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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 11:10 AM

guy took a perfectly good, never been wrecked nor rusted 74 2.0 and color changed it from sunflower yellow to forrest green. I cannot understand the motivation here

Posted by: 914Sixer Jan 15 2020, 11:20 AM

Sometimes you just can't fix stupid?

Posted by: jmitro Jan 15 2020, 11:31 AM

well, I guess he just didn't like the color....
I changed the color of my car from zambezi green to ravenna green but I also painted the trunk, interior, floors, dash, etc.

Posted by: Tdskip Jan 15 2020, 11:33 AM

It was his car, no need to make anyone else happy.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 15 2020, 11:49 AM

I have an original /6 that was Canary Yellow and it will not be yellow again while i own it.

Go ahead, hate me ...

Posted by: brcacti Jan 15 2020, 12:06 PM

It's OK to each their own. Yellow is NOT in my top ten colors either. Plus if you're restoring it from bad paint or was given the car in the color you don't like and have lots of money make yourself happy.

Posted by: falcor75 Jan 15 2020, 12:08 PM

Because you dont like the colour it is but the car is otherwise to your taste.
Mine was Light Ivory the most boring of all the 914 colors. So I changed it, but then I took the whole car apart and painted everything.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jan 15 2020, 12:36 PM

How much is the asking on the green car?

Posted by: rjames Jan 15 2020, 01:17 PM

Posted by: 914werke Jan 15 2020, 01:21 PM

I disagree

Posted by: DickSteinkamp Jan 15 2020, 01:32 PM

I did the opposite during the V8 conversion of my MGB. Green to yellow. It probably hurts the value to do a color change (more on a 914 than an MGB), but for some it beats living with a color you don't like.

Posted by: IronHillRestorations Jan 15 2020, 01:40 PM

How about if we establish a high brow panel of experts to determine if the owner of a car has the right to do a color change?

Posted by: horizontally-opposed Jan 15 2020, 01:43 PM

To each their own...but I would have color-changed that 914 to Irish Green or a very dark non-metallic blue in a heartbeat—as either would look GREAT with that interior—so long as I could afford to do it the right way (which means no yellow left, anywhere). Which is the only thing that prevented me from color-changing my 914 from Bahia to Irish back in high school.

I respect those who cherish really original cars, and I do too. But my take for the rest is simple: As long as there are some "reference" cars out there, in super original shape, the rest of us can play as we like to. They're just cars...and the ones that need a lot of work aren't reference cars, or original, anyway...

Posted by: theer Jan 15 2020, 01:47 PM

Yep - except my car IS yellow... I bought in red, but it left the factory in white.

After 50 years, it almost surely needed paint at some point along the way (crashed or not).

Not a big deal, really.

The whole numbers-matching/original color = value thing continues to elude me. Give me a nice car in decent shape with salvage title at a bargain price and I will happily buy it & drive it. Then sell it at a similar discount later on (or not).

Posted by: Coondog Jan 15 2020, 01:47 PM

Because Silver 914s are ugly that’s why I changed color.

Posted by: porschetub Jan 15 2020, 01:49 PM

Well at least it appears to be a quality job with a good finish,not so bad if only the interior floors haven't been repainted.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 01:56 PM

my point is that one can NEVER get a good job with a color change unless the car is stripped to a bare body shell and media blasted. I actually did that to one of my roadsters years ago because I wanted it to match my 84 guards red cabriolet. It was originally white then yellow when I got it

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 01:58 PM

it is very very obvious that you did it correctly, just a lot of work. Looks great. I LOVE my bgts (notice that the lighter white one (paint not good) has been color changed from old english white to american white!

Posted by: Steve Jan 15 2020, 02:00 PM

I don't hate yellow, but I also changed my car from silver to Alaska Blue Metallic.
So glad I did!!

Posted by: brcacti Jan 15 2020, 03:23 PM

I don't mind the white and/or Ivory color on these cars especially this one with the orange trim, looks nice. I have seen all white 914s and if I were to buy one would put the black porsche letters on the side so it would have some nice trim to it.

Posted by: Cairo94507 Jan 15 2020, 03:31 PM

I believe owners should be able to do whatever they want to their car. I took my original '71 Six, a rare 1 of 4 metallic gold car, and had it media blasted, rust repaired, etc. and changed it to Irish Green because that was what my wife and I wanted. Of course, this was done the right way so you will never find a speck of metallic gold on that car anywhere. I am sure some purists wanted to have me burned at the stake for that - but I am a big boy and can take the flack.

I do agree that if you can't do it correctly, you should strongly consider leaving it the stock color. Nothing looks worse than seeing a red car, for example, with yellow showing through on the door jambs, chips in the hood etc.

Posted by: sixnotfour Jan 15 2020, 03:38 PM

72 orig. Tangerine,,every Once in a while I think it would be nice...


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Posted by: bbrock Jan 15 2020, 03:42 PM

I guess we will never be friends then.

It's funny. Decades ago my wife bought a 914 that was red but the trunks were still the original Delphi Green. Every time I opened the trunk I was glad the car was red because the green looked so ugly. Now I would love to had a delphi 914 and prefer it to red. People can change and so can colors.

