For enthusiasts diving into the world of 1965 Gto Parts Car restoration, authenticity is paramount. A fascinating detail often debated is the factory pinstriping. Jim Wangers, in a December 2013 issue of HPP, shed light on this very topic, specifically regarding GTOs presumably built at the Pontiac, Michigan plant. His insights are crucial for anyone looking for genuine 1965 GTO parts or aiming for a concours-correct restoration.
Wangers directly addresses the misconception of perfect, rounded pinstripes on factory-original 1965 GTOs. According to Wangers, factory pinstriping was applied using an automated twin-brush machine. This machine remained static while the car body moved along the assembly line. The result? Pinstripes that were often imperfect, sometimes even crooked – but undeniably factory-applied. Critically, this machine lacked the capability to neatly round the curve following the taillight cap. Instead, the stripe would commence roughly half an inch from the headlight rim, trace the body’s contours, including the subtle upward sweep onto the quarter panel, and then abruptly halt about half an inch from the taillight cap’s horizontal edge. While a rounded stripe might appear aesthetically pleasing, Wangers, who was present during that era, asserts that the factory equipment at Pontiac simply couldn’t achieve it.
This raises an interesting point about variations across different assembly plants. Observations of original paint cars and taillight cap components suggest that plants outside of Pontiac, Michigan, might have employed different methods or machinery, potentially resulting in pinstripes extending down the taillight cap. This prompts the question: can anyone from the forum who worked at the Fremont or Baltimore plants during that period corroborate or offer further insight into their pinstriping application techniques? Understanding these nuances is invaluable, especially when sourcing 1965 gto parts car components and striving for historical accuracy in a restoration project.
