Topic: 1965 mustang convertible pinstripe

[Danno1325]

Hello- I'm restoring my dads 65 convertible and I'm wondering if there is a "correct" pinstripe size for the body line on the side of the car? I think the original pinstripe on the car was hand painted but I'm trying to avoid having a fresh paint job and then putting a pinstripe on it that is too wide. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[CharlesTurner]

If I remember right, it was about 3/16" wide and you are right that it was painted on, not a decal.  The stripe was part of the "Accent Group", which included rocker panel moldings and qtr ornament delete on coupes/convertibles.  Fastbacks came standard with rocker panel moldings and quarter delete, so for those, you just got the pin stripe.

[Danno1325]

Thanks for the info.  I have heard 3/32" and now 3/16".  So i'll shoot for the middle and hope that I get it right.  Thanks again for your help and insight I really appreciate it.  By the way does anyone know of a paint or body restoration book that may have the detail of the pinstripe width?

[tomtri66]

According to Rick Mitchell's article in Mustang Times way back when:  "The accent stripe is a consistent 1/16th to 3/32" wide.  It rides the raised area of the fenders and doors. 3/8" away from the seam, above or below the cutout areas, depending upon whether it is the upper or lower stripe."
Tom

[bryancobb]

A beugler-striper and "One-Shot" lettering enamel is the correct way to do it  now.

http://www.beugler.com/product-category/beugler-parts-accessories/

[CharlesTurner]

Looked back on some correspondence and a friend that measured his original paint car with accent stripe said it was about 1/16".  Some pics of a stripe I had painted on.  The guy that did it used a wheel-type striping tool.  He put down a magnetic track on the car that kept the line straight.

http://65kresto.blogspot.com/

[C5ZZKGT]

Just out of my curiosity how is the color of the stripe determined? is it matched to the interior color possibly?

Yes, Ford published a color chart that indicates the Accent Stripe color based on exterior color and interior.  I wouldn't use it as an absolute reference, but most every original car I have seen followed the pattern.

[bryancobb]

Looked back on some correspondence and a friend that measured his original paint car with accent stripe said it was about 1/16".  Some pics of a stripe I had painted on.  The guy that did it used a wheel-type striping tool.  He put down a magnetic track on the car that kept the line straight.

http://65kresto.blogspot.com/

That is exactly how a Beugler Striper works.

[JKWilson]

I had the opportunity today to measure a factory applied pinstripe on a fender from my '66 Dearborn coupe. It was 1/16", (painted on as Charles has already pointed out).

[trucktricksdon]

My Dad has been a pinstriper in the Detroit area since the 50's. He always did it free hand and made his living doing it for as long as I can remember, striping the original hot rods in the 50's. He always tells me the story of when the Mustang came out in 64 he couldn't keep up with the calls to put that single stripe on Mustangs. He said half of his income came from striping Mustangs for dealers and new owners between 64 and 67. Of course any good pinstriper used One Shot and he always used a striping brush, following the body line with his pinky as he laid the paint on. I can ask him, but I could imagine that there was probably a variation in the thickness from car to car, especially if done by hand at a dealer. He is still bugging me to let him put that stripe on my Poppy Red 65!

[C5ZZKGT]

My Dad has been a pinstriper in the Detroit area since the 50's. He always did it free hand and made his living doing it for as long as I can remember, striping the original hot rods in the 50's. He always tells me the story of when the Mustang came out in 64 he couldn't keep up with the calls to put that single stripe on Mustangs. He said half of his income came from striping Mustangs for dealers and new owners between 64 and 67. Of course any good pinstriper used One Shot and he always used a striping brush, following the body line with his pinky as he laid the paint on. I can ask him, but I could imagine that there was probably a variation in the thickness from car to car, especially if done by hand at a dealer. He is still bugging me to let him put that stripe on my Poppy Red 65!

If your car doesn't have the side ornament and HAS the rocker panel mouldings I'd let your Dad stripe it for you, not too many folks that have a pro pinstriper for a Dad!

[trucktricksdon]

It has the ornament unfortunately or I would have let him do it!! He says I need some striping on the dash too....I'll have to decline on that for a Mustang though. Maybe if it were a post ww-II Ford, but not a Mustang

[C5ZZKGT]

It has the ornament unfortunately or I would have let him do it!! He says I need some striping on the dash too....I'll have to decline on that for a Mustang though. Maybe if it were a post ww-II Ford, but not a Mustang

Gotcha! Hopefully your Dad understands why you are declining his offer.
May be he could do some tasteful striping on your daily driver?