Paint color question. What's your input? Options

[76-914]

Keep it black but that ain't the color to be learning on. It's like a mirror and shows any imperfection. You could shoot one of the new "Hot Rod" flat blacks and get away with it. Use a 2 stage paint. It's more forgiving.

[Andyrew]

What people havent mentioned is that black as a base for the car is not that bad.. If you prep well then you can change the color of the exterior and not have it look bad, especially if you go with a nice orange that compliments the black.

A black trunk/jambs/engine bay look normal in a non black body color, but a color light blue or yellow with a differing exterior looks out of place and cheap.


Personally I like orange.. The period colors look FANTASTIC on 914's.

Check my sig for my paint thread.

[Black914_4]

Heres a pic of the code. As far as I can tell the car has not been modified, painted, or altered in any way except for the wheels and radio. One of the reasons I wanted to keep it that way except for paint, but after all the input I believe I will keep the factory black and just do a accent color along the bottom like the pic struckn posted. Although mine does not have a air dam, just a metal piece that slants back at a angle.
As far as learning on black.... I may end up just doing all the repairs and prep work and getting help to do the final work and paint. I don't want it to look goofy.

And yes Andyrew I figured a red car with black wheel wells wouldn't look bad either, that was part of my thinking as well. I was going to two-tone the seats to match the paint also.

I had my mind set on red, but you guys made some good points. And being as it hasn't been modified yet I now feel like it should stay factory. I hope in the future to buy another one, maybe a donor or one not in as good as shape and modify it. There are some cool cars out there. Bigger motor, flares, red paint, etc. Then I would have one orginal and one modified (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[reharvey]

My latest 914 project was yellow that I now have changed to black. It's a lot of extra work---more then you can imagine if done correctly. This is my last 914 project and I always wanted a black one. I already have one in silver and red. Got to tell you the car looks awesome in black. Ray

[Black914_4]

My plan is to have it ready to drive up to Porsche Palooza in Eureka Springs this fall. I've never been before and am looking forward to it.

[Andyrew]

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=colors

Thats a factory black car.

[struckn]

Heres a pic of the code. As far as I can tell the car has not been modified, painted, or altered in any way except for the wheels and radio. One of the reasons I wanted to keep it that way except for paint, but after all the input I believe I will keep the factory black and just do a accent color along the bottom like the pic struckn posted. Although mine does not have a air dam, just a metal piece that slants back at a angle.

The one with the Black and Yellow accents I Posted in case you aren't aware, is a well known Limited Special Addition Factory Color by the way, and extremely disiralble, known as a Bumble Bee. So if you do clone it, try to get it as close to possible, but being it would be a clone don't swet getting it exact if the cost for the air dam, currect wheels, etc. is out of the budget for now. Eventually in time you can add features later if you want. Word of warning once you start working on 914's it is addictive and you can't stop.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[rnellums]

And being as it hasn't been modified yet I now feel like it should stay factory. I hope in the future to buy another one, maybe a donor or one not in as good as shape and modify it. There are some cool cars out there. Bigger motor, flares, red paint, etc. Then I would have one orginal and one modified (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

That the route I chose to go after my insurance payoff.

now I have this one!
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...&hl=calypso

and this one!
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...2&hl=apollo

then you have one to drive while one gets repaired! Unless you have them both on jackstands the entire time... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) .

[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.

[mepstein]

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.

Great looking car. I really like the black painted sails, trim, bumpers and fuchs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[porbmw]

I must say...that is nice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

[7TPorsh]

Only original Black baby!!

[PanelBilly]

I think you have plenty of time to think about the color as it looks like you have a ton of work to do on the body to get it ready to paint. I'd rather see a car with primer patches than see one that has been painted over poorly prep'd bodywork.

I'd paint it black again and then use a trim color to personalize it on the rockers and bumbers.

[KELTY360]

I'd paint it black again and then use a trim color to personalize it on the rockers and bumbers.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) If you really like orange, use it for the accent colors. I'll bet you could even get orange in the Porsche side stripe.

[MikeSpraggi]

............ 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 ................

In your own words ...... keep it black. Seems the only sensible option considering what you have stated .....

