Have I missed a major social or cultural event? I'm seeing more and more cars with two stripes running front to back on them.
The cars are usually blue, the stripes usually white. I've seen it on lots of Minis but it doesn't seem to be model specific (also Focii, Peugeots etc).
Was it the Italian Job remake (which I never saw)? A new version of Starsky & Hutch that I've missed? Or just a fashion statement, like a Mullet haircut?
Paul
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Fashion. A naff one at that. Mind you, apparently they really do make the car go faster.
Edited by nick on 10/10/2007 at 12:11
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It's an old fashion now come round again. I think it dates from the time when BMC minis won the Monte Carlo rally. For full effect the stripes should be close together but offset from the centre line. Also the spot/fog lights should have plastic covers. And any wheel trim removed.
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Mind you apparently they really do make the car go faster.>>
Really? I've always thought that they were using the wasp principle. ie visible stripes means keep your distance as I am liable to do something stupid/aggressive without warning.
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>>I think it dates from the time when BMC minis won the Monte Carlo rally<<
Strangely, i was told it came about due to council workmens blunder, they were painting double yellow lines on a road somewhre, and rather than wait or move the car, they went right over it!. the fact that the lines are usually white nowadays is just cosmetic - it goes with more colours!.
Billy
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Nice little earner for the manufacturers too. £200 for roof and side stripes on a Ford Fiesta, or £75 just for the sides.
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Also got a feeling that it was to help pit crews/observers differentiate team cars in difficult conditions like Le Mans at night or the Monte.
I remember 'go faster' chrome tape in the '50s.
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aren't they called 'Viper stripes' this time round after Dodge's high speed lorry sported them when it first came out.
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aren't they called 'Viper stripes' this time round
It depends. The different named stripes all have slightly different configurations. There are Cobra stripes, Viper stripes, and several other types.
I can't remember the names or which are which I'm afraid, but for instance equal width stripes in the centre have a different name to different width, off-set.
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Here's a document showing a type called 'LeMans stripes' and you can see how exact they have to be to strictly be called that:
www.nvsaac.com/Details/Lemans_stripes.htm
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Look great on a Viper, but sadly I tend to mostly see them on Saxos.
Naff, alongside those black "carbon fibre" bonnets....
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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Here's a document showing a type called 'LeMans stripes' and you can see how exact they have to be to strictly be called that: www.nvsaac.com/Details/Lemans_stripes.htm
"...assist the driver in in determining the direction of the car in the event of a spin, when tire smoke or dust could cause temporary disorientation."
Eh? How can stripes help you know what direction you're facing? If you know the front is pointing the same way as you, but what direction you're facing, you're not gonna know until the dust clears.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
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that's the Yanks for you - the same people that brought you 'warning, this coffee may be hot'
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