Paint? Is historically correct better?

[Mark Howard]

I have a '75 914 that's just about ready for the body shop....some small dents and scratches but just a good repaint needed. Trouble is I really don't like the Signal Orange color and am considering a color change. The car is stripped down to the wheels and suspension, so if I am to change the color, now is the time. The orange paint in the door jambs and other hard to reach places is in really good shape and I am fortunate to have a car with minimal rust. Is it better to keep the car the original color? Now that you know the whole story, can I have your opinion please? Should I leave it Signal Orange and just paint the exterior body parts or paint it a softer color like Artic Silver? Oh, by the way, the local body shop wants lots of extra $$ to do a color change. Big suprise, uh?

Thanks

mh

[HMeeder]

Mark:

IMHO keep it orange. If the car were originally white you could get away with it. Someday that silver would scratch or chip (along door edges, the rear trunk lid where the engine hatch meets) And you will be staring at that orange again. Unless that paint shop is just incredible, you will see it again.

I'll admit to a certain bias due to my own cars colors, but I also believe that these litle cars need as much help as possible being seen. Soccer moms in their Excursions may have more trouble seeing that litle silver speed bump (Honey, did you hear a noise by the rear tire?)

But I gotta admit, Arctic Silver 914s are beautiful.

[roadtrp204]

It depends on your future plans for the car. As an investment with future resale value, paint that matches the color code in the door jam is a plus. Or if your like me and hopelessly upside down on any return of invested money and just enjoy the car, paint it what ever color makes you happy!

A color change tends to cost more due to the increased amount of area and complexity of the job. The undersides of trunk lids, trunks and door jams would not normally need fresh paint and are much more difficult to prep and paint as compared to the exterior.

Mine is almost ready for paint and I am trying to decide between the stock red and silver.

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Chris
75 914 2.0L

[SteveStromberg]

Leave it the stock color.If you do a color change the car will need to be stripped down to bare shell.When I respray the stock color I strip it down to shell,prime and prep. then spray it (6 to 12 coats) then reassemble the car with new rubber seals and fresh chrome.The cost of a good paint job is minimum $2500.00 in labor alone (this does not include disassembly labor), The paint will be $600.00, plus sand paper about 6 reams, Thinner 3 gallons,ect.New seals fresh bumpers,ect $3000.00. It migth be cheaper to find a nice car in the color you like than tryng to change the color or respray the car. Steve

[This message has been edited by SteveStromberg (edited 03-01-2001).]

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I agree with Chris. It's your car, there's no reason it should be a color you dislike. If you're repainting it anyway, and you have the budget, paint it the color you want. Just remember the possibility of chips/scratches/etc. later on, unless you go for the full bare-metal paint job. That's a whole lot more money!

I've seen a number of 914s that are no longer their original color. Some of them have left the door jambs, interior panels, etc. the original color. I think it's a bit cheesy, but it is a less expensive option. It isn't quite as cheesy when the panels that are left the original color are tough to see--hidden under carpet, etc.

Conventional wisdom is that you take a ~10% hit in valuation when you change the color. 10% of a 914's value isn't much, and I think that a well-done color change on a 914 may not even take that hit. Most 914 people don't seem to be too concerned with complete originality anyway.

--DD

[TimW]

Hi Mark,

I have a new2me Signal Orange 914, and despite the fact that everyone asks me if I’m going to repaint it (even though the paint job is fine) I’m going to keep it the orignal Signal Orange.

Why?

Well, granted I’ve only seen a handful of cars that underwent a color change, each one always had telltale signs of the prior color (like when you open a door and see different color door jams)...and it looked bad [read: incomplete, cheesy, tacky].

I think Signal Orange as a 914 color adds to the charm of owning an old classic. It’s original. I think the fact that I’ll be the only one on the block...city...state with an orange car adds to the uniqueness of the 914, and IMHO it’s appeal.

As for value, I personally would not be interested in a color changed car like I would be in an original – but if it was done right and perfect then it would be a mute point.

If you’re not going to completely repaint every visible inch of the car with the new color, then don’t go through the expense.

If you just can’t stand the color, finish up this project and buy another 914 in a color you like.

My $.02.

Tim
’73 914 2.0L SIGNAL ORANGE

[JmuRiz]

I agree Tim, I have a '73 Ravenna green car. Everyone asks if I'm going to repaint. Of course I say yes...but I'll repaint the same color It's a classic 70's color that makes the car stand out, I love it. Hopefully I can make the paint last a while before it needs a repaint though.

Nathan

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'73 2.0 914

[Conrad W Peden]

Hey do you guys know what colour all but one of the factory race 914/6's were?


Signal orange!!

I tell you it 'IS' the fastest colour not red, not yellow, orange. Heck the factory can't be wrong.

Besides my 19 month old son can see my car a mile away and cant wait to get in and go for a ride. He gets so excited you think he's gonna piss his pants.

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CWP/VIR
72 914 L20E in rusto.
73 914 L20E 2.0L in resto.
http://members.rennlist.com/a914lover

[This message has been edited by Conrad W Peden (edited 03-01-2001).]

[HMeeder]

Conrad:

19 month olds do piss their pants. Pretty regularly if I recall.

PS I love my orange. Very retro. It's not signal but quite bright nonetheless. (I think there were 3 colors of orange. Signal, Tangerine and Nepal.) Most people give me very positive comments on my car. (Except the kid with the black camaro. He calls it a clown car.) PO had apparently not liked the orange either and painted it red. The red had faded and looked like crap. I repainted it back to the original L21E because I couldn't stand opening a red door and seeing orange door jambs. Just me.


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Herb
'72 1.7 Tangerine 'Teen
'74 2.0 Red Rustmobile

[Bee Jay]

I agree with what Dave and Steve said. I just got my car back from the paint shop. To change from yellow to gaurds red, they had to completely disassemble the car, strip it to bare metal,(door jambs, under trunk and hood lids, everywhere) seal, primer, and paint several coats, with wet sanding between coats. For the money I put into changing the car to red, and changing from 1.7 to a 2 liter(very expensive also), I could have bought Brians K's red car, and been driving for the last 11 months. But like Wayne said, I wouldn't have had all the fun, and I wouldn't have learned all I did.
But.. I think if I ever was to sell my car, (I never plan to) I think I would get more for it gaurds red, than the stock pale yellow.
Bee Jay

[campbellcj]

I agree with the others -- I personally prefer to keep the factory color, but "it's your car" and if you want to do a color change, just be aware it takes extra work and $$$ to do it right.

Nathan -- sweet, another Ravenna 73! Ravenna rules! My car is being repainted -- Ravenna -- right now due to an accident. (It was a little chipped & scratched up so I decided to kick in extra to paint the whole car).

[Mark Howard]

WOW! Thanks for all the replies guys! I have made my decision based on all of your expert opinions. The car will remain Signal Orange. Thanks for the guidance.

mh