MTFCA Forum

Taking my 1912 Roadster to get it pinstriped. My understanding is that the only pinstriping is on the hood, the back of the seat, and the back of the small "rumble seat." I see some do lower body pinstriping which I am not criticizing but I want my car to look like it did coming from Henry's factory.

Any experts out there on this subject? I have attached a picture of a car similar to mine. It is beautiful, but is the pinstriping other than the hood, back of seat, and back of small rumble seat correct? (By the way, I know the hood striping is not boxed like that originally) Again, not criticizing this pretty car just trying to figure out what was bone-stock from the factory.

The link below is to the current Sotheby's auction being held at Hershey, in particular a 1912 Touring (Stynoski Award Winner) with plenty of photos:

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf25/lo ... t-touring/

There is also a 1912 Torpedo at the auction tomorrow, here is the link and a photo:

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf25/lo ... -runabout/

Award winner... belongs to a friend

If authenticity is your goal, I’d suggest you go over the period photos “Dollisdad” has posted quite regularly for the past year or so. As a general rule, modern restorers tend to become infatuated with striping (understandable - it’s so attractive !) and overdo it. Another caveat, original striping is a hair line. Most stripes one sees nowadays are too heavy.

Rich, in fact I have saved numerous photos posted by Dollisdad, and they have been very helpful. I also have an original "rumble seat" or "mother-in-law" seat that has the striping still evident. You are correct, it is almost a hairline stripe, very, very thin.

I posted this in case there was other "definitive" information that I have not run into yet. But I dropped the car off at the striper today, and told him EXACTLY what I wanted: only the backs of the seats and the hood. I shared many of those pictures with him so I guess I am set. Oh, and the wheels will get striped too and I see many use what I would consider too heavy of a striping on the wheels too.

We shall see when it is done! I will post pictures.

Aren’t thise photos a treasure ? I’m forever grateful to Tom for his efforts to post them. I’m glad you found them useful too, your car will turn out the better for your attention to detail ! I hope your striper is a top hand ! Please show us the results when it’s done. I, for one, would love to see it !

Maybe I shouldn’t air a pet peeve in this thread, but it speaks to the issue. My ‘13 runabout carries stripes that are way too broad, and would have looked better if the striper had consulted period photos. You will never see a top stripe on a ‘13 or ‘14 in period photos where the windshield support bolt is bypassed like this. Originally the stripe would have been low enough to miss the bolt !

The striper is from Athens, Georgia. I haven't included his name because he is always swamped with work. He is a legend in the southeastern US. Maybe the entire universe, too! He does work for museums, high-end hot rods, antique cars, etc. I have 100% faith in him. I showed him some of Tom's pictures that I printed. Also, having that original mother-in-law seat with the original striping on it was extremely helpful. He's going to keep the stripe very thin, looking like what is on the mother-in-law seat. In fact, I left the seat with him.

The car is actually at Bentley's in Maysville, Georgia to get its top installed using a Classtique top. The striper lives down the road from Bentley's so the stars are aligning for me. I have some pretty severe back problems so decided to hire out the top installation. Not only that, the guys in the shop know what they are doing and I would be learning. I just want it done right the first time.

This shows only seat backs and front and back of hood.

By the time 1912 rolled around there was much less pinstriping than earlier years. It is a very, very thin pinstripe, about 1/16" not more than 3/32" located 3/4" away from the bead. (The photos make my stripe look wider than it is) My pinstriper used 3/4" masking tape or painters tape for a guide.
NO boxes on the hood! Pinstripe between the rivets. No striping on the flat part below the seat:
No pinstripe below the seat
No pinstripe on the heel panel or toe kick.
Pinstripe over bolt heads, not around them.

No pinstripe on fenders, axles, or frame.

One shot medium grey is very close to French grey. You could add a little gold or green if you want. In my opinion, darker is better and a little more subtle. If the grey is too light it will look white.

Here is a great example of what NOT to do...
https://billsvintagecars.com/car-1912-m ... llery.aspx


I'll be happy to send you more pics if needed...

: ^ )

Keith

A few more pinstripe pics of '12 commercial roadster:
It looks like the only pinstripe is on the seat back, mother-in-law seat back, and on the hood.
Is yours a one-piece dash or two-piece dash?

: ^ )

Here are some pinstripe disasters!
If you do this, I will not be able to be your friend...

I haven't seen this photo before. It is one of the best original photos I have seen. I tweaked it a bit in photoshop.

I have it figured out so my striper knows what to do.

Regarding the pictures of that original 12 Roadster body, that is the one the guy in Montana has had for sale for a long time....asking something like $19,000 for it. I guess if you were rich and wanted an original body, where else you gonna find one? As far as I know, it hasn't sold yet.

If a pinstriper needs masking to make a guide I would be wary of his abilities.
There is a reason why it is called pin striping rather than 6" nail striping. There is no way using tape will give the same quality as hand striping done by a true craftsman.

Allan from down under.

Allan wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 13, 2025 1:05 am

. . . no way using tape will give the same quality as hand striping done by a true craftsman.

Allan from down under.

I couldn’t agree more ! The big problem for many is access to a “true craftsman”.

The presence of tape in the above photo doesn’t mean the stripe will be taped off. Many stripers use tape as a visual guide only. Are they poor craftsmen ? Perhaps not as able as the guy who can do a credible job entirely “free hand”, but they are few and far between.

Allen, when I first saw the tape I had the same initial thought. Then he explained that is was for a guide only, as Rich pointed out. The stripe was not "taped off". He mixed the French Grey by eye and he did all the striping free hand with an itty bitty brush. He was a true craftsman and didn't charge me enough. He was facing some physical limitations and told me my car was the last one he'd do.

Here is how the magic happened...
: ^ )

Thank you Keith. That makes perfect sense. It would seem he has recognised his changing abilities and found a way to work around them. My motor trimmer is facing the same decline due to a failing right eye. He no longer does tops because he is not able to keep stitching seams in a perfectly straight lines which were a hallmark of his work.

I once watched an 80 year old gent hand striping bicycle frames. He had the shakes, but as soon as his fingers rested on the frame tubes, that went away and down the tube went his hand and the paint laden brush, with a distinctive flourish at the end of each stroke. Magic stuff to watch.

Allan from down under.

My pinstriper worked his magic on my 1912 Roadster and sent me some pictures. They are iPhone pictures and not the best, but I am so excited I had to share them! All done by hand. He is doing the wheels tonight and tomorrow.

OUTSTANDING!!!

You are now an expert!

: ^ )

By the way, those brass screws holding the hood former on were originals taken from an old firewall. Larry Smith would approve.

Thanks for the peek !! That is beautiful !!

Very nice car.

For those who are not tired yet of me blathering on about pinstriping, here is a picture of one of the wheels the striper finished today. I can't wait to get the whole car back and into good light to take some more pictures. Some might think the stripe is too dark, but it is French Gray as Ford defined it.It does look lighter in better light.

Some have noted the stripe looks blue, which I agree it does in some of the photos. I think it looks that way due to the light the pictures were taken in. The stripe is indeed gray. The algorithm in the iPhone camera probably gave it a blue cast. Anyway, for inquiring minds!

Although I am not a fan of pinstriping per se, I like that yours is subtle, the stripes are thin and you've kept the stripes to a minimum. Good choices!