paint- devalue question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
From: white hall ar
paint- devalue question
ok i started another post earlier about some engine numbers etc.....i went and looked at what was supposed to b a 74 red vert factory paint .after looking it over and reading the trim tags on the car i have discovered the car was silver when it was new ....actually ticked me off .my question is this .since i have found this out and the owner said he had no idea about this .(we will find out when i see the title )how much would u deduct from the price ....it runs good, stops good ,looks really nice considering .it does not look like a color change .but it is what it is .i managed to find some very very small points of overspray .still how much would u back up on the price .
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
I would say it depends... Didn't see your other post, but is this being represented as a survivor or other??? If the paint looks good and you like this color, then I don't know how ou could use this against the owner... If your goal is complete original car, then you'll have a lot of work/expense to put into this bad boy...
What's your goal with the car?? What are you looking for in a vette??? Like I said, it all depends on what YOU want...
Rogman
What's your goal with the car?? What are you looking for in a vette??? Like I said, it all depends on what YOU want...
Rogman
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Va
You will get mixed opinions on this forum. Some of the purist will tell you to take it back to orig. color. If this car is an investment to turnover one day, then orig is better. Many folks on here, like Gordon, will tell you to make the car what you want it to be. I have a 69 that is orignially Monoco orange. A lot of people love the color. I can't stand it. It reminds me of the Gen. Lee from Dukes of Hazzard. I am taking the car triple black. This is my car and I have added Borgson steering, hydroboost brakes, detailed the engine w/ aluminum accents, so I am far from orig. I did keep all items removed, but paint will be black. I say, "Make the car what you want and the next owner can do whatever he/she wants!"
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
From: white hall ar
thanks
well---------ok here goes .ive got other vets but they are exactly what they were advertised as .but ive always and i mean always wanted a really nice c3 red convertible .blk interior .then boom i get wind of one so i go look at it 50 miles from home well the guys not there and its locked then hes busy for the next week . .just what i was looking for .....but i just really didnt want a car that had the color changed .i mean i could do that to any car .....ill say this if he had said it was at one time silver i would not even went and looked BUT since i did the cars sharp .not 100 percent but really nice . and to top it off the wifes with me and liked it ......i dont know ive just seen so many repaints that the paint comes off especially in the door jams .so im back to my original question .....how much should i take off .or go with my gut feeling and walk .
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,997
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I don't know what you are paying, and if the car is a cheaper car the impact will be less. It will also be less if the car does not have matching numbers, because the price will be down anyway.
However, unlike a 74 coupe or a comparable entry level car, a 74 convertible does have a bit more intrinsic value because of the body style. So, if the car has matching numbers and the price reflects that, a wrong paint could hurt the value substantially in the market.
It doesnt really matter if you like it. Its nice that you like it, that certainly makes the car easier to live with. But regardless of how you feel about the car, an incorrect paint can deduct the cost of a full paint job on the market value of a Corvette. This is true whether you like the color or not, and will come into play when you sell the car.
This is not about preferences. Its about market value. Dont confuse the 2 and dont pay more than its worth because its easy.
However, unlike a 74 coupe or a comparable entry level car, a 74 convertible does have a bit more intrinsic value because of the body style. So, if the car has matching numbers and the price reflects that, a wrong paint could hurt the value substantially in the market.
It doesnt really matter if you like it. Its nice that you like it, that certainly makes the car easier to live with. But regardless of how you feel about the car, an incorrect paint can deduct the cost of a full paint job on the market value of a Corvette. This is true whether you like the color or not, and will come into play when you sell the car.
This is not about preferences. Its about market value. Dont confuse the 2 and dont pay more than its worth because its easy.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Horizontally parked in a parallel universe. WI
Not sure on value ( I'm into customs
) But i would say go with your gut. Ask yourself this, if you don't want a repaint,and you buy this one,will that knowledge eat away at you, making the car less enjoyable.
My .02
) But i would say go with your gut. Ask yourself this, if you don't want a repaint,and you buy this one,will that knowledge eat away at you, making the car less enjoyable.My .02
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Look no one can decide for you what to do. How much less should you offer? You said you didn't want a color change car. So the car looks good, from what you have said it dosn't add up to matter how much less for paint. You need to think hard about this and be sure what it is you want, a car that looks good or one that looks good and matches the trim tag.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
if the numbers and codes and paint don't line up or match, then you decide if you are still interested. if still interested then look for condition. if the car is in good condition and it won't nickel and dime you to death then perhaps the paint is not that much of a factor.
