To stripe or not to stripe...

[soledoctor]

87 westy out for paint, wolfram grey.
Family wants a stripe for a little custom fun.
Suggestions range from orange to blue....
Any of yall do this, any photos?
Recommendations on paint vs post paint vinyl or such?
Thanks. will visit painter today to see if too late to modify.
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87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500

[elizer]

A silver reflective tape down the middle body would be a good contrast with the wolfram gray.

Or make it a family project and just use plasti-dip and let them pick whatever color they want... then when you are sick of it peel it off. Less permanent.

[IdahoDoug]

DIY vinyl after the paint. A lot of vanagons had a factory vinyl stripe in the character line. Easy to do. Lots of choices from 3M.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[LemonCove]

http://www.vinylstriping.com/colors.php

Go for it. On my 87 the original stripe was badly faded and deteriorating. I wanted something to cover that and add a bit of personality. I used 3" vinyl tape

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'88 Bostig Westy

[E1]

Things like this are a part of my living, so a couple thoughts...

With this being a last-minute thought for you, I would not paint it unless you're 100% committed, you understand color, and you know exactly what color you can live with for your life with the van.

Resale considerations come into play as well, the new owner has to want a stripe, and has to at least like your color choice for it to aid your sale.

So though I personally do not like vinyl used for something like this in place of paint, for me the decision is easy. You can also change the stripe color, or colors, whenever and however you choose, and cheaply and quickly.

I would not apply the stripe for four to six weeks, so the paint fully cures before sealing it in under the vinyl.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[WestyWanter]

[Pinetops]

[soledoctor]

Thanks all!
Will wait the 6 weeks before application, great advice!
_________________
87 westy (2.4)
1964 /2 conversion (in progress)
73 R75/5
15 RC390 race prep
Blundstone 500

[Merian]

Blue or Silver
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....

[bizarre]

I did the same as LemonCove - a yellow vinyl stripe.

Easily removable

I would go for yellow or an orange / blue / Martini Racing colour theme

[WestyWanter]

[bizarre]

[WestyWanter]

Nearly looks 80s futuristic! does it go 88mph?!?

[jvan]

My vote is paint it and as others have said apply a vinyl stripe of your choice later. Or plastic dip...if done well lasts years and removable.

[bizarre]

[IdahoDoug]

As another thought, I've considered buying some of the highly reflective versions of vinyl tape available. It's available in a lot of colors so in the daytime it is just an accent, or white character line, but at night becomes brilliantly reflective for safety, etc. Check sites that cater to law enforcement, state vehicles, and school buses and you'll find the version that uses 3M super reflective technology.

I chose not to do it because we stealth camp and I thought it might inadvertently bring attention to our van at night. And no, the bright yellow paint probably doesn't serve that too well either - cough....

Doug
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader