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I need some help on a new venture. What's your go to color on T shirts?

Discussion in 'The Antiquated' started by Roothawg, Jan 28, 2026 at 8:57 PM.

?

Favorite T shirt color

This poll will close on Feb 7, 2026 at 8:57 PM.
  1. Black

    9 vote(s)
    39.1%
  2. White

    5 vote(s)
    21.7%
  3. Maroon

    2 vote(s)
    8.7%
  4. Gray

    7 vote(s)
    30.4%
  5. Tan

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Green

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 26,094

    Roothawg
    Member

    I am looking at starting a new venture and I need some feedback.
    I have an idea on how this will end, but I want to ask anyway.

    So, what is your favorite color on hot rod t-shirts?
     
  2. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,858

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Any color that goes with grease… or weld burns… or grinding grit rust… gray is best. But then again, I’m colorblind so I’m not really the best person to comment
     
    302GMC, tractorguy and Roothawg like this.
  3. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 3,054

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Don't really care much anymore, but the design matters. As does the placement. I've refused Btt50's shirts because of these, same for Roth-stuff & the like. Even Studebaker shirts... Since I'm from where it gets cold off-n-on a couple times a year, I want it on the front. +, on the back helps me sweat like a pig in the car/truck seats - not nearly as much fun as it's purported to be...
    Marcus...
     
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  4. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 26,094

    Roothawg
    Member

    Interesting.
     
    jimmy six likes this.
  5. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 3,773

    twenty8
    Member

    I like the traditional white for hot rod stuff, followed closely by a light gray. The vibrant colours should be in the artwork.
    Black works too, but I see black as more the colour of the drag racing set.

    Of course, it all depends on whether it is a shirt for working on the car or a shirt for dressing up and going to an event.
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  6. Harv
    Joined: Jan 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,490

    Harv
    Member
    from Sydney

    Drag racers, goths, and grots like me who can't walk five paces without spilling something on my shirt :D




    Cheers,
    Harv
     
    hotrodjack33, twenty8 and 34 GAZ like this.
  7. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,781

    chevy57dude
    Member

    Black. But I'm picky about the pocket, gotta have a pocket on my T shirts for my reading gl***es. Decades ago, it was for smokes.
     
    leon bee, 302GMC, tractorguy and 3 others like this.
  8. Ayers Garage
    Joined: Nov 28, 2002
    Posts: 1,391

    Ayers Garage
    Member

    Gray. Followed by white.

    It seems so many tee shirt places default to black, but I'm from Texas and have no desire to wear a black shirt and get cooked by the sun.
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  9. You forgot earth colors. I still have a 30 year old Terra-Cotta color T shirt with print i bought at Four Corners when the Navajo natives were selling from little makeshift tin sheds. Still a decent well worn T shirt as is the other one i bought which was grey with print.

    four corners.jpg
     
  10. raymay
    Joined: Mar 2, 2008
    Posts: 2,602

    raymay
    Member

    Gray since it matches my hair.
     
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  11. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 3,773

    twenty8
    Member

    Yep. Last time I was at the Winternationals at Willowbank in 2024 (major drag racing event in Australia) I pointed it out to my daughter. She was with me and wearing her customary black drag racing t shirt, along with almost everybody else that was there. I teased her about wearing the "uniform" and being one of the many sheep waiting in long lines to get in through the gates.......... I think her reply was a short two word response.:D
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2026 at 6:33 AM
    tractorguy and Roothawg like this.
  12. I prefer Royal Blue T-shirts with a pocket
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  13. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 26,094

    Roothawg
    Member

    I have sold event shirts for our gatherings for years. These responses are surprising, so far.
     
  14. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 38,190

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Black and only black. I won't buy any other color, even if they have one of my cars on them. I ruin any other color as I am a dirt magnet.....
     
  15. I know it is not the question you asked, but are you considering long sleeve? Are they give aways, or are you selling them? Logos and graphics still have a pretty good contrast on grey, and they don’t look dingy right away like white does. I wear the long sleeve concert type shirts three seasons of the year.
     
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  16. dirt car
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,646

    dirt car
    Member
    from nebraska

  17. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 65,037

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I like my T shirts like my coffee, BLACK.

