Paint 75 before selling?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Paint 75 before selling?
Wife and I decided to get a C5 so I will be selling the C3. She thinks that we should get a maaco paint job on it before selling it (curb appeal). I tend to agree but wanted to see what the CF thought.
Opinions? Would a $500-$1000 macco job be worth it?
I have done quite a bit to the car mechanically and its pretty solid. I think with paint it could bring more money.
Opinions? Would a $500-$1000 macco job be worth it?
I have done quite a bit to the car mechanically and its pretty solid. I think with paint it could bring more money.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
My wife made the comment that if she was looking at cars with me and saw the color / condition of my car she wouldn't let me buy it. 
the paint is pretty bad. Its brownish red too, so women most likely wouldn't see the bling factor
the paint is pretty bad. Its brownish red too, so women most likely wouldn't see the bling factor
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,455
Likes: 462
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...I had my '75 painted @ Maaco for $385 seventeen yrs ago. After that amount of time and 55,000mi of driving, it still looks very nice. Almost everyone that looks at it can't believe Maaco painted it, let alone seventeen years ago. But keep in mind Maaco is a chain. They're lika a McDonald's. Some burgers at some of them may taste good, others nasty. Same with Maaco. You may get a real nice paint job at one Maaco for $500 or a real crappy job at another one for $1,000.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
It depends.... the previous owner had my car painted for $500 and it had overspray everywhere (including the windshield).
Is your paint original ? If it is I'd let the next owner decide what he/she wants to do.
Is your paint original ? If it is I'd let the next owner decide what he/she wants to do.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
It really depends who you end up selling it to.
I would rather have bad paint, than a bad paint job. I would prefer to make my own call on this, and if you are considering a color change that complicates the job considerably. Much more opportunity for Macco to leave you with a less than satisfied feeling. A bad paint job could chase some buyers away because of the work to fix it.
Do you have a pre paint and post paint target in mind for what you plan to sell the car for? You will likely deal with some headaches if you choose to paint the car.
Lastly, if you sell the car to an impulse buyer or someone that is not very knowledgable about cars you could come out ahead.
Just my 2 cents
I would rather have bad paint, than a bad paint job. I would prefer to make my own call on this, and if you are considering a color change that complicates the job considerably. Much more opportunity for Macco to leave you with a less than satisfied feeling. A bad paint job could chase some buyers away because of the work to fix it.
Do you have a pre paint and post paint target in mind for what you plan to sell the car for? You will likely deal with some headaches if you choose to paint the car.
Lastly, if you sell the car to an impulse buyer or someone that is not very knowledgable about cars you could come out ahead.
Just my 2 cents
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I tend to agree about if it's the original paint, I think I'd shy away from painting it. Especially if the bonding seams are visible, then a knowlegeable person could make a better decision.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
I would like to get $8k for the car.
With paint I think its reasonable because its now very solid mechanically and everything thats been fixed is stock for the most part. A griffin aluminum radiator is the only thing that isn't. no real modz to speak of. Original motor is in good shape. New timing chain, oil pump, rear main seal. 4-speed. New rear diff, bilsteins on all 4, new front suspension (poly), new PS pump and hoses. New tires. Newer AC delco battery. New brakes and master cylinder. New fuel pump.
wow, now that I add all that up maybe I should keep it
I know that 75's dont bring high dollars generally speaking but if I put an ad in the paper I may be able to get some general public interest thats just looking for an older corvette that will run well and looks good. CF forum people don't hold rubber bumper cars with high reguards.
Without paint I would ask maybe ~6k.
With paint I think its reasonable because its now very solid mechanically and everything thats been fixed is stock for the most part. A griffin aluminum radiator is the only thing that isn't. no real modz to speak of. Original motor is in good shape. New timing chain, oil pump, rear main seal. 4-speed. New rear diff, bilsteins on all 4, new front suspension (poly), new PS pump and hoses. New tires. Newer AC delco battery. New brakes and master cylinder. New fuel pump.
wow, now that I add all that up maybe I should keep it
I know that 75's dont bring high dollars generally speaking but if I put an ad in the paper I may be able to get some general public interest thats just looking for an older corvette that will run well and looks good. CF forum people don't hold rubber bumper cars with high reguards.
Without paint I would ask maybe ~6k.
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: NY
St. Jude Donor '06
Ask any used car dealer...A car has to look good. It may be the best mechanically but if it does not look good then people won't buy. Just look at ebay. People buy good looking rattle traps every day. Paint the car and you will get more for it.
Most of the people on this forum are corvette owners so they look at cars differently. Try to think like an average buyer who just wants his first vette. He wants a car that looks good.
