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ASE Master
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When is it time to repaint?
I guess the best place to begin this inquiry is to describe the current condition of my SC. 88K miles, zero rust, no collision history, two dings I can live with. The metallic black seems generally somewhat faded all over. That's the good stuff. The bad is a very rock chipped hood, two scars in the sunroof where it got jammed by a previous owner, and somewhat more pronounced fading on the roof.
When I bought the car my plan was an eventual all over, glass out respray. We all know values are going up, and original paint seems to be more and more important. So, where do you draw the line? Should I just leave it alone? Pull the glass and just shoot the hood and roof? I'm not gonna sell the car anytime soon, I bought it to drive, enjoy, improve and to learn 911s like I know 944s. But eventually I will sell. I want to make the right decision now not only for the sake of future value, but also so any future owner can see that it's a straight, unmolested car.
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1989 944S2 (sold after 11 great years) 1980 911SC Weissach (bucket list car) 1975 914 1.8 (future restoration) 1993 968 Coupe 6 speed (new acquisition) |
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Undocumented User
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It's your car, do what's right for you. SC and Carreras aren't going to be 100k + dollar cars any time soon so why fret? Unless it's an excellent condition and rare model survivor car, most people would rather have a very good fresh paint job instead of original paint.
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 3,496
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if the paint condition doesn't bother you and isn't inviting rust/etc., I'd leave it as-is. Unless you have connections, don't see you getting the $ you'd put into a paint job back out if you plan to sell.
I've been facing a similar conundrum with my '86 targa for a while, but now that a small rust bubble above the driver's side jack point has reared its head (and I'm not planning on selling my targa), I'm getting the rust repaired and going for a full windows-out respray. |
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 272
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If you do have the desire to repaint but worry about the next buyer worrying about what's hidden under the new paint, simply do a thorough documentation of how it looks before, during, and after. Should give a pretty accurate look into the condition if done well.
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Straight shooter
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In my opinion, I would leave it alone but it's certainly for you to decide. It sounds to me like you want to use the car not just look at it. I think there's something to be said for driver condition showing normal use and some normal aging. Stone chips, door dings, light clearcoat scratching will happen and I think that's just fine for a driver. I have a pending body refresh/paintjob with my '74 but it still looks fine to most; it's only because I'm so familiar with the car that the "flaws" are all known to me. If you're serious about fixing then I would consult with a detailer/painter nearby. There's a lot that can be done to rejuvenate tired clearcoat. A wetsand and buff might be all you need to bring it back and stone chips can be repaired without coating the entire panel.
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“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment to previous values. In motorcycle maintenance, you MUST rediscover what you do as you go. Rigid values makes this impossible.” ― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values |
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: PHILADELPHIA
Posts: 608
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Ive owned a 1995, a 1998 and now a 1978 SC with a repaint by a reputable Porsche restorer. I bought the car on mechanical condition and paint. I wasn't interested in a car that needed it. That being said the slippery slope has begun and I will continue to upgrade. Short term, no you will not see a ROI, long term, smiles and maybe a buyer who wants a driver and will pay your price.
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Chain fence eating turbo
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 9,136
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All you need is a good buff. It'll look brand new.
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Reiver
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 57,461
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Mines a 10 footer.
The SC has 253k miles on an original paint job that still looks good...except for the road rash up front around the bumper, hood, lights....and that looks like 'honest miles'. I think about painting every once and awhile but right now I don't worry about the paint much...oh, I watch where I park for the idiot door slammers but know I'd be much more touchy abt a new paint job. One less thing to worry about.....now if it was faded/peeling etc... different deal
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De Oppresso Liber Strength and Honor 5th Legion |
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Still here
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Car doesn't exist without pics.
If you can't stand the peeling and faded paint, then repaint it. Personally, I wouldn't buy one in that condition unless the price has been adjusted accordingly. |
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ASE Master
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There ya go. I assure you, I got the last amazing deal on an SC. Bought it 9/13 for $12k
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 517
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I would budget $5k/year until I had enough to do it right. Not because I can't afford to do it today, but because it isn't critical to do now. The fun part is the inside. You don't drive the paint.
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 3,496
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"Phil" -- that's exactly how I was proceeding until I noticed a rust bubble -- good thing I was a number of years into the exercise.
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ASE Master
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If/when I do get to it, I will do 100% of the disassembly/reassembly myself. Makes it a whole lot more affordable, plus it's done my way.
Last edited by alfadoc; 06-29-2015 at 03:35 PM.. |
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Banned but not out, yet..
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Highly skilled professional detailers can work miracles on faded paint and make rock chips disappear. It may cost $300 to $500 but is far cheaper than a repaint.
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An air cooled refrigerator. ‘Mein Teil’ |
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ASE Master
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There is a distinct paucity of such skilled individuals in my area. May have to do some research. I'd gladly drop $500 to make the rock chips disappear!
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Banned but not out, yet..
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If there is a high end classic/sports/exotic reseller near you, contact them and ask who they would recommend
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An air cooled refrigerator. ‘Mein Teil’ |
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Almost Banned Once
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I'd repaint it but find someone who knows what they're doing and I'd do the entire car not just the roof and hood.
Locally the best full repaint for a 911 is about $25,000! The guy that does it gives you a near factory standard finish. He's an Italian immigrant and is close to retiring. After he's gone I really don't know who could match his paint. It's extraordinary when you see one of his cars. Everything is correct. He even replicates the black over spray. You can get it done much cheaper (around 10k) but with paint you really do get what you pay for.
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- Peter |
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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Quote:
![]() I would not respray that paint to save my life. Research "paint correction" options as RSBob mentions. Would be worth it to schlep it to Charlotte and fly home for a good job. My Dad lives in the Charlotte area FYI. I could help with logistics on one leg at least. Happy to help a brother out. I saw an original guards red 930 at Marshall Goldman leasing in Cleveland, Ohio a few years back. Absolute garage queen. It was jaw dropping to see everything perfect. Everything. I'll bet the fellow you mention can put a car back to that standard. It was extraordinary. It was a treat to just look at it. Only saying this because when you see one, you know it.
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1981 911SC Targa |
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Cars Ruined My Life
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Right in your face
Posts: 1,881
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I am just going through this. It was a lot of thinking. My car was a 5 footer. It had rock chips on the hood, fenders, front valance was cracked. However, it had never seen paint before.
I am going to keep this one. I could not live with the imperfections on it. PO also had a Turbo wing put on it, which I despised. Went to a couple of trusted bodyshops around, made a deal with one of them whom I have done business in the past. He did a great job painting my Aero kit from Porsche on the 997S. He asked me how far to go, I said glass out respray all paint stripped. He gave me a price, and another one if I did stripped the car myself. It took me about a solid 12 hours to strip the whole car (fenders, hood, deck lid, bumpers, glass, all the door seals etc...) Now it is getting painted to its original color. I was fortunate that car had literally no rust. I mean non. We will see more when the paint is stripped but I am confident at this point. It is a long painful process if you are not just writing a check to get the work and move on. I purposely asked the body shop to deliver the car and painted parts after my visual inspection, so I can put everything back together myself. All seals will be replaced, all bolts will be gone through. Talk about a slippery slop. |
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ASE Master
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Please post progress on your car, and lots of photos! Owners going through this process and sharing the experience are so beneficial to the rest of us.
Buon Fortuna! Quote:
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