Black line

Usually called a "belt line".

 

paint

 

belt line for a midget(sorry not p.c.)

 

Mine has a rubber 'bumper' in there.

I like it.

 

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My 81 GTSi has it also. I've questioned if that was ever any kind of option.


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My '85 GTS has just black lines painted in the recesses on either side of the car.

Beau LeBlanc

 

Same as this 288 GTO I parked next to the other day... Image Unavailable, Please Login

Beau LeBlanc

 

It wasn't a factory option.

I was told many years ago that it was Steve Ahlgrim's idea when he was at FAF and all he did was find a suitable rubber material off the shelf that was made for a totally different purpose. It just happened to fit right in there.

I don't know if that part of the story is true but what I can tell you for certain it was never from the factory as a option.

 

My car was originally sold by FAF. Thanks for the info.


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Semi gloss black paint.

 

I used satin black on my 85

 

I talked to Steve at the Cavalino Classic and confirmed it was his creation. It was installed on many 308's sold at FAF and was made available through their parts department. I bought my 85 gts at FAF and it has the inserts.

 

Painted semi gloss or satin black on early cars. Mine had original paint when I redid it.

 

Was there a practical reason for the rubber insert or was it just for looks?

 

It was paint as OEM applied, semi-matt and not semi-gloss: I mean, matt with a very slight satin touch.
It should only been applied on the vertical part of the belt line, not on the top nor at the bottom.

Rgds

 

As long as the lower door edge of the jerk's SUV which is parking next to you, is not higher than the 308's belt line, it offers some protection.

Best Regards
Martin

 

It does not necessarily have to be an SUV as the jerk at the controls is the operative bit... Although I prefer the original configuration, there are several occasions where I wish I had had this non-factory option. Was sitting outside having a coffee right in front of my gleaming 308 when a jerk in a Miata parked next to it and flung open his door right into the side. He looked at the fresh ding in my door and then looked at me and said, 'sorry', then started to walk away...

I shall not commit the rest of the story to print for legal reasons, suffice it to say that there are few things that get me out of 'mellow mode' and this definitely qualifies! I think that if being judged by a jury of Ferrari-owning peers, I would be acquitted on the grounds of 'justifiable homicide'...

 

Id rather have a door ding. The rubber strip was not attractive. It makes a plastic cover on your sofa look good.

 

+1

To that I definitely agree! If it is a choice between wearing the rubber strip full-time or having a battle scar, I'd pick the latter...

 

I agree with leaving the body side groove as it is. Once you start adding a bodyside protection moulding in, who knows when there will be a chrome insert as well..?!!!

 

Yes, it's somehow like wearing a bicycle helmet .-)... or another thing made of rubber.

Best Regards
Martin

 

Good to know that factory sheen is only slightly more shiny than flat black. That is like the engine bay sheen.

I have a bit of unevenness in sheen of my black strip and have thought about respraying it.

 

I would not be too dogmatic on that, but on the few examples of well preserved cars that I have seen, including some true time capsules, it was this way: "between matt and satin", not fully matt, but "matt slightly satin". certainly not shiny.

Rgds