Club 80-90 Forums

... well, your van's waistline that is!

I'm approaching the point where I can consider painting my van (I have no intention of leaving it as it is, not so much "rat" as "rough"). Decided on the colours and got the paint, but what I'm not so sure on is exactly how to paint it...

I'm going for a pale grey / white split scheme, but where do I divide the colours?


Bottom of the swage line?

Top of the swage line?

Bottom of the window line?


How about the front panel?


So if you have a two-colour van, please post some photos so I can visualise the different options.


(Fat, hairy bellies only acceptable if they feature a two-colour paint job).

I went below. Makes the van look squatter I think.

Here's a few that I've pulled from the garage:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... ge_id=1048
Top of swage line, solid colour front.
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... age_id=496

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... age_id=645
Bottom of swage line, split colour front.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... age_id=357
Mint humbug?

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... age_id=365
Top of swage, solid colour front.
This seems to be a popular choice. Devon?

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/garage.php? ... age_id=659
Top of swage, split front.
Seems to me that splitting at the bottom of the swage would avoid having to angle the line on the front panel downwards so that it meets the top of the grill?


E D I T: replaced images with links, can't insert images from the garage in a post?

top of the swage line looks nice - sorry Tom

I like this one with the bottom sills the same colour as the as the top of the sides with the roof in the contrasting colour, looks classy!!

Fin wrote:top of the swage line looks nice - sorry Tom

Haha, why are you apologising? Best thing about these vans is doing it how you want!

This is how I did mine:

O/S view



Front corner



Front face. The blue line follows the upper swage line so there's a small blue 'lip' if you like




I did think about using the lower swage but thought better of that because of the sliding door handle indent; thought it might look too odd although I did also look at still using that route and placing one of those plastic stick-on fingernail plates over it to disguise any blunt masking lines but then I couldn't be arsed with that so used plan A

Although it's not a 2 tone scheme I did use the swage line - but in a slightly different way.


I elected to stop when the swage stopped, on the other side I picked out the sliding door handle indent.

Thanks for the responses.

I'm still thinking on it, might try printing out a few photos and holding them up next to the van...


Anyone else who wants to show of their (van's) belly is more than welcome to do so

I had to make a high top look like it wasn't a high top.
I used the vans lines to break up the height and take the eye away from the top

No, you just keep parking next to waterfalls to help it blend into the background . Actually, thats an inspired approach. The defining lines do make a difference but so can the tone, ie darker shade on lower half or lighter shade.

Does the just kampers website still have the t25 painting "game" where you can play with different colours. Eric (my T25) came with the waistline painted blue (photo in garage)...looks good and breaks up the white which would have shouted "old school minibus" which is what it is!