Wrong Body Color Devaluation?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
Wrong Body Color Devaluation?
I am doing a body-off restoration on my numbers matching '70 coupe,small block, auto. A previous owner painted the car red (a corvette color of a later year) instead of its original corvette bronze color. I plan to have the car repainted as part of the restoration but the original corvette bronze is a so-so color as far as my personal taste. I would prefer to keep it a red color but am a little concerned about how much that would de-value the car if everything else was as original after the restoration. I suppose it may depend on a buyer when the car is ever sold. I know I should paint it the original color after going through the restoration process, but .........the red sure looks a lot nicer to me.
Any ideas on how much a body color not matching the trim tag will de-value such a fully restored car if the rest is put back to the original state?
Any ideas on how much a body color not matching the trim tag will de-value such a fully restored car if the rest is put back to the original state?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
I couldn't give you numbers, some say 5%, some say up to 15%?
What matters is what color YOU want to paint it. If your goal is to sell it and make some $$, then paint it the original color. If you plan on keeping it for yourself....you choose what you want.
Just my two cents worth!
My car's not the original color, but I love Daytona Yellow, so that's what I went for. If I were to ever have it repainted, I'd probably go back to the original Fathom Green.
What matters is what color YOU want to paint it. If your goal is to sell it and make some $$, then paint it the original color. If you plan on keeping it for yourself....you choose what you want.
Just my two cents worth!
My car's not the original color, but I love Daytona Yellow, so that's what I went for. If I were to ever have it repainted, I'd probably go back to the original Fathom Green.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 657
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
I think you should paint it the color YOU like and want! Sure, it wont bring the "big bucks" to the purists, but on the other hand, they dont call it re-sale red for nothing. If your not crazy about the color now, how are you going to like it after seeing it for 3 years on your car? You wont', then be more apt to sell it.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 515
Likes: 66
From: Grosse Pte. Mich.
to be the cost to repaint it back to original.
That being said, if you'll be keeping the car indefinitely,
paint it the color that pleases you most.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Is re-sale value a higher priority than actually enjoying your Vette? For a '70 SB auto, unless you've got an LT1 and you're about to put it on the market, paint it the color you like best. To heck with everyone else.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Why take a chance? I'm staying with the trim tag color on my car (metallic Yellow) and getting a lot of heat over it with my buddies. I'm convinced when the clear goes on everyone will agree it was the right choice.
Another point to consider is that you will have a unique color as opposed to another "Arrest-me Red" corvette.
My 2 cents.
Another point to consider is that you will have a unique color as opposed to another "Arrest-me Red" corvette.
My 2 cents.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 9
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Paint it the color of "happy." You won't regret a non standard color. Your car is not one of the ultra rare small blocks, so collector value shouldn't be much of an issue. Paint it red and enjoy it. 
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
A car's only worth as much someone will pay and a more desirable color may offset an undesirable original color to certain buyers.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Unless you are considering flight judging where the original color would make a difference, paint her the color you want.
Personally, I like the bronze, but she's not my car.
Last edited by Easy Mike; May 10, 2007 at 09:39 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Orange massachusettes
I always understood as the rule of thumb the cost of devaluation
to be the cost to repaint it back to original.
to be the cost to repaint it back to original.
I too like the color bronze.
Helps make it stand out in a sea of red and yellow corvettes. That being said, MY car is a no-original candy red/maroon. Trim tag is missing, so I havent a clue what the original color was. Car was painted when I got her. Your car, your color choice. Do what ya feel and keep both feet on the wheel.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
My 72 trim tag and Tank sticker said Steel city grey, Saddle interior. I did an NCRS restoration to my red car. I didnt repaint it grey. During the restoration I was over every square inch of that car. It was NEVER grey. Must have been changed on the line. It had one high quality repaint, all original panels. When I pulled the original carpet there was red overspray on the floor boards. There were a few chips in the inside of the jambs near the higes that were red, factory primer, fiberglass. there were a couple minor scratches that were red underneath. I got the car judged at Chevy vettefest and lost 50 points out of a 1000 point scale for the wrong paint color. Lost 8 besides. got a silver. 
Tried talking to the judge about my dilemma. The car was RED from GM. It was RED under the blue cert label that was original to the car. NO dice. Deduction for inproper color. That said All vettes should be red with a manual and sidepipes.
Tried talking to the judge about my dilemma. The car was RED from GM. It was RED under the blue cert label that was original to the car. NO dice. Deduction for inproper color. That said All vettes should be red with a manual and sidepipes.