C3 convertibles are rare enough that if you find one in good condition at a fair price, you should jump on it. one more correct will cost you more, no rust will cost you more, better condition will cost you more. if you found one 50 miles away your aquisition costs are close to zero.. a big plus.
too many intangibles.. what if the color was correct and was originally laquer but is now basecoat clear coat? do you still deduct? you gotta weigh all the pros and cons..
if you walk, good luck finding another within 50 miles...
C3 convertibles are rare enough that if you find one in good condition at a fair price, you should jump on it. one more correct will cost you more, no rust will cost you more, better condition will cost you more. if you found one 50 miles away your aquisition costs are close to zero.. a big plus.
too many intangibles.. what if the color was correct and was originally laquer but is now basecoat clear coat? do you still deduct? you gotta weigh all the pros and cons..
if you walk, good luck finding another within 50 miles...
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 327
Likes: 3
I'd think I'd walk. Unless it's a really good deal. I would feel decieved like you, either with the current owner or by a prior owner. Every change that's made affects the value either good or bad, usually bad. I suppose you could fiqure in the cost of a color change back to original but I wouldn't think the current owner would accept that becaue he could always find a buyer who could care less about the color change. I sometimes wonder if my repaint would affect the value of my car, at least I didn't change color. What I would do if I were you is place an ad in the forum looking for a low mileage survivor. But you probably will pay a premium.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
You know the point made above about Lacquer or Base/Clear is a good one. As in most parts of the country Lacquer is out lawed by the environmentalists, so even though a car is the correct color are some people going to complain about this paint? I think some times this (it's not the same) gets out of hand/realality. But one spends their money on what they want and that is just fine.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Three grand would ease my conscience and let me sleep at night with the color change, as long as everything else is proper. If it had been repainted the original color, that's not so bad. But this is a horse of a different color. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LONG ISLAND
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This is my rule of thumb & it can never hurt you !!!
If I were to buy it, I would deduct the cost of a complete paint job to return it to the original color if rest of the car was ALL correct !
This way you or the next buyer can return it to the original color at any time & get too burried burried dollar wise............
You can repaint it at anytime, you can't make it a numbers matching car again ( LEGIT ) if you dont have the correct motor & trans. So it really depends on what your starting out with.
If I were to buy it, I would deduct the cost of a complete paint job to return it to the original color if rest of the car was ALL correct !
This way you or the next buyer can return it to the original color at any time & get too burried burried dollar wise............
You can repaint it at anytime, you can't make it a numbers matching car again ( LEGIT ) if you dont have the correct motor & trans. So it really depends on what your starting out with.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
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From: Arlington texas
You can't get a real answer from your question. Valuation on each car is different depending on originality and condition. We would need pictures and more info on the car to give you an answer. You can't really just say deduct $5000 or any other number. If the car is priced appropriately for a car in it's current condition and with the current changed color then you can't really just throw out a number to deduct off of that price.
He may be priced low already or he may be trying to get the max out of the car and be overpriced because of the paint. If I was the owner, the paint was good and I had it priced right then I really wouldn't care that the potential buyer doesn't approve of a color change. It just wouldn't be the car for him.
It sounds like you are really against a color change so you should consider if you could ever be happy with it.
He may be priced low already or he may be trying to get the max out of the car and be overpriced because of the paint. If I was the owner, the paint was good and I had it priced right then I really wouldn't care that the potential buyer doesn't approve of a color change. It just wouldn't be the car for him.
It sounds like you are really against a color change so you should consider if you could ever be happy with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
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From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
I don't mean to be rude here, but if I were the seller of the '74 and the paint and overall condition appeared to presentable and you hit me up for taking money off my asking price because the color didn't match the trim tag, I'd tell you to walk.
Someone else will probably buy the car and not care if the price is right.
On the other hand, I wouldn't advertise the car as having original paint if there wasn't proof to back it up. I also get a pretty good feel for what the market will bear before I sell anything of significant value, so I rarely negotiate price. It's take it or leave it.
Sounds like you should probably pass this one up. Numbers matching appears to be important to you. I don't blame you, it was to me when I bought my '68 too.
Good luck on your decision!
Someone else will probably buy the car and not care if the price is right.
On the other hand, I wouldn't advertise the car as having original paint if there wasn't proof to back it up. I also get a pretty good feel for what the market will bear before I sell anything of significant value, so I rarely negotiate price. It's take it or leave it.
Sounds like you should probably pass this one up. Numbers matching appears to be important to you. I don't blame you, it was to me when I bought my '68 too.
Good luck on your decision!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
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