Wut Color to Paint it?, ...a Tale of 4 Colors.... Options

[Tom_T]

Okay Originality experts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif) - I'm going to just ask some K.I.S.S. single topic questions to solicit your guidance on this, cuz my overly complicated posts just aren't workin'!

This question is how should I paint her, after I get everything repaired & rust issues resolved, given that....

I'm not a CW guy nor looking to make my 914 one, but just a true to original/OE & nice occasional driver, such that I maximize both it's current & long term value, as well as long term survivability.

I now know that my 1973 914-2.0 both has matching GA engine numbers & possibly tranny too (but probably not the latter) per the COA & car's numbers that I can read. It's an early 73 2L - built 9/72, VIN 4732901954 & Engine GA000424.

Per the under carpet/other "hidden" areas + COA - it's originally a L80E "Light Ivory/11" (white - blah! for my personal tastes) paint color.

ON the other hand & curiously, the (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) COA says its a "Black Leatherette/31" - when it's CLEARLY a TAN with matching loop/pile carpet !! ...although the L&R door armrest TOPS & Dash etc. are Black !? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

The interior is pretty good condition OE that will clean up well - with the exception of a 2" x 3" tear on the driver seat side bolster & 2 small 1/2" & 1" tears on the passenger seat side bolster & pass. side door top bolster underside (can find matching leatherette to sew-in those sections), a crack in the middle of the dash (new since stored), leather on steering wheel needs AM recovering kit (easy), & missing L&R OE carpet floor mat sections (easy to remedy with nice embroidered aftermarket carpet mats & hunt for OE replacements under that).

It has some moderate body F&R body-face panels & surrounding sheet metal work to be done - so it's NOT an accident free example, nor is it a low milage "garage/trailer maven" at 174k indicated & perhaps up to 190k true counting short periods to get speedo/odo. cables fixed over the time I owned it since 12/26/75.
Pix are posted at: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...93838&st=60

However, when I bought the car just over 3 years after first sold, it was what looked like a 3 year old Tan or Gold paint color - perhaps a first buyer or dealer initiated "Dealer Repaint" at the time of first sale on 11/9/72!

Because of the early aging of the Tan/Gold paint, I had it repainted to Copper Metallic/L99K in 8/76, then again in 5/80 I repaired some small rust bubbles & repainted it to the 911/930 Anthracite Grey Metallic/#??. I know - BAD me!!!! ...at least I was smart enough to go for a `73 2L, instead of a "purdy new" but slower 76 2L!

Notwithstanding the above - if I had bought a 73 914 new MYSELF, then I would've probably ordered either Marathon Blue Metallic/L96M or Alaska Blue Metallic/L96B or another Porsche or custom color match in a Blue Metallic/L99-98 -- get my (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif) BLU drift!?

To Summarize - An early 73 914-2.0 / "914S" with a strong running matching numbers GA 2L, a reasonably nice OE Tan Interior, but with some rust bubbles & 3"x6" RF Floor Pan Rust & Body Damage F&R to repair, & 170-190k miles....

...so how much should I fret researching stuff & putter her back to "absolute original" ?

.....versus just making ME happy with how I wudda ordered the car myself???

AND So the Color Questions:

Should I only consider going back to the factory L80E? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

...or...

Should I research whether the Tan/Gold was a Dealer Repaint & the way it "drove off the dealer's lot" ....& repaint to that?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

In other words - should I even waste time trying to track this 1st color change down? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

...or...

Should I just pick an appropriate 1973 Blue Metallic choice above, as I would have done putting out the "full ticket" new car price??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Here are some pix for your perusal & "viewing pleasure"....

A TALE OF 4 COLORS AS RE-PAINTED FROM BEHIND REAR BUMPER -
ANTHRACITE GREY METALLIC OVER COPPER METALLIC OVER A TAN OR GOLD (METALLIC?) OVER THE INITIAL WHITE:

[tod914]

Tom, seems like you have alot of sentimental attachment to this particular car. Olympic blue one's do pop up on occassion. Get the best of both worlds, fix this one and paint it the blue you like. Bet it would like real nice with that tan interior.

[Tom_T]

Tom, seems like you have alot of sentimental attachment to this particular car. Olympic blue one's do pop up on occassion. Get the best of both worlds, fix this one and paint it the blue you like. Bet it would like real nice with that tan interior.

Tod & All - the thing that I'm most concerned with on the paint color question, aside from my personal preferences, is that apparently the car's value could be significantly less if painted a different color than the COA/Labels & Plates denote - perhaps by several $1000s!

Is this correct or not? ...& if so, by how much do I lose?

...&/or....

Have I already "screwed the pooch" value-wise due to the accident damage - even if properly repaired? ...i.e.: it doesn't really make a diff color-wise anymore, due to that damage.

Maybe Dr914 George has an opinion & numbers on this??

I've decided that I can live with L80E (white) or Tan/Gold if the value is substantially less! I've seen AA & others list what seem to be clean 914's for $5 - $7500 supposedly because the PO changed the color, vs. others in original form between the $13 - $20+ thousand range (per current NADA for 73 2L retail pricing on-line)!!!

If I'm going to lose 1/2 or more of the value, then hell wid it! - White or Tan/Gold it is!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

...and if that, then I need to know whether I should look for how it got to Tan/Gold & document it as a "Dealer At or Pre-New Car Sale Repaint" - if it was?
...& whether I would repaint it the Tan/Gold??
...or if I have a choice to ponder of either Tan/Gold or L80E white??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

If value loss is not a concern in my case - then I think Olympic Blue is a non-metallic, so I'd probably go with one of the "period correct" 914 metallic blues mentioned in my first post here - and, yes I agree, it would look reeeeeeally good with the tan interior! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

The tan interior is also a lot cooler than black here in sunny & semi-arid (read = almost a desert!) SoCal with a non-AC car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

...same for the AZ, NV, NM & South TX folks! Those in the sweltering 150% humidity South, East & Midwest summers - there's no help, ya just stick!!

As for my alleged attachment to this 914 - you be the judge: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I'm 56 - & will be 57 in Sept., have been driving since 15.5 (almost 42 years), got my 1st car at 17, have only had 5 cars total EVER (not counting my parents' cars - 6 counting the inherited Honda we just restored for the kids to drive) - AND I STILL HAVE NUMBERS 3, 4 & 5 AS LISTED IN MY SIG BELOW!
Fortunately these were all selected in part because they would be potentially collectible one day, and have turned out to be so. I just prefer to maintain & keep my cars!

Also, my 73 914-2.0 was the first car I owned which I really wanted - as opposed to the $800 68 1.1L Opel 2dr Sedan 1st car, or after it died - taking over the used car payments on my Dad's huge ole 69 Pontiac Ventura 4dr that he "sold" to when they moved from San Diego to Indianapolis (job transfer - not (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) ) - which were just economical transportation during HS & college ...yes - even the Ventura when gas was still $0.27 a gallon!!!!

PLUS - the 914 was always a reliable & strong running car, even according to my German born & Porsche factory trained on 914s mechanic Hans - it was one of the strongest 2Ls he'd seen! ...partially due to his skills I'm sure!! So I know the car & its good & bad points, want to get it back running & looking good (if not perfecto) and do some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) again!!!!!!!

And then I live in a 1921 Craftsman Bungalow home which we're maintaining, renovating & will be adding to it in the same architectural style.

I just value the quality of old stuff I guess! ...or maybe I'm just cheap having grown up with both sets of Grandparents & a Great-grandmother who were Great Depression "survivors" who impressed frugal values on me - instead of today's "throw away" values? ...or maybe a little of both!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)