Repaint back to Factory Color?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
Original color on our 73 was silver. When we bought her she was blue. We are currently having her repainted Dark Brown.We thought about going back to silver but neither Hubby nor I are fans of silver. Repaint is close to $10,000 so it took us a few weeks to decide on Brown. The blue paint on our 73 sucked really bad or we would have left her blue.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NY
Original color on our 73 was silver. When we bought her she was blue. We are currently having her repainted Dark Brown.We thought about going back to silver but neither Hubby nor I are fans of silver. Repaint is close to $10,000 so it took us a few weeks to decide on Brown. The blue paint on our 73 sucked really bad or we would have left her blue.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NY
Yes, after going over this with the input of those like yourself, I am going to stay the course with it in it's current paint. The fact that the it's a 914 Silver code seemingly isn't as big a deal as its so nice as is, and in a color (Classic White) I would pick first anyway.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
The myriad of replies favoring going with the Silver paint job thus far really encompasses much of my feeling. The paint would be the biggie of my to do list in terms of anticipated cost, which the list is nothing more than bits here and there to make the car as perfect as I can get it from it's already high level of originality and proper functionality.
While I am not looking at the resale aspect as I have no intention of selling, I do like the look of the C3 in Silver as much as I do in White, and with the trim tag being a 914 Silver color code, I honestly feel an obligation to put it back to it's factory Silver color at some point. For now, I'll put the paint on the checklist while I get estimates and look at various painters' other work on Corvettes of this ERA in my region.
For many, this car is already in a "done" condition, but I just have that desire to take it further back to it's originality. I suppose it's not a dilemma to just enjoy the car as I work my way through the checklist.
While I am not looking at the resale aspect as I have no intention of selling, I do like the look of the C3 in Silver as much as I do in White, and with the trim tag being a 914 Silver color code, I honestly feel an obligation to put it back to it's factory Silver color at some point. For now, I'll put the paint on the checklist while I get estimates and look at various painters' other work on Corvettes of this ERA in my region.
For many, this car is already in a "done" condition, but I just have that desire to take it further back to it's originality. I suppose it's not a dilemma to just enjoy the car as I work my way through the checklist.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 489
Likes: 199
From: Vancouver BC
In the case of Silver versus White they are both great colors so you win either way! My 1968 has just been repainted and I struggled with keeping it the original paint color or going with something I liked. Not being a fan of the original Cordovan Maroon I thought it would be an easy choice to make, however when it came time to mix the paint I decided to stay with the numbers matching paint code, I figured that resale would be easier and it was 2nd rarest color (wonder why) so I thought that was a plus.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Your car looks great white. And seems to be in nice shape .
I like Silver too. It just never seems to last very long . It takes a beating worse than most colors to sunlight. My fav C3 is any silver convertible
Add red interior and I'm a ****
If I was dead set on a repaint , it would be best for resale to paint it back silver . People seem to like the car color to match the original factory color. Plus Silver is a nice Corvette color.
But...... I think for practical use and saving a dime, I'd just fix what you got . Paint the front bumper and enjoy it for a while.
Maybe your taste or mind will change in a couple years.....I say get the good out of nice white paint and then repaint the whole car some other day.
I like Silver too. It just never seems to last very long . It takes a beating worse than most colors to sunlight. My fav C3 is any silver convertible
Add red interior and I'm a ****
If I was dead set on a repaint , it would be best for resale to paint it back silver . People seem to like the car color to match the original factory color. Plus Silver is a nice Corvette color.
But...... I think for practical use and saving a dime, I'd just fix what you got . Paint the front bumper and enjoy it for a while.
Maybe your taste or mind will change in a couple years.....I say get the good out of nice white paint and then repaint the whole car some other day.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
I would stick with the color that makes you most happy. Don't make my mistake of picking out a color that you see in a photo and painting your car to later find out that the color looks terrible in the sunlight! I had to paint my car twice because of the disliking color the first time. I think the white looks very good and you have a beautiful car! Remember that a color change is hard to get all the previous color removed so it can't be noticed. Do what makes you happy but my vote is stay with the white
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NY
I am going to wait until the White gets to a point I would want it repainted. in the meantime, I will just enjoy it as a Classic White '73...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NY
I would stick with the color that makes you most happy. Don't make my mistake of picking out a color that you see in a photo and painting your car to later find out that the color looks terrible in the sunlight! I had to paint my car twice because of the disliking color the first time. I think the white looks very good and you have a beautiful car! Remember that a color change is hard to get all the previous color removed so it can't be noticed. Do what makes you happy but my vote is stay with the white
Yes, I'll stick with the White for now...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: NY
Your car looks great white. And seems to be in nice shape .
I like Silver too. It just never seems to last very long . It takes a beating worse than most colors to sunlight. My fav C3 is any silver convertible
Add red interior and I'm a ****
If I was dead set on a repaint , it would be best for resale to paint it back silver . People seem to like the car color to match the original factory color. Plus Silver is a nice Corvette color.
But...... I think for practical use and saving a dime, I'd just fix what you got . Paint the front bumper and enjoy it for a while.
Maybe your taste or mind will change in a couple years.....I say get the good out of nice white paint and then repaint the whole car some other day.
I like Silver too. It just never seems to last very long . It takes a beating worse than most colors to sunlight. My fav C3 is any silver convertible
Add red interior and I'm a ****
If I was dead set on a repaint , it would be best for resale to paint it back silver . People seem to like the car color to match the original factory color. Plus Silver is a nice Corvette color.
But...... I think for practical use and saving a dime, I'd just fix what you got . Paint the front bumper and enjoy it for a while.
Maybe your taste or mind will change in a couple years.....I say get the good out of nice white paint and then repaint the whole car some other day.
