Does the type of paint system change a 356 value
 

Hi i am restoring a 64 SC Dolphin Grey 6206 .
Does painting a car in,enamel, lacquer or modern 2 pack , increase or decrease the value of fully restored 356 cars?
Thanks:

Dolphin Grey is 6410

Absolute original stuff would of course be best, but it just isn't available any more. Next would be an exact color match....

FWIW Mazda offered Dolphin Grey for the 2012 CX-9s but it isn't true DG. I have un-faded spots on my car (ie, in door jam, dash board) but I don't think a color match from a digital picture would be correct.

Paints
 

Contact someone like John Wilhoit, Wilhoit Restorations. Color samples and paint
I like single stage paints, but harder to come by than two stage. Use the best paint you can, again, I stick with Glasuit. Color changes from original is a personal choice.
DG is a very nice subtle color. I have a coupe that is currently red metallic, I have found blue and yellow under it. Car is a Heron Grey from the factory. Will be nice to get it back to original.

Everything non original affects value.

I would say if you have to paint it then go with modern urethane single stage.
It will look more original than 2 stage and be tons more durable that any lacquer, enamel or acrylic enamel. I'd be curious to hear if someone actually prefers enamel on a car that's been refinished all over.

Our rust free '64 SC coupe is a driver and we like it that way. If the day comes to strip her down and do a repaint we would go for as close to the original finish as possible. I have not researched, but is/was the original a synthol enamel? and is this product still available?

We are also doing a '65 Dolphin Grey coupe. I am still doing metal work so I am not close to paint yet. Dolphin Grey was actually paint code 6410 and was a special paint on late 356's as well as '64-65 911's. I ordered a color card from Willhoit and I have the original closing panels from our car. The colors are close but not an exact match. it was not unusual for colors to vary a bit. This is true even for modern cars. I did a color test on my toolbox using modern Sikkens two stage paint. It came out a bit shinny for my taste I will try a single stage Urethane like Harold suggested when the times comes. I went to our local paint store and the color code was actually in their computer as an early 911 color. We did a spray-out card and they did a minor adjustment to match the closing panels.


Eric

Hi Eric.
I have posted a question re what parts are plated on the car and what is painted re motor gearbox and under frame. Can you shine any light onto this?

The pan, fender interiors and the battery box were covered with black Wurth undercoating applied over the body color. On Karmann bodied cars like mine, the underside of the hood also had the same texture but was body color. I am going to try a Upol product call Raptor since they make both black and a tint-able product. It is applied with a special spray gun included in the kit and I think I can approximate the original texture by controlling the spraying pressure and the distance the gun is held from the work.
The transaxle was not painted. The axels, brake backing plates, US heater parts, engine tins were satin black. The fan shroud and European heat exchangers were light grey.
The side window trim, door handles, headlight bezels, etc. were Chrome. The windshield and rear window trim was aluminum.
There are folks here and over at the 356 Registry who are far more knowledgeable than I am about other specifics.

Eric

Thanks.
It would be nice if i could fine a chart to what was painted what colour?