Most of the people on this forum are corvette owners so they look at cars differently. Try to think like an average buyer who just wants his first vette. He wants a car that looks good.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by chevy69
It really depends who you end up selling it to.
I would rather have bad paint, than a bad paint job. I would prefer to make my own call on this, and if you are considering a color change that complicates the job considerably. Much more opportunity for Macco to leave you with a less than satisfied feeling. A bad paint job could chase some buyers away because of the work to fix it.
Do you have a pre paint and post paint target in mind for what you plan to sell the car for? You will likely deal with some headaches if you choose to paint the car.
Lastly, if you sell the car to an impulse buyer or someone that is not very knowledgable about cars you could come out ahead.
Just my 2 cents
I would rather have bad paint, than a bad paint job. I would prefer to make my own call on this, and if you are considering a color change that complicates the job considerably. Much more opportunity for Macco to leave you with a less than satisfied feeling. A bad paint job could chase some buyers away because of the work to fix it.
Do you have a pre paint and post paint target in mind for what you plan to sell the car for? You will likely deal with some headaches if you choose to paint the car.
Lastly, if you sell the car to an impulse buyer or someone that is not very knowledgable about cars you could come out ahead.
Just my 2 cents
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Creswell OR
When I bought my car,the owner had a new paint job put on it.It was the real selling factor for me.I really liked the color.But I was a newbie concerning Vettes.It didn't take long for the fisheyes to start bubbling up.And now the original front bumper is cracking all to h*ll.So now I have to replace the bumper,and it screws the whole paint scheme up.
I would say to you,if your rubber bumpers look like they are not going to last very long,or have cracks,warpage, please change them BEFORE you get the car painted.It would be better to leave the old paint on otherwise.
I would say to you,if your rubber bumpers look like they are not going to last very long,or have cracks,warpage, please change them BEFORE you get the car painted.It would be better to leave the old paint on otherwise.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,501
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From: Old Skool, NY
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
...But keep in mind Maaco is a chain. They're lika a McDonald's. Some burgers at some of them may taste good, others nasty. Same with Maaco.
I was employer of the month twice in HS and they gave me a bike.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by classiczx
Nah, McD's uses the same prepacked frozen stuff and cook em up the same way everywhere so they should taste the same... except maybe overseas.
I was employer of the month twice in HS and they gave me a bike.
I was employer of the month twice in HS and they gave me a bike.
It's the "special sauce" that might make them taste "different".Oh - and I agree that a cheap paint job will help selling to general public.
Folks like us on the CF would rather save the $2k and put it toward our own paint.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Why not try to sell it here on the forum? You wont have to worry about the paint and as you have done alot of work already that will count for something.
Is the paint on it original? if so, leave it....get the $6k you want and let the buyer decide which way to go.
BTW....nothing wrong with the 75!!!!!
Is the paint on it original? if so, leave it....get the $6k you want and let the buyer decide which way to go.
BTW....nothing wrong with the 75!!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 298
From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
It's my opinion a $6,000 vette will sell faster then a $8,000 vette with new paint smell. For $8,000 your interior better be good and the rest of the details looking sharp. For $6,000 people will not expect perfection.
Will a good buff & wax job brighten up the present paint?
Good Luck!
JU
Will a good buff & wax job brighten up the present paint?
Good Luck!
JU
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by John Ulrich
It's my opinion a $6,000 vette will sell faster then a $8,000 vette with new paint smell. For $8,000 your interior better be good and the rest of the details looking sharp. For $6,000 people will not expect perfection.
Will a good buff & wax job brighten up the present paint?
Good Luck!
JU
Will a good buff & wax job brighten up the present paint?
Good Luck!
JU
I think you will have better luck with selling a $6k driver car than a shiney $8k car. And you avoid the hassle of getting it done.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Buckner Missouri
When I got my '74 the wifes main concern was that the car look good. She wanted something we could drive and her feel good about. And that translated to a good/fairly good paint job. Without the decent paint life would have been He!!.
Mechanical was my problem- just as long as the car could be driven and looked nice while doing it was her concern.
Paint was what made her part of the decision when we bought.
Mechanical was my problem- just as long as the car could be driven and looked nice while doing it was her concern.
Paint was what made her part of the decision when we bought.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Thanks for all the replies I appreciate different points of view.
I think I agree with my wife
on this one. If the guy who wants to buy it has a g/f or wife it has to look "pretty".
I may try to sell it on the Forum before I paint it. Maybe go both routes.
I think I agree with my wife
on this one. If the guy who wants to buy it has a g/f or wife it has to look "pretty". I may try to sell it on the Forum before I paint it. Maybe go both routes.