    I attract dirt & grime. HRP
     
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  18. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 17,234

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    No black! Long sleeve and pocket!
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  19. Don West
    Joined: May 18, 2014
    Posts: 146

    Don West

    Black , if you're putting a logo or something on it - it shows up well and black helps the more rotund a**** us look less so . so im told:rolleyes:
     
  20. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,858

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    **L normally, but if it’s for dress up, then **XL! Loose and baggy pants, then they think you’ve been dieting…
     
  21. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,455

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.

    Black now days,if I put one on,for playing in the garage< dose not show **** I get on it.
    For a lot of years,white was the go too,when I did art on them,or were a keepsake with add* print from event I got it from.
    All the old car club shirts,I airbrushed painted for clubs,are long gone or in rag bags likely,,,.
    :D:cool:
     
  22. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 26,094

    Roothawg
    Member

    Good input guys. Thanks!
     
    dana barlow likes this.
  23. Okie Pete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2008
    Posts: 6,177

    Okie Pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Okie red dirt color .
    I bought a t-shirt to HI years ago. The t-shirt company washed white t-shirts in washing machines filled with red dirt . It permanently colored the shirts . Maybe gr*** clippings for summer and red clay wash for the rest of the year lol
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2026 at 7:14 PM
  24. leon bee
    Joined: Mar 15, 2017
    Posts: 1,365

    leon bee
    Member

    No pocket, no shirt.
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  25. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 5,630

    alanp561
    Member

    upload_2026-1-30_22-21-20.png
    upload_2026-1-30_22-21-57.png
     

    Attached Files:

  26. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 26,094

    Roothawg
    Member

    I thought it would be 50/50 white and black....white being the old guys and black being the under 50 crowd.
     
    dana barlow likes this.
  27. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 3,054

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Hey Rh;
    I forgot to mention that when it gets rather warm up here, I also wear longsleeve shirts, to stop from burning. & flannel shirt/jackets rest of the yr. So, front pattern shows all the time, winter/summer/et-al, unless the jacket is zipped up to the neck. Yah, a lightweight wuss... ;) . I also do not like pockets on t-shirts, as I find them useless, since they'll hold nothing well but air, maybe smokes - which I don't... , & in any case, they're never deep enough to hold anything else, much less security, so I like to avoid the temptation to put things in, that'll fall out. As a kid, I used to wear white mostly, then black - still do, but most any color, incl tie-dye, is ok, although I'm not much on earth-colors. What I want is a quality shirt(not paper-thin material) that lasts, doesn't shrink - I have enough problems expanding as it is... :D , & the color(s) are stayfast. One of the best shirts in terms of longevity, was the '77 NSRA StreetRod Nats shirt from St.Paul, it was silkscreened instead of an iron-on, & the colors of both the shirt & silkscreen lasted 'till the shirt was threadbare/seethru. I had to quit wearing it ~ 2yrs ago. Also no V-necks.
    Don't suppose this'll help much, but you did ask...
    Marcus...

    Oh, yeah;
    Got a couple Stude t-shirts from a friend in Cali a few yrs ago(10+), one white w/black lettering, one black w/white lettering. Both nice shirts, wht one shows use-stains, blk is staring to fade abit. When Bob had them done(gifts for his customers), the t-shirt guy offered half-off, if he could put his business name/logo on a sleeve. So Bob said how about doing both sleeves & 100% off... :D . Got a few laughs. Do wish it'd been done on the rh side, since everyone can see the lhs when I'm driving, but I suppose that was the idea...
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2026 at 11:05 PM
    Roothawg and down-the-road like this.
  28. wicarnut
    Joined: Oct 29, 2009
    Posts: 9,264

    wicarnut
    Member

    White if going out walking in the sun otherwise black avoids stain/dirt problems. I don't buy many anymore as most are the painted on process ( does not breath ) and $25-45 for a T shirt, hats $25-40, It's got to be something special. Now 78 and have been buying this "Stuff" for a long time, the inventory I have is insane. IMO Buy a decent quality shirt to start with. Good Luck with your adventure.
     
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  29. 57 Fargo
    Joined: Jan 22, 2012
    Posts: 6,283

    57 Fargo
    Member

    Definitely black and no pocket….
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  30. e1956v
    Joined: Sep 29, 2009
    Posts: 2,598

    e1956v
    Alliance Vendor

    I’ve ruined every white shirt I’ve owned the first time I wore them, black or gray.
     
    57 Fargo and Roothawg like this.

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