Posted by: Tdskip Jan 15 2020, 04:35 PM

Ohhh - tasty. Nice work @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=20876

Posted by: Rusty Jan 15 2020, 05:09 PM

Gotta say, that forest green is very striking. I can see why the previous owner picked that color.

I color changed a car from one shade of blue to another. I was happy with it for the first five years and then slowly came to regret the decision.

Posted by: sb914 Jan 15 2020, 05:23 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=19195 ....not my car, but I’m just saying! One of my all time favorites.

Posted by: johnlush Jan 15 2020, 05:45 PM

I wanted to change the color when I had my '71/6 done but didn't for the reasons others have listed and wanted to keep it "original". The hypocrisy is that the rear fenders needed work so I had them modified to allow clearance for 15x8s. I also had the front side markers deleted. So much for original. Given another chance this little fucher would be chartreuse instead of silver. Not that there's anything wrong with silver mind you... So my only opinion on this (as if anyone cares...) is that if you're going to change color do it right and leave no trace of the previous shade...

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 05:54 PM

the factory color changed this one from white to silver, and blacked out all of the places that the white would show except for the floor boards, they are still white!!!!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 05:58 PM

this car was color changed from ancona blue, guess they guy had a lot of white paint on hand

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 15 2020, 06:00 PM

the factory color changed this many times!

Posted by: brcacti Jan 15 2020, 06:48 PM

Posted by: BeatNavy Jan 15 2020, 07:03 PM

My car was originally Irish Green. Some PO, some time (I assume in the 80's) did a cheap re-spray to something resembling Bahia Red. I've kind of gone with it by respraying the underside and in other places that weren't resprayed, like below:



I definitely need a new paint job, and I never considered going back to original Irish Green. I never really liked it. When it's dull and faded, it just looks old (70's in a bad way). HOWEVER, Having seen Cairo's car with it's fresh Irish Green, I may be changing my mind. His car is beautiful. Maybe I can go "Christmas Tree" with red underbody and Irish Green up top

Cairo's car

Posted by: Mark Henry Jan 15 2020, 08:34 PM

My 914 is originally white, the PO painted it orange, the door jambs are orange, but the interior trunks and engine bay was very carefully masked off and left white. It actually works quite well, only 914 owners have ever noticed.

Now for double blasphemy, I'm going to wrap the wife's teen.

Posted by: Rand Jan 15 2020, 08:47 PM

Why do you prefer the red crayon? Because you like it.

I guess the upside is that 914s are going up in value enough that we start finally appreciating originality.

I will still do to my 914 what makes me happy. As should all. The fails will only help the value of the OG.

Posted by: Coondog Jan 15 2020, 09:30 PM

Knew that was going to open up a can of worms.........
Nothing against Silver personally, it just doesn’t make a car pop for me. My top 914 colors are Red, Yellow, Blue, which I don’t have..

Posted by: aggiezig Jan 15 2020, 09:43 PM

I changed my car from Malaga Red to Mexico Blue. It’s not a 914 color ever offered, but rather a 911 color from an earlier year. I wasn’t shooting for originality and I wanted something that really popped and screamed 70’s sports car.

I will say this in perhaps the spirit of your original post. When I did my color change, the entire car (and I mean everything) was stripped to bare metal. That is because I strongly feel that if you’re going to do a color change, at least do the job right.

Posted by: pistorman Jan 15 2020, 10:02 PM

I would maybe change it to a same year model factory color. A stretch maybe to a 911 factory color of that year. There's a magic to keeping this cars appearing as close to new. Nostalgia element pays when you sell a classic car. I know that quite well. Modify it in any way that is for a specific taste and you'll have a hard time finding someone with your own tastes.

Posted by: johnorm Jan 15 2020, 10:35 PM

Wow another color saga (good not bad thing). Interesting comments by all but as many of you said if the color is not your favourite change it to something you like knowing it may affect value in the future. The exception has to be original and salvageable paint which needs to stay the same, that's more of a preservation than restoration issue.

Posted by: PlaysWithCars Jan 15 2020, 11:09 PM

Thems fightin’ words.
I searched specifically to find a silver car. Of course, you can see that I’m biased. I agree that in bright daylight the silver cars wash out and the primary color cars have a lot more pop. But move it indoors and the silver really highlights the curves on the car.

Posted by: porschetub Jan 15 2020, 11:22 PM

Appears the good DR has gone quiet due to amount of guys that have colour changed,@ the end of the day it is what the owners wants to do as mentioned I like my silver but would like Ivory White because it is so serviceable and easy to touch up and it works for these cars.
My last full resto (and last) was a 87 euro Golf GTI in Alpine White looked really sharp.

Posted by: RickS Jan 17 2020, 12:15 AM

I couldn’t agree more. I just HATE it. Maybe I’ll paint it pink just for you.

Posted by: jagalyn Jan 17 2020, 02:05 AM

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That’s what makes the world go round. It’s why we all have so many flavors of ice cream. It’s not a one size fits all. Some like their car original, others modified... some it’s all about show, others it’s about go.

