For decades, manufacturers have used racing stripes to add an extra bit of flair to their cars. They make a car look faster, or at least so the old adage goes. It's true that most people associate stripes with race cars, thanks to classic racing icons like Shelbys and BMW's M racers.
Not every car can pull off racing stripes though, and in fact, some look absolutely terrible. Sometimes it's because they don't fit the rest of the car's design, and sometimes it's because the car itself is the opposite of a racing beast. Let's take a look at five of the best and five of the worst cars that sport racing stripes.
10 Looks Great: Ford Shelby GT500
It's one of the greatest muscle cars around and sports Shelby's classic striped look. The GT500 not only pulls off racing stripes but they're such an integral part of the car that it wouldn't look right without them.
There's an array of different colorways available, but the classic blue-and-white striped look is always a solid choice. It's also a nod back to the Cobra and Daytona, two of the most iconic American cars ever.
9 Looks Terrible: Dodge Ram
Ram trucks one of the most popular models across the US, and in some places it's hard to drive anywhere without seeing one. That makes it an odd choice for racing stripes, as it's pretty much the opposite of a racing car.
Built to haul people and things wherever they need to go, Ram trucks just don't suit stripes. Maybe on a stripped-out, trophy truck build it might look passable, but on a regular Ram it just looks silly.
8 Looks Great: Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
The stripes on this Ferrari were an optional extra, and an expensive one at that. Taking the colors of the Italian flag, these hand-painted stripes would set buyers back an extra several thousand dollars.
It's worth it though, as they add an extra dynamic to the car's look and reinforce the idea that, even among Ferraris, this is a special one. Prices for 360s are also very low at the moment, so those in the market for a bargain supercar may want to consider a Challenge Stradale.
7 Looks Terrible: Rolls-Royce Phantom
This Rolls-Royce is owned by Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it's not pretty. The color scheme at least makes sense, as it's the colors of the team. The stripes don't make any sense, as Rolls actually has its own design for two-tone paint jobs and it would have looked a lot better to use that.
All the stripes do is make the car look more boxy, highlighting the Phantom's unattractive shape. The stripes are also inconsistent, with two stripes on the hood merging into one single stripe on the front bumper. It's just a mess of a design that should have stayed on the drawing board.
6 Looks Great: Dodge Viper ACR
The Viper ACR is Dodge's "serious" version of its signature supercar. It's a very capable beast round a track, and its racing stripes reflect its capabilities.
The stripe has the dual function of making the car look great and also reminding other Viper owners that their car isn't as fast as this one. It's a cool design, so much so that non-ACR owners have been known to add ACR stripes to their Vipers in an attempt to convince people they have the racing version.
5 Looks Terrible: Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is already off to a losing start on the design front, as it looks hideous in stock form. But with racing stripes? It's another level of terrible.
It's not a fast car, and it doesn't even have any racing heritage, so it's a complete mystery why anyone would want to add stripes to their Juke. Even the top-spec Juke Nismo RS only has 188hp, which barely qualifies it as a hot hatch never mind a racing car.
4 Looks Great: Pagani Zonda Cinque
Pagani's Zonda has seen an incredible number of special editions, a current total of 48. Some of those specials have stood out more than others, with the Cinque being a real highlight.
That's mostly down to its design, with the central red stripe and black and white panelling creating a color scheme that's uniquely gorgeous. It definitely earns its stripe too, as the Zonda has a sky-high top speed of 217mph.
3 Looks Terrible: Lamborghini Aventador
Not all Aventadors look terrible with stripes, but they're certainly don't naturally suit them. This red-and-black stripe is a clear example, as it just looks out of place on the car.
It's visually very unsatisfying, with the stripe curving down awkwardly over the Aventador's jagged lines. The front bumper distorts the stripe even further and just rounds off its uncomfortable look.
2 Looks Great: BMW 3.0 CSL
It's a true classic racing car, and one that wouldn't be right without its signature stripey decal. The red, white and blue colors of BMW's racing division sit perfectly on this car and highlight the swooping nature of the CSL's bodywork.
There's been several special edition BMWs that pay homage to the CSL and each one makes sure to include some element of the iconic stripe. It's one of the best European examples of racing stripes done right that's out there.
1 Looks Terrible: Porsche Panamera GTP 720 Gemballa
Gemballa are known for making divisive and often ugly creations, but this one is right up there with their worst. It's based on a Porsche Panamera, a car that doesn't exactly lend itself to a racing image to begin with. It doesn't help either that the rest of the Panamera body is basically stock.
The GTP 720 just looks like a child went a bit overboard in the decal editor in a racing game. It certainly doesn't look like something designed by an actual tuning house, and it's a disgrace to other stripey cars everywhere.