Would You Buy a Color Changed Car?
 

Would you guys buy a color changed car is it was mechanically and cosmetically in excellent condition?

color change
 

If the job was done properly, I would have no problem with a color change.

Yes,...

It wouldn't be my first preference.

My (now long gone) 71 914 was tangerine that some knucklehead must have spent a lot of money changing to ruby red metallic. It was well done for the most part. Then some dimwit took it to maaco and had them hit it with the cheapest black they had. That is not an acceptable color change.

Yes, but I likely wouldn't pay as much for it. Even if it was done well (jambs and trunks and such also painted) you can still get the original color showing through any chips. Unless it was a bare-metal job--then it would depend on how much I liked the new color versus the old one.

--DD

drbill hit the nail on the head. If the color change was done correctly, (few are in my opinion) I would not hesitate. To be done right the car needs to be stripped and that includes the trunks, door jambs, etc. Do it right or don't do it.

Thanks guys. I want this car, and plan to keep it for a couple years at least, but he wants ALL the money...even for a color change car. The color change makes me hesitant. Its a 73 and was originally white, now Nepal Orange (a 75-76 color). Orange is my favorite color in these cars, but not even the correct Signal or Phoenix for a 73.

Here are a few pics of the color change. It appears to be done right. There are $9700 in receipts for mechanical refresh, and that doesn't include a motor rebuild (SS brake lines, shifter rebuild, peddle cluster, oil lines, clutch, etc).

This is an out-of-state purchase, so I have other costs e.g. flights, local PPI, 22 hour drive home.



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Nice! Except the carbs IMHO

I know. I would start searching for the stock fuel injection upon purchase.

Is a color change OK? I think so.
 

I agree with the group and I don't think a well done color change is necessarily a value depreciation for a 914 in today's market.

Bright colors on these roadsters have been very popular from day one and are even more popular today. Orange is a great 914 color.

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I have a color change car and over the years I've driven it and shown it. It's done well against all competition and I don't regret the change.

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Great looking cars! Both.

I did - car was originally Zambezi green, repainted Guards red. It was taken down to primer during a complete restoration (windows and engine out, so underside, trunks, engine bay, etc., all re-sprayed.

The "in-progress" photos are showing yellow on the interior of the car. Are you sure it was originally white?

It does look like a quality change, though.

--DD

The seller said the original color was "white", so I assumed that yellow-greenish color was some kind of zinc chromate primer...But I think you're right. I think this car went from yellow to white to orange.

How stock is the rest of the car? There are the carbs, but how about seats, interior, wheels etc. if it isn't mostly stock, and numbers matching, then don't worry about it, it isn't going to be a collector unless 914s ever reach early 911 desirability. So buy it for what it is, and how well it is done.

I got the color tag number. It was originally "Delphi Green Metallic". No wonder they painted it ;)

Now that's a 70s color

I'd buy. I had this question when I got my 912. My car was originally Polo Red and is now Ossi Blue. It is well done and will be nice for at least a decade. If I ever repaint it I will go back to original. But for now it is a really good looking car. I feel the same way about this 914 you are considering.

This car has obviously been rebuilt so I would start with that. Was the rebuild done to a very high standard and is it built the way that I want? If the answer to this question is yes then I would consider the purchase price vs. the cost to build vs. the current market value. If all of the numbers are significantly in my favor then I would proceed with the acquisition, if I really like the current color.

color change is not first preference for me, however for the right car and money, it will work for me. Orange is my favorite 914 color, have had two originally orange of them, each repainted either red or white by prior owners!!! :confused::confused::confused:

Having the correct color code is important for later collision repairs, makes matching so much easier, specially for do it your selfer's.

Be sure to obtain color code from the seller if he / she has it available!!!!!!


If painted correctly a color change car is no more likely to chip and show a different color than a poor repaint over different color primer or bare metal. If painted poorly a color change car can be ugly fast. My Dad had a color change on a silver civic, to dark red, dirt cheap paint job at a national chain repainter. The price was less than what I could buy the paint for, no sanding was done near as I can tell, lasted just less than the one year warrentee, lucky for him, they repainted it, and sanded it this time. He later sold the car, but it was holding up better than the first time. But that car sure was ugly before they redid it, the original color change paint job started to fail after maybe 9 months , that red car had palm sized blotches of silver all over, red paint peeling off in sheets!
However had that car been repainted original silver rather than red, and had it been just as poorly painted, you still would have a failing paint job, maybe from 30 feet it would look ok, but up close, ugly!!!!

hey, if this is not your favorite color, or your not happy with a color change, then search out for a different car. if you plan to keep it long term, and will invest in it, and enjoy it, then for all means, pic the best car you can afford, and by best not only by condition, rust, modifications etc... but also the color of your choice, cant find the color? then buy a next best car IN NEED of a repaint (with purchase price reflecting the need for a repaint) and then get it done in your favorite color, if a repaint is acceptable to you.

I would passed up on a car cause of color I don't want, unless of course the price outweighs my desire for a certain color. I am a cheap ass.

I like bright colored cars, bright red, orange, lime green, yellow,. This here being specially important if you drive the small cars like 914's. More visible, more safer. Earth tones, black, even silver, dark colors all are less visible than bright colors. Even white is hard to see, if in snow.