yenko stripes...what were used as the templates ?

[ORIGLS6]

Maybe he's asking about something I've questioned myself. Just exactly HOW were the stripes cut? Die cut? Metal template (stencil)? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

This was done before the vinyl cutting machines you see everywhere these days. The Big 3 could have had dies made to cut/stamp their vinyl packages and cost would have been spread across the product lines and virtually disappeared due to the sheer numbers. But just how many sets would Don have needed? 500? 600? ????? Pretty pricey investment if he had dies made.

I've looked at a few original cars and discussed it with Don Stowers and Schonye among others and still can't come to a definite conclusion. Are there any records to indicate where he might have had them made?

This is an interesting question. Let's hear some thoughts.

[PeteLeathersac]

How the Douglas cars fit into all this would be an interesting part of the puzzle too?.
Did Yenko ship stripe kits to them or a pattern to have them procured locally?.
Are they exact or is there any noticeable differences between stripes on cars shipped by Yenko to the cars striped at Douglas?.
Did any Nos stripe kits or individual sections survive and if so is there anything on the backing that'd be a clue?.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I believe that Don had a local company make them for him, most likely hand cut. He sold them in the parts catalog, so any individual / dealer could order them. They were shipped in a box, with the YENKO crest on the side in red.

[camarojoe]

I have a complete set of NOS 71 Yenko Vega stripes, a '69 NOS headrest sYc decal, and a few odd pieces of Deuce stripes including the LT/1 hood logos. All are on 3M vinyl. Not sure what company he had making these, but from what I can tell they were die cut, not done by hand. Yenko sold stripe kits over the counter, through their catalog, and to anyone needing a section or piece for collision repair so there were more made than you might think. In fact, the Vega stripes I have are actually packaged in a retail type bag that would hang on a display rack or something. Don Yenko knew lots of people who could get stuff done...and he had some cool stuff made back then, stuff like Die cast valve covers, oil pans, wheels, emblems, various stickers,emboidered patches, etc. So it's not surprising to me that he was able to get professionally made, die cut stripes for his cars too.

[Schonyenko2]

He didn't seem keen on sending pieces. I wrote asking for a piece for mine back in 72. Never got a response. I did get a couple of other things I ordered from the catalog, but no partial stripe, or reply about it.
I do have a complete original set from Yenko in black. No special marking on the box other than the return address.We are working towards getting them replicated.

[camarojoe]

I actually have a letter to Don Yenko from a Deuce owner in my collection, with a hand drawn reference to show what piece was needed. The letter was part of some items from Don's office, and while I don't have it in front of me right now, I want to say he DID have a note on it to get the stripe sent out as requested... Maybe he just didn't like you? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

My original owner got a replacement set of stripes in '71, but instead of the '70 hood stripes he only got the '69 sYc triangle. I don't think Don was real big on sending piece parts of the stripe packages, it was all (the money!) or nothing! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

The reason I think the '70 stripes were hand cut is because after inspecting a few NOS sets we noticed that the corners were 'deep cut' - ie; you could see where the the cuts crossed into the remaining vinyl. Not to say Don didn't have them die cut as well / or eventually, but the sets we've seen in the red labeled boxes looked to be by hand.

As Joe mentions, Don got a lot of neat stuff done - just looke at the hood tach bezels.... quite cool! Of course, there I think he was keeping up with the SCCA crowd - but that's another debate.... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]