z/28s, for example. To the untrained eye, it's just a Camaro with stripes, but to those of us who know, two simple stripes can give an otherwise docile-looking Camaro tons of visual muscle. However, there is one important factor-the stripes have got to be done right. Remember that these aren't just stripes, they're stripes outlined with additional smaller stripes. Painting these stripes incorrectly can mean the difference between a cool car and a geek wagon. That's where Park Ridge, Illinois-based Stencils & Stripes comes in. Stencils & Stripes supplies stencil kits for many popular cars that will help even the novice painter get just the right stripe design-complete with all the proper gaps.

When applying a coat of paint,... 

   

  read full caption

When applying a coat of paint, overspray can end up in places you don't want it to go. So before you begin, make sure that the areas on the car that aren't getting painted are completely covered and masked off.

While Sal Perez of American Muscle Cars isn't exactly what you would call a novice when it comes to musclecars, he wanted to make sure that the stripes on this Camaro were right. If you can find the exact center of the hood, you're on your way to a set of perfect stripes. The tips of the stripes are the difficult areas, so Stencil & Stripes' kit consists of exactly that-the ends. You mark the hood and trunk where the instructions tell you to, lay out the stencils (which are the stripe ends), and use tape to complete the stripe centers.

The real cool part about the stencils is that they're basically stickers, which makes them a piece of cake to apply. As you can see, the end result is a set of perfectly lined-up stripes that look just as good as a big-buck job, and give your car that classic musclecar look.

After marking the center of...        read full caption After marking the center of the decklid and spoiler, the upper part and lower part of the stencils are placed on the car.	Moving to the hood, the center...        read full caption Moving to the hood, the center is also measured and marked. We made sure to double-check the line going down the center to ensure it was straight the entire length of the car.	With the center of the hood...        read full caption With the center of the hood located, the front portion of the stencil kit is placed on the car.
Once the stencil kit is centered,...        read full caption Once the stencil kit is centered, the backing paper is peeled back and carefully removed to reveal the area of the car to be painted.	Follow up by connecting the...        read full caption Follow up by connecting the upper and lower portion of the stencils using the tape provided with each stencil kit.	With the stripes laid out,...        read full caption With the stripes laid out, the rest of the decklid is masked off. To prep the area for painting, it was first wiped down with PPG DX330 Grease and Wax remover, then sanded with 330-grit sandpaper.
The hood was also cleaned...        read full caption The hood was also cleaned and sanded. Since the distance between the upper and lower portion of the hood is so large, making sure the lines are straight is critical. It's a good idea to check the straightness of the tape against the marked centerline. Remember, crooked stripes can mean instant geekwagon!	With both areas prepped and...        read full caption With both areas prepped and properly sanded, the paint was applied. The color used was PPG Antique White (Code 11).	The first coat of paint was...        read full caption The first coat of paint was a very light coat. Going too thick too soon may cause buildup along the edges.
Likewise with the hood-we...        read full caption Likewise with the hood-we took it easy on the first coat.	The second coat was a thicker...        read full caption The second coat was a thicker application, making sure that the entire area was covered.	Here, the decklid and spoiler...        read full caption Here, the decklid and spoiler are complete.