For me it’s about originality. I’d rather have a car as it came from the factory. And if I ever did sell it, it would probably be purchased by someone who thought the same.

Posted by: dt4 Jan 17 2020, 03:02 AM

Each to their own, my car had had a colour change at some point, originally red, it had been repainted in a metallic green. Dylan thought it might have been a Pontiac colour.
I wanted a period colour and like Green so chose Zambesi.
There are Porsche Greens that I prefer but they weren't 914 colours or correct for the model year so I stuck with Zambesi.
I actually changed my mind the day after ordering the paint and was going to go for Irish green but my paint guy had already mixed the paint so it was a done deal.

Posted by: jmitro Jan 17 2020, 06:52 AM

are you the guy in the shorty shorts?

Posted by: justme Jan 18 2020, 09:50 AM

My car was originally silver, then red, then black when I got it ( Earl Shieb?) so after looking at the bad paint I decided to tear it down and start over....with SO
After being neglected for 9 years it's finally getting put back together!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 18 2020, 11:19 AM

NO I HAVEN'T!!!! just had too many tech calls coming in! (not that I mind them keep the calls coming!)


I certainly agree that it is the owners right to change the color to what ever one he likes and we cannot chastise him about it unless asked for an opinion, but as previously stated, color changing is incredibly hard to do, very very few ever do it properly, and it horribly devalues the car, and is twice as hard to change it back.

Posted by: windforfun Jan 18 2020, 11:29 AM

My neighbor shipped his Testarossa back to Ferrari to have it changed from red to yellow. Go figure. I wonder what that cost.

Posted by: Chris914n6 Jan 18 2020, 12:07 PM

My car is original black with a respray in the 80s. It looks terrible now. I live in the Vegas desert. I will not be painting it black when the time comes. With the engine swap I am free to pick any color, but I am looking to keep it in the family

Posted by: luvatenor Jan 18 2020, 12:26 PM

My 74' 914 was originally painted L96M- Marathon Blue. It was owned by a woman in California, and was stolen in the mid 90's. It was recovered without any mechanical or physical damage. However, the woman, as in a house burglary, felt the car was 'dirty', and would not drive it until it was completely stripped and repainted. She chose a blue champagne color, not a Porsche color. I have received many compliments about the color, even though I would have preferred the original factory color. Here is the car today:

Posted by: BPic Jan 18 2020, 12:47 PM

Ok so if my car was in great shape and has original paint, matching numbers, etc. I would have gone a different route. But none of the above was true with it.

72 originally Silver, then Orange, then Black and back to silver. The amount of money I have invested I will never get back IF I ever considered selling it but this car will never be sold and will be given to my son at some point. So I guess he's stuck with the color or choice to change it back.

It's a color from a GT4 I love it and am very happy with it. There is not a spec of the old colors since it was completely stripped to bare metal.

Does it reduce the value having done this? To me - NO. To potential buyer most likely.

But it's not for sale so who cares.

Posted by: Cairo94507 Jan 18 2020, 03:00 PM

Thank you very much Rob (@BeatNavy; Kent Simmons, (Auto Art Customs in Torrance, CA) is a true master.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jan 18 2020, 04:47 PM

I regret it too.. Because both Betty and I love the color on the car. But it is not the original color, so eventually it will be painted back to the factory color.

I color changed my 73 six conversion. It was Delphi Green metallic. But after sitting in a field for years before my friend bought it, the paint had faded to OD green. Two drunks painting it with rattle can black, and twice being hit by 3/4 ton Ford pickups, there wasn't much left of the original color. A full strip and repaint turned him Bahia red, including all the trunks, engine compartment, and floorpans. I am incredibly happy with the color change. But I will admit, I kept one small bolt on part that is still Delphi Green Metallic. It can't be seen, and I will never tell anyone where it is.

Posted by: raynekat Jan 18 2020, 06:26 PM

My thoughts on color changes. If done right and it's a great color....no harm, no foul. You'll always find a buyer if it's a high quality paint job with the right color. Only the most anal of Porsche purists will complain. Life's short...live it like you want.

Posted by: aggiezig Jan 18 2020, 07:54 PM

+1

Posted by: bkrantz Jan 19 2020, 09:11 PM

Painting my project is months away, but voices are telling me to change the color.

When time for painting, it will be a completely stripped, bare shell, with doors and lids off, and in need of paint in much of the inside. Thus a color change can be done "properly".

The original color is Bahia Red, which I do like. And while I have the original engine confirmed by the COA, by the time I am done, the body will be a bit of a Franken-car, with replacement sheet metal in the front right, rear right and trunk floor, passenger floor, and substitute left door, and both trunk lids. So not an "original" car that a picky buyer might be looking for someday.

Am I right in thinking that any loss in value from changing the color would not be significant compared to the reduced value given the restoration history?

And FWIW the most tempting color (today) is Saturn Yellow. Or maybe Olympic Blue. Or...

Posted by: rgalla9146 Jan 20 2020, 07:48 AM

Color change ?
Because I started with a very colorful blank canvas.
Originally Palma green metallic. A beautiful color.
Repair of metallic ? No thanks.
I chose Light ivory, it's subtle, period correct and repairable.


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