Paint opinions needed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 1
From: Pineville Kentucky
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Paint opinions needed
My 73 BB coupe is at the shop being stripped as we speak. My plan is to re-paint the car it's original metallic yellow with a Baldwin Motion theme striping since I added a L-88 style hood. I know the metallic yellow is not a "cool" color but it is an original #'s car. (motor is crated and a built 454 replaced) What think you guys??
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
2 points of view on this. If you want to keep the car totally original, go with the original color and scheme. 2nd point is this. The car is not original factory now as there is a different engine in it. True, it would be infinitely easier to replace the engine with the original one as opposed to doing that AND repainting to return the car to "original" status. Sooo, how long do you intend to keep the car and how much do you like the original color? If you want a different color and you plan on keeping the car for some time, paint it the color you really like and simply plan on having to repaint in the future if going back to "original" color assuming that this impacts the resale value significantly.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Spokane Washington
Wish mine was yellow
I have a 72 that is black. I want to repaint it original. The original color is Ontario Orange. Yuck
I would stay original. Yellow is better than Ontario Orange, even basic orange would be better. I have the color problem
, yellow is OK, go original.
cal
I would stay original. Yellow is better than Ontario Orange, even basic orange would be better. I have the color problem , yellow is OK, go original.cal
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Spokane Washington
Ontario orange
Well maybe I over did it a little on the Ontario Orange. I like original colors, not only because it adds some to the value as a rule but it makes it easy to decide what color to paint the car. I, at first liked Ontario Orange in pictures, until I noticed the color on a car, it had no snap. The owner said he had a hard time selling his car because it was orange, he said keep mine black. I still may go original Orange, maybe add a more zip to the color.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
My 73 BB coupe is at the shop being stripped as we speak. My plan is to re-paint the car it's original metallic yellow with a Baldwin Motion theme striping since I added a L-88 style hood. I know the metallic yellow is not a "cool" color but it is an original #'s car. (motor is crated and a built 454 replaced) What think you guys??
Seems to me a custom hood under the stock color with a custom stripng scheme isn't any more stock than painting it purple, ya know?
If you like the metallic yellow, fine use it. But if you are using it because its stock and the numbers matching motor is in a box, but you would prefer a different base color with your Motion custom design, then use the color(s) you like.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Spokane Washington
color
If you plan on keeping her, and you like a specific color by all means paint it your way. I have several cars some original some not. When I not can really decide I default to original. Sometimes an original color keeps the car looking period. Sometimes painting a classic a unoriginal color makes them look odd. You have to decide who you are painting it for, you, us or someone else. Someone will like yellow?
cal
cal
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 1
From: Westminster Maryland
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 8
From: Manahawkin NJ
I had a similar dilemma deciding to paint my 73 back to it's original green. I'm glad I did. It get lots of attention, and no one can believe that it is an original factory color.
I like the metallic yellow very Similar to war bonnet yellow if not the same. And I'm sure you'll be the only guy around with a vett that color.
Most vetts including mine were painted red, white, or black at one time,and no offense to others but i think thats boring. Factory colors were cool back then, and are even cooler now
Unless it was green 
I like the metallic yellow very Similar to war bonnet yellow if not the same. And I'm sure you'll be the only guy around with a vett that color. Most vetts including mine were painted red, white, or black at one time,and no offense to others but i think thats boring. Factory colors were cool back then, and are even cooler now
Unless it was green
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 4
From: Kalamazoo Michigan
farmer, make sure your shop is planning to use a polyester type primer (or gelcoat) after they strip it. Many guys think they can put regular primer that contains alot of solvent directly over a stripped vette. The problem comes down the road when the solvent that has permeated the glass comes back in the form of small bubbles through the paint. The polyester has minimal solvent and creates a barrier. PPG MP243 can be found at any PPG distributor and will work great. Good luck...
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Well maybe I over did it a little on the Ontario Orange. I like original colors, not only because it adds some to the value as a rule but it makes it easy to decide what color to paint the car. I, at first liked Ontario Orange in pictures, until I noticed the color on a car, it had no snap. The owner said he had a hard time selling his car because it was orange, he said keep mine black. I still may go original Orange, maybe add a more zip to the color.
and I saw a Saturn SUV the other day that was a shade of Orange. I think the original O.O. color depends a lot on how it was taken care of. The paint is a 1-stage so if it gets oxidized it probably looks pretty dull. The paint on my car is in no way pristine - more like a 20-footer, but at least some of the body looks good when cleaned and waxed. Modern paints are so superior in color that you can find an awesome Orange that will at least have the spirit of the original. Rick B.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: Dayton Ohio
I'm not following your logic. It has an L88 hood and you are adding a custom stripe design, but you are using a base of the original color because it's numbers matching. (or would be when you reinstall the correct motor)
Seems to me a custom hood under the stock color with a custom stripng scheme isn't any more stock than painting it purple, ya know?
If you like the metallic yellow, fine use it. But if you are using it because its stock and the numbers matching motor is in a box, but you would prefer a different base color with your Motion custom design, then use the color(s) you like.
Seems to me a custom hood under the stock color with a custom stripng scheme isn't any more stock than painting it purple, ya know?
If you like the metallic yellow, fine use it. But if you are using it because its stock and the numbers matching motor is in a box, but you would prefer a different base color with your Motion custom design, then use the color(s) you like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
When I swapped the stock hood on my SA for the long L88, here's what we came up with...
BTW, if you don't pick a color you really like, you're more likely to be trading it for something else that strikes you.
BTW, if you don't pick a color you really like, you're more likely to be trading it for something else that strikes you.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Aug 18, 2007 at 04:10 AM.