Paint color question. What's your input? Options

[Black914_4]

Hi all,
So I'm a noob here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and have a paint color question. I owned a boxster a few years back but this is my first 914. It's a black '74, all orginal as far as I can tell. Factory 2.0 with FI. Bought it a couple weeks ago, replaced all the hoses and rebuilt the distriator and have been driving it for the last week or two.

My goal is to fix it up myself and drive it. I want to keep it as orginal as I can. It has survived this long in tack and all orginal and feel it should stay that way to perverve history. Granted it def shows its age and needs work, but it's in decent shape.

BUT... I hate black! lol

So I thought I get your input on it's color.

Should I keep it factory black?
Should I stay with a factory color like the bright Orange?
Should i go with bright red with a white top?
Should I go with a blue?

[Tom_T]

Hi all,
So I'm a noob here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and have a paint color question. I owned a boxster a few years back but this is my first 914. It's a black '74, all orginal as far as I can tell. Factory 2.0 with FI. Bought it a couple weeks ago, replaced all the hoses and rebuilt the distriator and have been driving it for the last week or two.

My goal is to fix it up myself and drive it. I want to keep it as orginal as I can. It has survived this long in tack and all orginal and feel it should stay that way to perverve history. Granted it def shows its age and needs work, but it's in decent shape.

BUT... I hate black! lol

So I thought I get your input on it's color.

Should I keep it factory black?
Should I stay with a factory color like the bright Orange?
Should i go with bright red with a white top?
Should I go with a blue?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

I'm going to hold off voting because you haven't confirmed that black is indeed the original color, as they were color changed back in the day as a fashion statement of the current owner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Look at the Karmann Plate on the LF door jam & the color code is stamped in the lower silver box (upper box is the chassis no. which can be translated into the build date of the car - another story). Better yet - post a clear pic of it.

Then look in the 914 info section on this website at the top, cor the colors & codes listing - p914.com also has them with sample cars in the colors, in case it's a color you're not sure of if not black originally. being a 74, the paint code could identify it as a Bumblebee (black with yellow) LE, which would be important to know.

I fully sympathize with your not liking the original color! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
My 73 2L was originally L80E/Light Ivory....white, but went through several color changes before & after I bought it in Dec. 75, and I really would've preferred a nice blue 914 if I could've ordered one new (I was a 74 college grad with no $$s). So I had hoped to repaint mine to Marathon or Alaska Blue metallic in my current resto. But I found in an informal survey I did, that 914s seem to sell for 40-60% LESS when the color is changed from original on comparable cars.

So I'll take mine back to L80E in my resto, and am going thru a 12 step I like white 914s program as we speak! ...I'm sure they have a 12 step black program too!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Color changes are even more of a value loss if you veer away from a period correct color available back then - to another color - especially current ones, but you can go with colors available on 911/912 & 356 that were period correct without that additional value ding.

Black & metallic paints are the hardest to do, so even Porsche charged more for them even in their "stock colors" back then. That may make it more of a challenge for you to do the paint, but maybe not. Also don't be surprised to find a lot more rust areas which need work on your 914, and that means cut & weld patch pieces & panels to repair it, also a fine skill to do it right & not look bad when done & painted if Fuched up.

IMHO black is a great color on 914s, & I'd keep it the original color - whether black or other color, & whether a DD or show car.

But in the end - it's your car, your money & time, so you'll have to make the decision on how to approach your project, and live with the consequences either way. Just enjoy yourself! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

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[DblDog]

Black & metallic paints are the hardest to do, so even Porsche charged more for them even in their "stock colors" back then.

True...

My 72 non appearance group in black cost $183 extra...in today's dollars about $1000. At the same rate, the car would now cost $22,601.53 based on the CPI.

Ya gotta like black.