OK. I've painted the sail shinnneyyy orange but I'm now having 2nd thoughts after seeing cars with and without.

Help me pick. Which one should I do.

Signed, Confused.

Sorry, can't vote without seeing pics of the car, what wheels, etc etc...

I like the vinyl myself but this is how I think of it:

Vinyl with black targa
-or-
painted with painted targa

i.e., I think painted sails with a black top looks strange.

I like the original look. I have noticed also that it kind of depends on the color. My car is the orig. Ivory White and I think it looks better with the vinyl.

Just my .02

Orange sail and top, too.

this is Phoenix Red but gives you the idea...
I wanted all orange for a car that was AX/TT/street. With the emphasis on track and AX.

I am currently building a '75 in GP white and it will have sail panel vinyl and matching original black top.

Paint the roof and the sail the same color as the rest of the car.

No vinyl, no trim. Best of all, shave the lip too.

Depends on the wheel and the height, low and tough = painted, stock and stockish = vinyl

werd

with flares = painted sail and top

without flares = new vinyl

you can always paint the sail panels and cover with vinyl later if you don't like it. you'll also have the metal prepped this way as vinyl & rust play hell on unprotected sheetmetal anyway

I always wanted to go gloss paint on top and sail while chrome trim. Thought it would be a clean look, but never a fan of the vinyl. I prefer the black look, but not the vinyl itself. Interested it was even one of your choices. Would love to see it.

Either way the car should look great. I would paint the sails even if you do go the vinyl route. It prevents rust from moisture buildup that can occur when vinyl is used. With the black center on rims, the black vinyl may be preferred. Actually, either way on an orange car looks good.

Steve

I voted for orange paint only (partly because I love orange). As far as the top goes... how much time is the top really ever going to be on the car?

sail panel vinyl? just say NO.

I've had it both ways, and either are fine... on a stocker, I'd stick with the vinyl.. on a more progressive setup, you can cut it...

Did Porsche really put vinyl on the windshield pillar??

yes, on a 100% "gotta be as it was" then sail panel is fine, if the car came with the A&P package. other than that?

WRT the chrome strip... it looks great if you have vinyl. IMO it looks out of place if the sail panel is painted body color.

If you're going to paint the sails, then go with textured trunk type paint (only all black) with the trim. Gloss black paint always looks odd to me.


I picked stock vinyl, but that's before I saw the pic of the car with the painted roof. With a painted roof I'd stick with color matched painted sails. Vinyl or black textured paint if you have a stock finished roof.

Vinyl should stay if your running the trim and have a black roof.

Here is a twist....what about the insides of the sails and under the basket handle? Same as rest of the car, or perhaps a matte/semi-matte black?

Early 73's. Orange914 has a post somewhere about them. (he's got it on his car, Looks pretty good in person! One of those nice rare touch's IMHO)

Anyway you like.....I voted original with the vinyl
I like it!!!....especially on a black car

the only pic i could find right now.

whatever you like. i'm glad we color matched the lower panels though i think it helps give some mass to the lower half - kind of makes the lower look bulky -. the tops seem heavey or large with the darker vinyl (depending on car color), especially next to a modern body sports car. i've heard on a two tone paint job you always want the lighter color on top, it gives a lowered look.
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oh and thanks rob

If my car was orange I may paint the sails and windshield frame gloss black, smooth out the top and do it gloss black also...keep all the chrome

Need to photoshop all your choices

Bill....the decision is yours to make the car the way YOU want it. Input is good though and can make you think in other terms....
My orignal six, signal orange W/black sails & top.....

Click to view attachment

On my project six I went with body color sails sans lower chrome strip and sanded smooth top painted body color....

Click to view attachment

I like the lower chrome with no flares; makes the body line
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Thanks for the pix's and input. Since it's basically a stock car, the vinyl wins out right now.

Mine had the vinyl when i bot it; made it look top heavy and thick. May look good on orange...just don't put too much padding underneath!
Click to view attachment

I voted for the sail vinyl trim(because most of you know that I'm a whacked CW), but have no idea what you're planning for the car.

Let me ask you this - does your COA state that the car came with the appearance group? Do you care if it has been redone to original specs? Are you planning on EVER showing the car, or just enjoy it?

These are things I'd consider, but that's just whacky me!
Pat

Padding?
No padding was ever underneath the vinyl. At least, it wasn't supposed to be.
Nothing but the vinyl, it's backing & glue. Nada else.
Padding was used on Buicks, Olds, Caddy, etc.
Pat

Padding would be the worst option

I like this the best, with rocker paint and vinyl. Right now with pedrini wheels, but what about with fuchs in black/chrome?

This is so sexy! I love the gloss sail and the chrome trim! Makes it look like a modern finished top piece. I was never a fan of the matte finish, then I am a chrome person too.

Somebody should photoshop a 914 sail panel vinyl with padding and an opera light. For the love of all that is good, don't do it to an actual 914 though.

Don't forget the landeau bars!

a local guy pained their 914 like this, then, instead of using the bottom sail panel chrome, pained it as a pinstripe and extended the pinstripe and black down the rear fender where that "lip" naturally disappears. I know it sounds funky, I'm not explaining it well at all... but it looked VERY cool. maybe I'll try to PShop it on a 914 profile to show you what I mean....

I think it helps move the eye off the sail panel itself. I believe that was the original intent but... that's all in my mind:

I like it on my 1970 with just paint. I may do one of my extra tops in the same color to have the option of switching. I like it as it is though. If I was going for originality I would keep the vinyl

I vote orange only. The solid color looks soo smooth, but if you have black trim (rocker panels, bumpers, decals etc.) I would keep the black top until all the trim is painted to mach. IMHO.

I confess, I have stopped reading replies so I'm sure I've missed the best replies. But I still wonder why anyone would apply any feaux material over metal/paint? Vinyl, the fake wood crap, any other feaux. Barf. Give me paint on metal. Why would you layer anything over that?

it was the '70s man!

I prefer the orange. but, here is what I did with the trim pieces to break it up a little bit.

I really like the lower sail trim removed on your pic. I think satin trim on your car would look super stealthy.

that's a cool solution!

I like the blacked out trim with the black rims...

I don't like the bottom piece of chome with no sail panel, but with the trim blacked out, it looks sick!

And we didn't have smiley DJ's and little smiley raves. We had real bands, real drugs, real sex and real parties... "kegger's baby!"

(sorry... flashback moment)

SIGNAL ORANGE _ WOO HOO

I have one of each (bone stock and restomod) but now prefer the painted restomod look.
And I know the white car hadn't been lowered yet in this picture.

white flared, fiberglass bumpers really looks good whited out

None of the above...not to mention YPAF.