[charliew]

I've been painting my own cars since about 1965. Usually outside. But not so much lately. You've gotta learn how to get the metal ready before you learn how to paint. The old black needs to come off as there will be lots of rust specks under what seems to be sorta good paint. Start on the worst spots first and do it panel by panel the complete panel and put a good epoxy primer on as a sealer coat. Leave it that way till the outside is completely done then try the color on the smaller panels first till you get it down. DON"T use cheap paint. There is nothing worse than removing newer crappy paint just to get back to bare metal. For painting outside black is the easiest to hide little stuff that gets in the paint. Everybody knows a light color is usaully there to hide bodywork flaws soooo impress everyone with a straight body. It won't happen overnight though. If it's not going to be a different brand motor swap I think original is the best way to keep as much value as possible. Black paint is MUCH cheaper than any color with red in it. Unfortunatly you get a lot of rain so it can't set outside much or it will rust away faster than you can restore it. Before you get into it too far be sure you know how bad it really is. Spend a few days poking around on all the known bad areas that are covered on this site. It would be sad to get a lot of work done then decide it's really a parts car. Look for EXTRA sound deadning sprayed on the bottom that doesn't look original. Search the site for where all the foam stuff was sprayed in the cavities and corners that causes the rust through. I call the end result your thesis of about 2-4 years of studying the 914.

Some places to check that are the easiest:
Doorjamb around the round vents, any paint bubbles take a icepick and poke them, down at the bottom under the trim at the back where the rear fender is brazed to the bottom.
of course the battery tray area, save that for later so you don't get discouraged too early or maybe just go on and do it first
around the jack points especially if there is a lot of sound deadning applied
under the rockerpanels
in the rubber hood and trunk chanels
under the bottom of the doors and in the corners where the inner shell and the outer skin get really close together and hold water and dirt to stay wet too much
in the trunk at the rear under the tail lights
in the groove between the front fender and the cowl under the little rubber filler strip
around the windshield at the bottom mostly
check the the rear window hasn't come unglued and has been leaking in the floor inside
under all the floorboard tar and around the pedals
if there are little paint bubbles around the rear fenders at the upper corners that may be rust through from the inside from the foam
under the firewall insulation in the engine compartment, this is hard to do with the motor still in the car and it's easy to tear it up.
inside the wheel wells at the bottom where dirt can accumulate and hold moisture.

[Eric_Shea]

Gold is uber rare - especially on a -6 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

I guess that = my vote for keeping original colors. I actually wanted to paint my car Raspberry but in the end decided to keep it the original color.

[Black914_4]

Orginal Black wins! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It does have some bad spots that's going to need attention, but I'm set on fixing her up and making her shiny again. I started sanding yesterday. Went and seen a guy who owns a shop today. He's going to do all the body work and paint it for about $1200. I'm going to sand and prep and get it ready for him. I'll watch, learn and maybe by my next project be able to do the bodywork and paint.
Saving up for all new rubber seals. New carpet is pretty cheap, and I'll have the seats redone while the gets new paint.

So now all I need is more money! lol

[Cairo94507]

Damn you Eric! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) You know I lose sleep at night about that color dilemma don't you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

So here is my plan - ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) It is a given I am way out there on this one - Once I receive the flares from the group buy (no they aren't for the six) I am having one painted the original gold for my car, one painted irish green, one light ivory and finally, one in adriatic blue. Those are my 3 favorite colors on a six and the gold just because of Pat and Eric because if I chose to not paint it the factory color, I want it to have been after some serious deliberation. My bias, in order, is of course: green, white, blue, silver, black, any other color (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) and then last- gold (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) .

Now normally I would not jack someone's thread.....but since he already decided the color will be black on his car (great call BTW) and Eric dropped that line on me, I felt a reply was required. Don't worry though it will be about 1 year before my car is ready for paint and I will engage in this debate all over and open it up for a poll too (which of course will be non-binding).

[RickS]

Depends on your budget and your taste. If your going to do a color change do it right. Don't cheese out and leave stuff black that should be the new body color. The only way to do that is to completely disassemble the car to the shell. I'm serious. To the shell. You'll be into that kind of repaint for maybe 6 months if your lucky. Then there's the Dirk Wrights disease that always follows when reassembly starts. None of the parts you took off the shell seem to look good enough to put back on. that equals $$$$ So, if your wallets big go for it. If you cheese out and color change on the cheap you'll regret it.

If the car doesn't have serious rust issues I would freshen up the paint and leave it black. I voted black.

Poorly done color changes end up devaluing the car. But were always our own best salesmen. We can sell anything to ourselves. Specially when we convince ourselves it will save us money... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Exactly... hit the nail on the head. I voted black.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Since you are on a budget, black is the only way to go. The savings from not doing a very expensive color change will no doubt help you pay for the other 100 details that need doing.