Trim strip for vehicles

A trim strip for attachment to the exterior surface of a vehicle, said trim strip comprising:

• (a) an elongated plastic base body having an exterior surface, the lateral cross-sectional shape of the base body defining an interior channel, and opposed base edges defining an opening to said channel and for being disposed proximate said vehicle;
• (b) an elongated, flexible, soft plastic element integrally secured to said base body at each of said base edges between said base body and said vehicle surface;
• (c) a stainless steel foil bonded to the exterior surface of said base body, said foil having opposed foil edges secured to said respective edges of said base body;
• (d) engaging means for securing said base body to said vehicle surface, said engaging means being disposed in said channel and having opposed edges adjacent the interior surface of respective base edges;
• and
• (e) complementary interlocking means on adjacent surfaces of respective base and engaging means edges for securing said engaging means and said base body together and for restricting thermal expansion in a lateral direction of said base body to prevent enlargement of said opening and loosening of said engaging means in said channel.