Color for a Corvette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 32
Likes: 3
Color for a Corvette
I am at a point in a restoration where the system work is complete and I need to do the body and paint.
My dilemma is what color to paint the car.
The VIN indicates that this 73 454 T top was painted silver which I am not particularly fond of. Someone along the way painted it Red which attracts too much attention. I would like to choose a new color such as amid to light blue or a dark Green (Brittish racing green, I have an XKE in that color). I guess I would like to know what effect a deviation form the original color has on any value. I would also like to post a question to anyone who cares to answer what color would they would like. Sort of a popularity pole. Any answers would be appreciated.
Thank You
My dilemma is what color to paint the car.
The VIN indicates that this 73 454 T top was painted silver which I am not particularly fond of. Someone along the way painted it Red which attracts too much attention. I would like to choose a new color such as amid to light blue or a dark Green (Brittish racing green, I have an XKE in that color). I guess I would like to know what effect a deviation form the original color has on any value. I would also like to post a question to anyone who cares to answer what color would they would like. Sort of a popularity pole. Any answers would be appreciated.
Thank You
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
I wouldn't worry about devaluation unless you are restoring the car to factory correct. I say choose what tickles your fancy. I am partial to Black. I've had 3 black cars already not counting my current 69. It was originally green. It also depends on the look you are after. I want a mean hot-rod look. Also the interior will help steer you to a color.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
How about that greenish-silver found on aston martin DB5 ... perhaps silver birch ? Have a war bonnet yellow roadster ... riverside gold is nice as well ... several gorgeous frosty whites on nicer cars today
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I'm not crazy about ANY of the stock exterior colors for 1973. The best, IMO, was the Metallic Yellow (aka, gold). I don't know what color interior you have now...or what you want it to be. That might help make the exterior color choice for you.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
Silver looks amazing on any C3 with a chrome bumper (even just one). White would be my second choice for a 73, and the first choice if you are fortunate enough to have a red interior.
What's the interior color? Be sure to pick something that complements that.
You may find some inspiration in this thread, which has as nice of a non-stock color as I've ever seen.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-decision.html
What's the interior color? Be sure to pick something that complements that.
You may find some inspiration in this thread, which has as nice of a non-stock color as I've ever seen.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-decision.html
Last edited by Bikespace; May 5, 2020 at 03:20 AM.
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2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I wouldn't worry about devaluation unless you are restoring the car to factory correct. I say choose what tickles your fancy. I am partial to Black. I've had 3 black cars already not counting my current 69. It was originally green. It also depends on the look you are after. I want a mean hot-rod look. Also the interior will help steer you to a color.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 252
Likes: 83
From: State Of No Return
Whatever color you choose, I would try and find a similar Corvette color regardless of the year......My friend painted his Corvette with a newer Ford color, and it's just a little weird in my head to have a Chevy wear a Ford color especially since Corvette has some newer colors which were very similar. It's HIS CAR, HE HAS TO PAY FOR IT, LOOK AT IT DAILY, HE DID WHAT HE WANTED, and that's what's important. He isn't concerned about originality or resale so those aren't important in the decision making process in the color that HE CHOSE. In the end it doesn't matter. The car looks beautiful, and he was happy.
Life's too short; Do What You Want !!!
Personally, I have never seen a bad looking Vette in any stock Vette color. Depending on the color of your interior, you may have some limitations or colors that do complement one another better than others.
Life's too short; Do What You Want !!!
Personally, I have never seen a bad looking Vette in any stock Vette color. Depending on the color of your interior, you may have some limitations or colors that do complement one another better than others.
Last edited by mskc3; May 5, 2020 at 08:25 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 279
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Good advice. Paint it whatever color, or color combination, you like AND can live with. IT does not HAVE to be whatever color is on the trim tag.
Everybody has their favorite, so asking the Forum what color you should paint it is inviting many-many answers.
Everybody has their favorite, so asking the Forum what color you should paint it is inviting many-many answers.
Last edited by KenSny; May 5, 2020 at 08:13 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,510
From: Little Rock AR
The body color depends on what you like and what the interior color will be. You pays your money, you takes your pick.
The dimunition or change in value question is dependant on what the car in question is like.
If it is otherwise 100% NCRS Top Flight, the dimunition in value is equal to the cost of a new paint job to correct it. Easy to answer.
If the car in question is not otherwise 100% NCRS "correct", the change in value for a non-original color is much harder to nail down. In this situation, a good color is always good for value and a bad color is always bad for value.
So....what interior color does it have?
The dimunition or change in value question is dependant on what the car in question is like.
If it is otherwise 100% NCRS Top Flight, the dimunition in value is equal to the cost of a new paint job to correct it. Easy to answer.
If the car in question is not otherwise 100% NCRS "correct", the change in value for a non-original color is much harder to nail down. In this situation, a good color is always good for value and a bad color is always bad for value.
So....what interior color does it have?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 276
From: Port Huron MI
I agree with every post in the thread so far. While silver is original and pretty sweet to highlight the lines of the c3, if you don't like it, don't paint it that color. It's your car; it should be what you want it to be. British racing green is awesome on a jag, but variety is the spice of life. A wild custom mix is hard to match for chip or scratch repair. And your choices are limited only by your imagination.
In a world where restomods popularity is growing and doing old vettes with new vette tech is the thing to do, maybe a vette color would be a good idea. I'm partial to the metallic royal blues, specifically the 2002-2003 Electron Blue or the 2019 Elkhart Lake Blue. But as they said, it's not my car.
After putting all this work into it, it should be EXACTLY the color YOU want.
In a world where restomods popularity is growing and doing old vettes with new vette tech is the thing to do, maybe a vette color would be a good idea. I'm partial to the metallic royal blues, specifically the 2002-2003 Electron Blue or the 2019 Elkhart Lake Blue. But as they said, it's not my car.
After putting all this work into it, it should be EXACTLY the color YOU want.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 252
Likes: 83
From: State Of No Return
948 dark green from 74 is similar to a british racing green, but the Polo Green from the C4 generation I would say is even closer....YOUR CHOICE....If you have a British Green that YOU LOVE then I think that you might already have your answer.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Find the color that makes your eyes pop and say "Gotta have it"
The whole devalue thing..meh. Small percentage of buyers, youre builiding it for you not someone else.
Look at house of colors, they got some neat stuff.
The whole devalue thing..meh. Small percentage of buyers, youre builiding it for you not someone else.
Look at house of colors, they got some neat stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,128
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
I would consider Monterrey Red Metallic tint or Atomic Orange from the early C6 cars. Love those two and both look good on a C3.
