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A color change can sometimes hurt you. A repaint with the original color usually does not. Possibly a moot point if originality is not a concern for you.
If your 73 has all the original parts it left the factory with, and you intend to have the car judged don't paint it. If you hope to find correctly date coded parts for those no longer present and have the car judged as "original" or "survivor" don't paint it. If you intend to drive it and show locally, do as you please, but the previous posters are correct about leaving it in the original color. If you hope to sell it soon and want a fresh look, paint it "resale red" and hope for the best.
It's a "survivor". I got it from the original owner. I have only done what anyone does with an old car: new brakes and calipers, new exhaust, tune up, new carpet and just sent the rear bumpers out to be re chromed. Starting to sound like I should try to buff the paint and leave it at that.
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by superdave269
It's a "survivor". I got it from the original owner. I have only done what anyone does with an old car: new brakes and calipers, new exhaust, tune up, new carpet and just sent the rear bumpers out to be re chromed. Starting to sound like I should try to buff the paint and leave it at that.
It always depends on how bad the paint is. If it's at all salvageable, I would keep it original. Original examples are hard to find and I think it's far more interesting to look at these cars as they came from the factory than to see another "perfect" car. Give it a good detailing and see what it looks like. Many collectors place a higher value on an original car if it hasn't turned the corner into "needs restoration." Pics would be good
If your 73 has all the original parts it left the factory with, and you intend to have the car judged don't paint it. If you hope to find correctly date coded parts for those no longer present and have the car judged as "original" or "survivor" don't paint it.
This is not true for NCRS Flight Judging. No attempt is made to determine if the paint is the original factory applied or not.
This is not true for NCRS Flight Judging. No attempt is made to determine if the paint is the original factory applied or not.
This is what I was wondering about. I had to do the carpet, it was damaged. I did the bumpers but I thought it better to rechrome them then put on repops. Of course I have been wrong before.
Repaint done correctly, .....nobody knows the differance.
Repaint done poorly, everyone knows.
you will need many coins for the done right option.
I would not hestitate to repaint, if done ..... correctly.
My 1975 only has 10 parts on it that didnt come from the factory so I am not messing with her. She can be a 20 foot all day long. I dont care. I know that no matter how much money someone spends they still cant have a car they can say is 99% FACTORY INSTALLED ORIGINAL, yes, theirs may look better, go faster and turn more heads but it can be duplicated, mine cant. For me that makes leaving her alone worth it. Dont get me wrong, this winter I will be looking for another C3 to mod and drive but the 75 isnt getting touched.
This is all very simple. You obviously want the car to be in better condition than when you purchased it. Therefore, you are NOT interested in having a 'Survivor' (an official status of the Bloomington Gold judging of cars that have repaired/replaced only those expendable items that allow the car to maintain function). It also sounds like you wish to keep it in "original" condition (same configuration and colors as it came from the factory).
So, a new paint job in the original factory color would be in order and would add value. Keeping the car 'original' and changing the body color would likely NOT add value for some potential buyers. Others would see the new paint job as a 'plus', even if a different color.
If you like the body color, keep it the same to maximize your car's future value.
I would investigate both organisations mentioned by above posters and see if the NCRS "typical of factory production" but brandy new everything is OK; or Bloomington's "1973 air in the tires" are what you wish for the car... or perhaps something in between. Unless it ends up metallic fuscia with a Prius hybrid drivetrain and 4 wheel drive I think its value will hold up OK. As you have seen already there are several "schools" of thought regarding this hobby.