I bought a 69 Firebird in 1987. The car was Dark Green with Gold Rally stripes. It was a basket case and I was 16 years old with $500 dollars burning a hole in my pocket. Anyway I didn't bother to do any research on the cars history even if the previous owner, a kid like me, had any to offer. The body tag is long gone so all I have is a VIN which I don't think offers much. The point being that I have completely restified the car and modified it with a Balanced and Blueprinted 455HO, 700R4 OD, 9inch Ford 3.70, Wayne Due front subframe assembly with 87 corvette susp., 4 wheel Baer Brakes, I removed the 350 hood and added a GM 400 style hood with hood Tach, TransAm spoiler, and on and on and on.
I am planning to paint the car a Dark Blue Metallic and until recently had anticipated not t putting the "RALLY STRIPES" back. However I think I am having a change of heart. I would like to put the stripes back in a white pearl, metallic black, or hmmm.....still thinking. Anyway I cant find any information regarding stencils for this option. I am not interested in the TransAm style stripes. The stripes on the the car were similar to 70 Chevelle stripes, about 12 inches wide with a 1/8-1/4 inch pinstripe running along beside them on the inner and outer borders. They did not continue on the roof and resumed on the trunk lid.
Were rally stripe an option for 1969?
I thought the paint was original since there were no other layers under the Green/Gold scheme when it was removed. However from what I read here GOLD was not even an option for Stripe color?
Where can I find pictures of a 69 with this style stripe if at all possible?
Where can I find a stencil kit to transfer the theme to the car?
I would prefer to paint the stripes rather that apply any sort of grahpic.
Sorry for the long post!!!
Thanks for your help..
Kevin

If I'm understanding you right, it sounds like they were definately added by one of the previous owners, or maybe, if you were lucky, it could have been a special Dealer type thing. Then only stripes that were offered for the Fist Gen birds were the H.O. stripes on the side along the ridge of the doors and only from wheel well opening to wheel well opening in 67/68, and the T/A stripes over the hood and trunk in 69?

This will take some investigation on your part. You say the cowel tag is missing? Try Pontiac Historical Services with the Vin, and they could give you as much information as anyone on what your car was orderd with from the factory for about $35. http://www.phs-online.com/

Good luck, I hope you find some answres?

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

Kevin,
As Brett mentions, your starting point resource is Pontiac Historic Services. Armed with this information you will be able to discern exactly how your car was built.

Unfortunately though, I am almost positive there were no stripe options offered for '69 Firebirds. The HO stripe along the door ridge from wheelwell to wheelwell was deleted from the 350 HO in '69. And the only topside stripes that were available were the Trans Am stripes, which were part of that option. But don't let my ranting stop you from researching the vehicle. We've all been wrong somewhere along the line. Let us know what PHS comes up with.

Later,
Matt

I'm going to guess that a previous owner wanted his car to look more like a Camaro.

MORE LIKE A CAMARO....lol.
Well as I said the car is not even close to original anymore with so many modifications and improvements. Most of the modifications are performance in nature and I made sure to use GM sheet metal on replacent parts except the rear quarters which a basically impossible to find much less afford. hmmm....Two new front fenders, new hood, and both rear quarters...Learned my lesson on this car the hard way. I searched for good GM front fenders and a GM 400 Hood for a LOONNNnnnggg time. The 400 hood is much more attractive and aggresive in appearence than the original flat 350 style hood, which I still have if I ever need it. The rear is mini-tubbed with a Currie 9in ford rear for fat tires and bullet proof performance. I went with the T/A style spoiler since it was Pontiac specific vs the Camaro style spoiler. The car is ready for paint and I like the way the rally stripes look on my 70 SS Chevelle, which started me thinking about putting them on the Firebid again. I guess I could use Camaro stencils for the stripes but I'm not sure about how I feel about that. I liked a couple of the stripe styles I saw in the car section of this site and perhaps something like that is an option.
Thanks for the replies and if anybody has any photos or links to Firebirds with stripe paint schemes let me know please!!

only the 69 trans am and rally sport and ss camaros had the stripes.it don't matter much.make the car look the way you like it.

Since it has so many mods made to it why not put ghost stripes on it. They can do that when painting the car. I did that to a Thunderbird for a friend and it looked really good.Just an idea. If you do it when painting they can use an extra coat of clear so theres no ridges on the stripes.Makes for a nice smooth finish.
Later,
Ray

I like the Ghost stripe idea a bunch and any stripes I put on will be included in the paint scheme so they will be under the clear coat. I have never found a good photo of Brent Jacksons dark metallic blue Camaro that is said to have ghost checker board rally stripes in white.
Does anybody have any idea what a fair price to include a ghost type graphic into a paint job might be?? My body shop is top rate and their prices reflect it!

It shouldn't cost you that much more from the body shop to do the stripe while their doing the paint job....just ask. Pearls are fun to work with. I did a CJ7 Jeep for a guy in Bright orange then put 4 coats of gold pearl over that and followed with 3 coats of clear.One way yopu looked at it ,it was orange and when the sun hit it just right it was a light tangerine looking pearl. Got a load of compliments off that Jeep!!. Just make sure whatever they do they can re-do if you have an accident! Like I said ....pearls are fun. Good luck.....
Ray