Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: jpane on Thursday,January 07, 2021, 07:10:02 AM
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Quite a while ago, I had my Europa painted after repairs from being hit while parked. I bought pin stripe tape, from Banks, I believe. I never got the stripes installed, and was hoping someone had drawings/specs for their placement. I'm sure there was some variation, it is a Lotus, after all, but some sort of a plan would be welcome.
Then, next question will be whether the adhesive will still work. ;)
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Somebody actually measured the stripes on his car but I can't find it now. You can do an image search (I use duckduckgo) for "lotus europa" and see some examples. You can look in the gallery. Pictures of my car may be helpful (http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=8) (note that my stripes are 1/4" rather than 3/16" - I forgot the thickness when I told the paint shop. I also have the horizontal surface of the engine cover striped. That is not standard.).
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Long time ago...
My poor car has been rear-ended (both times while stationary!!!!!!!!!) twice during my ownership, the first time when it was almost new. I had it repaired by a Lotus dealer (Marco Competition in Monclair NJ)at the time and they told me that they could not obtain pinstripe specs themselves. It was a big delay in returning the car to me and after several months of trying with Lotus East and Hethel we gave up. They ended up copying another Special that belonged to the dealership. When it got hit the second time, with the Foreign Motors West repair shop guys (recommended by local F-car dealer), we took a ton of photos before repairs so that we could restripe the car after stripping all the paint and repainting from scratch (it ended up better than new). I might still have those photos (it was almost 30 years ago), which if I can find (possible, but not likely), I would be happy to lend to you. Just to be clear, it has been restriped twice, never with any guidance from the factory, but I am confident that the striping is accurate.
or I could take a lot of pix of the car as it sits now...only since you are an honorary member of the original owners club.
or if you want to drive to MA, you can take them!
Paul
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I have an original paint Special with factory applied stripes intact. I can take some reference photos if that would be helpful.
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I found the pictures I was looking for: http://lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/TCS%20Stripes%2074.pdf
He measured them pretty precisely but as you said, this is for a Lotus, they were originally applied by hand, and it's doubtful that any original examples are still around to be compared to so I don't think there is a lot to be gained by being overly anal about it.
edit: just when I posted that original examples probably no longer exist, Bainford proves me wrong!
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Were the pin stripes always gold in color?
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Yes.
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Have seen some nice aftermarket colours done, black on a yellow car and silver on lagoon blue both looked good.
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Have seen some nice aftermarket colours done, black on a yellow car and silver on lagoon blue both looked good.
I can well imagine.
I mean, I understand the significance of gold stripes on black, (JPS), but if your TCS body is another color, the stripes become effectively just a pattern no? My car is destined to be yellow and I must admit I am thinking of alternative colors for the stripe other than gold. (Silver or white would work no?)
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Lotus put gold strips on cars of all colors, but I expect "all" didn't include yellow. I would think the stripes would get lost. I think you should make yourself happy with your stipe color.
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Whatever colour you want tbh - it’s your car after all! You can always change them providing you don’t lacquer over them.
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My friend had a yellow one. It had gold striping.
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How did it look? Was I right in expecting the gold stripes to get lost in the yellow?
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Found this online
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I think it looks good! Better than I expected.
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I think it looks good! Better than I expected.
I agree. I expected it to be poor combination as well, but when I saw one at LOG 33 I was surprised at how well the gold looked with the yellow.
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My car isn't a Special but the original owner liked the pinstripes and fitted black aftermarket pinstripes. I left them in place for a while but because they weren't lacquered over I ended up taking them off. Nothing to do with the looks BTW, the black/yellow worked quite well but it was just a bit bodgy in places if you looked closely. From 10 foot away.... well make your own mind up !
Brian
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I think it looks good! Better than I expected.
:I-agree: think I'll keep them gold.. :FUNNY:
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Black was the color I expected to look the best but I like them both!
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I have gone back and forth about putting stripes on my TCS. For now, I am leaving it alone but to make it have that “original” look I’d need to add them. It just looks so good without them I doubt I’ll put them on.
Mine is restored and restored to I’d say about 95% to originality. Plus no one would ever know it needs the stripes except the ones who really know but to the general public, they will never know.
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My tcs was originally regency red with the gold stripes. I repainted it Lotus yellow.
I bought the pinstripe gold tape and did the front hood. I did not like it so I took it off.
Another disadvantage of the tape is that it is not good if compounding your paint.
Anyway, I think all yellow looks great, but it is not original. However, my car has two- tone upholstery, updated engine, adjustable shocks, and it is not its original color.
But, I love it.
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Pfreen - any chance of any pictures? My TCS will remain the same color (yellow), but I would be interested to see the 2 tone upholstery you have.
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The attached is a photo of a seat. The center console and door cards are also beige. The carpets are light brown/ beige.
The car upholstery was originally all black. Not good for a Florida car.
I can send more photos directly to you if you want.
BTW, my silly iphone rotates the photos. Sorry.
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Beautiful seat, pfreen! I’d love to see pictures of your interior!
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BDA, thank you for the link to those pictures with measurements. I remember seeing them a long time ago.
Best wishes, John
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jpane, I'm glad to have found it for you!
Looking at the dimensions, it appears that some are "off." For example, in the picture showing the fuel filler, the distance from the edge of the body to the horizontal stripe is 7/8" but the diagonal strip above the filler is 3/4" from the edge. I would assume that the intention was for them to be the same distance from the edge. Does it matter? Not to me, but if it helps you with striping your car, great! When the paint shop I sent my car to was putting my stripes on, I just gave them a book with pictures of the striping. It came out great to my eye.
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The attached is a photo of a seat. The center console and door cards are also beige. The carpets are light brown/ beige.
The car upholstery was originally all black. Not good for a Florida car.
I can send more photos directly to you if you want.
BTW, my silly iphone rotates the photos. Sorry.
Seat looks great !!! Any chance of a picture of the door cards? Chris
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I am sorry if I am hijacking (JB) this thread but here are the photos of my interior.
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Here is 'Another bloody duck-picture' of my TCS, original yellow with golden pin stripes.
The pin stripes have lost some of their original golden glow but still looks good. The front fender(s) have a piece of newer pin striping, which on some/most light situations appear darker than the rest.
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I am sorry if I am hijacking (JB) this thread but here are the photos of my interior.
Very nice, pfreen!
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Here is 'Another bloody duck-picture' of my TCS, original yellow with golden pin stripes.
The pin stripes have lost some of their original golden glow but still looks good. The front fender(s) have a piece of newer pin striping, which on some/most light situations appear darker than the rest.
Car looks great regardless, pboedker!