color change

[kmhemi]

I have a 78 sc. Factory color is red. I like the red alot but the black car post really makes me want a black 911. My car is going to get a strip and repaint soon. A freind of mine owns a bodyshop and will be helping me with the work. (I have worked in a bodyshop for about 8 years) Would it be a mistake to change the color of the car? The car is not perfect and never will be so how much would it drop the value of the car? I have to take the car apart anyway to do the jambs and under the hood so it is the same ammount of work either way.

[dickster]

personally i avoid buying cars that had color changes

[kmhemi]

That is why I wanted to post this question. I want to know how most people feel about it in case I ever do sell it.

[imcarthur]

No. I wouldn't either. A same color repaint raises questions. A change in color raises more.

You might want to take before & after pics to document that you didn't do it because of damage.

Ian

[bwell]

It's your car. Unless you plan to sell it in the near future, paint it any color you like.

[rcm]

Change the color, just do a complete job. Completely strip the body in and out. The documentation is great idea. I did mine from beginning to end to show anything that was found while stripping.

[kmhemi]

I have completely restored quite a few cars. I take photos of the entire process. I don't know if I will change it or not..Black sure is tempting. My Hemi car took over six years to complete at a cost of $45,000 and I did the work. I don't short cut.

[jhawk1000]

It is your car, no one elses. If you want it black, paint it black but do it nicely. I doubt that only those who are technically correct will care and probably you will sell it to someone who likes the looks instead of on the list.

Mel

[thrown_hammer]

Who do you want to make happy....you or the next owner? I asked myself this question and now my car is Gulf Blue instead of Gaurds Red.

[azasadny]

Do what you want, just paint the whole car (engine compartment, under carriage, etc...) to avoid any of the old color coming back to haunt you. My car is on it's third color and I still find the original color everywhere. When I get it repainted, I'm going to do it right!

[kmhemi]

I like the replies I am getting but I am VERY suprised that I am getting support and not slammed ...

[kmhemi]

I agree on the "complete job" I am going to do that whether I change the color or not. It's a Porsche ...It deserves no less that the ablsolute best I can do.

[dickster]

ok, i'll qualify what i said.

i saw a 930 on ebay recently and quickly moved away when i saw the colour change it had.

thrownhammers on the other hand would be tempting - i guess its got to be done right, which doesn't apply to many.

and if i;m buying as a classic forget it.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by kmhemi
I like the replies I am getting but I am VERY suprised that I am getting support and not slammed ...

You will find most of us are "hands on" kinda guys and gals here. If I was looking at a 911 and you showed me pictures of the before, stripped and after of your paint job, I would see that as a plus!

But, if you do want to get slammed, start asking about putting a V8 in your 911!

[kmhemi]

The only way I would ever do an engine swap on a Porsche is if I changed to a newer or bigger Porsche engine of the same variety like from a 3.0 to a 3.6 A 911 shoud have a 911 engine.

[porschenut]

Go ahead and paint it any color you want. A 78 SC that is "not perfect" is not worth that much anyway, so a color change is not going to decrease its value by any appreciable amount.

[Argeo]

Currently stripping my car down to the metal, I don't think a repaint should raise any questions. A car that old probably would need a new paint job to look it's best so why should it raise any flags. Just be honest about what you have when you sell it, keep note of what you found and fixed and didn't. As I have found out, a lot of stuff is can be hidden beneath the paint. At least with a repaint you know what you have. Also the old pay now or pay more later comes into play.

I have heard that about keeping it the original color but I don't see why it should matter as long as the job was done well. I am still debating whether I should go back to original (silver), current color (slate blue) or make it continental orange.

It's your car, do what you want. If your in it to make a profit, I would go original otherwise who cares. I don't plan on selling mine so I have decided to keep under the hood the same color, I am big on the car's story and as i am finding, it has a few.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

David