Paint color , will wrong color hurt the value

[CDAUSA]

OK how about a related question---on a 70 musclecar--if the original paint is very nice but not perfect---the vinyl top is exceptional but not perfect!!! What is the difference in worth between orginal paint and a top-notch redo.

I know that is controversial without seeing the car--but as a rule of thumb which is it???

[Thomas]

I find it hard to believe that Silver cars are so rare.I seem to find lots of them. I bought a really clean running drivable 69 Z28 to restore, but I'm selling it because I don't like the colour. Before I sink $20,000 (Cdn)into a car, I want to make sure that I'm going to love it when it's done.

[Allen]

Hi! I don't post often, but I read this board everyday. I've wondered about the paint issue many times.....

I have a '70 Nova SS 396/350hp car. The original factory color was Cortez Silver. The previous owner had it painted Black Cherry. Some things were done.... well, in my opinion, a little half-@ssed on the body. But I don't know much about body work to really qualify that opinion.

Anyway, someday I'd love to be able to get the body issues corrected and done properly. I've often wondered whether to switch it back to the factory silver color or keep the Black Cherry. The color looks nice, but it isn't original to that SS396 car.

Since this isn't a "supercar" type of machine, is the paint color as critical of an issue?

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/G...372/allen.html

[Stefano]

The original color thing varies with each and every individual car. A rule of thumb we use is that if the retail market value of the Car is $20,000.00 or less, then a color change will not hurt resale value and may even enhance it.
If money is no object, just do it your way.
While I don't support the practice, a repro Trim tag is only $275.00 for any color you desire!
What percentage of mid-year Vetts came red from the factory? Whats the numbers match percentage today? Higher in my opinion.

[tom406]

Okay, this is a good discussion and I feel qualified to add some more input.

SILVER-Ok, its not super rare to find an original silver car, but many have been repainted (like the black cherry car above), and silver is not a color that ages well in sunlight, so there aren't too many original paint cars to compare to. I think Cortez Silver is a dullish, dark silver. There's a loaded Cortez Silver Z/28 here in the Pacific NW, done by my friend in a modern, brighter silver, that is flat out stunning, and draws a crowd wherever it goes. We also got 35K for it before the market really took off. The color is brighter, but it still looks period correct, no mica chips or color changing nonsense. I would repaint a silver car this color in a heartbeat, especially with black or red trim. The other cool thing is that its not a love it or hate it color like Hugger Orange. Some may like it less than others, but nobody seems to really dislike it, this is key when you're selling to spouses who have to agree on the car. My silver comment was also given in the broad sense, where you don't see many early 60's Chevs or Mustangs in silver, but they look great-and different from the rest. I know there's more late 60's/early 70's Chevs in that, but we don't have the glut of silver Z's you guys speak of.

Some cars NEED a color change. Frost Green and the various light green, ivy gold variations that exist are almost unsellable in musclecars. If its also a column shift automatic, start finding floor shifts and better colors. White cars are tough, I personally like many of them, but MANY people don't. Turning a white car black is almost never a value reducer. If the body is straight enough, black is almost always a good resale with little downside.

As for "original paint" versus redoing...you have to use your judgement. I LOVE original paint cars. But I've seen beaten and scratched cars with horrid, touched up paint, that the owners crow about being original; however, if an average Joe looks at the car and says, "it needs paint", then it does. Sadly, often when you redo your "pretty good" original paint and "pretty nice" vinyl top, your "pretty decent" original interior is going to look like hell, and your "nice for factory chrome" bumpers will need a trip to the platers, and so on, and so on, and so on. Also your nice "survivor" suddenly becomes a "partial restoration" after that nice paint job is done, implying it now needs the finishing I stated above.

[COPO PETE]

I know what your saying, but I have too disagree on "white cars are tuff". I was was never really a white car fan either till I got my white Camaro. Man, with the endura bumper, white wheels,....I like it more than my hugger car now, and I'm a big hugger fan!
Peter

[jon rand]

Cortez Silver? Thats ironic. That is the color I had planed to paint my car.I looked at all the 73 colors to me there isn't a good looking color to choose from.I have allways loved Cortez silver i had a 69 SS396 Chevelle,69SS396 Nova,69SS396 Camaro,69 Camaro convertable all Cortez silver original color cars. If done right with base clear this color look sharp. I also have a body shop so it dosent cost me that much to paint a car prabably 500-800 bucks plus my time. And yes 69 is the best year in my opinion