I am a long time owner of a '69, L-71, roadster, barn find 17K original miles, 21K now. When I got the car about 20 years ago it had been repainted an awful orange color (since I live in Denver, I thought the original owner must have been a Bronco fan). It had wheel flares, and orig. owner had put a '70 front clip on it after a fenderbender, so I took it back to stock configuration (with all quality body parts from Corvette Image) and painted it Viper Red. Since it is my keeper, I painted it the color I wanted. I could see traces of the original Riverside Gold behind the taillight housings when I repainted it. Maybe the areas behind the taillights were not a good representation of that color, but it didn't impress me at all.

As I contemplate my impending mortality, and don't have a summer project yet, I am thinking of taking it back to Riverside Gold. I have seen posts that Riverside is not an easy color to paint, and some repainters have been disappointed with darker than usual color, and other issues.

I understand this is a rare one year color and some really love it. Being only a one year color makes me wonder if it was so bad nobody wanted that color and ran away screaming. What do you owners/others out there think, and should I return to original.

Thanks, Ralph

 

If you want to return to Riverside Gold, the old, original acrylic lacquer codes are here. http://www.corvettepaintcodes.com/

Your paint supplier might be able to match these old codes with new formula paint.

 

Classic 69 color one of my favorites.

 

My 69 was originally Riverside Gold but it was black when I bought it about 23 years ago. When it came time to paint it I just couldn't go back to the original color- it simply didn't appeal to me, so I went with LeMans Blue and I love it.

Is your goal to have the car as correct as possible to max out its value? Or is enjoying the car the way you want it to be more important to you? I honestly think that, even if max value is your focus, painting it Riverside Gold may not add that much value over another color (especially if it's another factory color for 69). I haven't heard many people say that they like RG when it has come up for discussion.

 

I just bought a new project, 69 Riverside gold, # matching Vert.
It is going back orginal color Riverside Gold.
good luck on your choice.

 

Les, your comments are what I have been mulling around in my head. I guess I have enjoyed the red color, but maybe now I am leaning towards maximizing value (when I'm gone).

My red color paint job wasn't my best, as a couple of flies committed suicide in the fresh paint, and I never could get it right to my satisfaction.

I have seen some respondents say that I have never seen a good full Riverside Gold paint job, and I would be impressed if I saw one. But that is what I am still debating in my head.

Ralph

 

My '69 L71 convertible is Riverside Gold. It was one of the least popular colors in '69 if not THE least popular color which may be the reason it's a one year only color.

The strange thing is now when people see it they say they love the color. Funny how tastes change over time.

To me the real issue with Riverside Gold is value...if the car was red or black it would be valued several thousand dollars higher. It simply shows that rarity doesn't necessarily translate in value. With Corvette owners colors that were more popular then are still more popular now.

 

I like the gold it shows the lines of the car and just has that classic old car look. Everyone has a blue red and black hot rod.

 

My 69 is also Riverside Gold and is sitting in the garage naked. Yep - naked!!! The paint has been stripped and I am nearing the end of the body repairs. It is a very original car and will return to Riverside Gold when it is painted. No question.

I like the Riverside Gold color and never have I thought about changing the color in the 14 years I have owned it.

From a value perspective - paint it back to original. I just feel there are more people out there that would want the car the original color than not.

 

here's another vote for gold.

 

here is a nice one. My pictures don't do it justice.

 

Hi Ralph,
I'll vote for Riverside gold too.
I remember gold colors being quite popular through the sixties starting with Anniversary Gold in 1962.
Regards,
Alan

 

Since it's never going to be original paint again anyway, the question might should be - are you more willing to bet RG will bring a higher price after you're gone than to live with a color of your choice now?

FWIW, had my former '69 L71 been correctly painted in original Riverside Gold rather than the Monza Red it was wearing at the time, I seriously doubt I would have flown across country to take a closer look at it. Nothing against a nice RG paint job; it's just not one of my favs. Then again, I've grown tired of my SAE's B2Z paint, and I thought that looked plenty good enough in '78... My $.02

 

Here's my old tri power '69.

Loved the color...told people it represented what it cost me to keep it running.

Properly done, I think it's a great color, but yes, it has to be done right.

 

People's taste change as does the next generation's desire for a color. If you look at the sales numbers for colors over the years it's interesting how the color's have changed. As a bump in the road white is the #1 color followed by Silver today. I would paint the car the color you like most and enjoy the car. RG is a nice color as is Marlboro Maroon Metallic. More reserved than red. Unless you are going to do a B Gold resto, get the color you are happy with, it's your corvette enjoy... The Green with the Yellow interior 70's was one of one and should have sold high but it didn't.

My modified 85 is Bronz / bronz factory 2 tone. My stock 72 is Targa blue, 68 is yellow.

Any good paint supply shop can computer mix an exact color...

 

Definetly go with the Riverside Gold. (my favorite color) When ever I see a picture of a RG car I copy and save the pic to a special file. Here are 2 of my favorite pics.





I think the combo of the light and wet ground really show off this color.

shmoky
If I was to repaint my car it would be Riverside Gold.

 

riverside gold is good color, I think putting cars back to their original color is always a good idea.

 

I like the color, but it takes a certain person to own/buy a Gold, brown, green, etc car...

 

Interesting discussion. I have owned my '69 RG convertible for 42+ years, and have never particularly liked it - that is to say I would never actively choose that color. However, the car was available to me at a very good price back in 1970, so I bought it. I had the car repainted in '86, and made the decision to keep it the original color. I THINK I'd like it better if it were red, but as they say, it is what it is.






I have had many people say the really like the color, so it isn't like it is a bad color, it's just one not everybody likes. If you can live with it, paint it RG and enjoy it.


Pete

 

Shot from the rear thats just classic stuff how often do you see one like that almost never.

Even a brighter gold one could get away with.

Yrs ago I bought a met citrus green Z28..perfect frame off noone wanted it. I didint like the color but you never saw another like it.

Come sell time I thought Im gonna get beat up cause of it. Would you believe I got for the car with a blown motor rearend and a bunch of top end parts missing (dont ever get your car impounded they will destroy it).
2 guys that looked at it were crazy about the oddball color. Sold fast.

There are buyers that like only mainstream popular colors and others that like not such popular stuff. Paint your car how you like it come sell time theres always someone who will want YOUR car.