An original paint survivor or a perfect repainted car? Options

[mb911]

I would just reclear it.. It's completely doable.. It's a wet sand and clear process.. Best of both worlds.

[Jamie]

I would just reclear it.. It's completely doable.. It's a wet sand and clear process.. Best of both worlds.

I know my original owner Dad never waxed the L99A Delphi Green metallic on my 73, and after the clearcoat began peeling I had the exterior stripped to metal and resprayed about 4 yrs. ago. My paint/body guy was an artist, used original paint from D-land, and the match is perfect with other original painted areas. I cringe when I see what y'all are paying out there on the left coast, I was well pleased with my $3000 outcome. He did remove all body parts that could be taken off, lights, trunks, doors,etc. and rubber in many cases. I did the valances and long covers, and I hate to see body rubber parts with overspray. So I vote for maintaining the parts that can be original paint, and good matching repaint of the damaged paint that shows. Now my future problem for any body work/paint needed on my cars is questionable since he has retired.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[jagalyn]

I tried a wax on the the paint as suggested above... but was surprised when I waxed the clear coat.

[thelogo]

I tried a wax on the the paint as suggested above... but was surprised when I waxed the clear coat.

You should be a little more specific
Because i wax doesn't necessarily imply you used
52 dollar can of carnuba or maguires

It makes a difference i think

[jagalyn]

Preservation before restoration.

I agree. Preservation before restoration. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think she's beautiful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Unobtanium-inc]

Do some research, ask a pro and see if you can clear coat it,
Wash then use wax and grease remover, mask, light scrubbing with 800g scotch bright pad and clear it.
You might still see it a bit, but it should blend in.

I would go with this idea, if you can save the original paint do that. I've seen guys do things like wet sand a complete car to save the paint.

[Chris914n6]

^^ They call it "paint correction"

Clay rub, compound, polish, wax. In most cases it looks better than factory. I'm about to do it to an 05 Beetle that spent it's life in the sun. If I have time before WRC I'll do my 914 with an 80s respray.

[jfort]

At Mosport Vintage Grand Prix last spring there was a guy in the tarmac next to us with an old silver 911 with paint that looked like yours. It was very cool to see that car being used.

[Steve]

It's whatever makes you happy, but cost does come into play and priority. My silver 914 had an 1/8" thick of crappy repaints. The previous owner also installed steel flairs and had the body shop just paint the flairs. The car was diamond silver metalic and the flairs were Carrera GT silver. My kids called the car "50 shades of Gray". I just spent $15k taking the car to bare metal and repainting the car Alaska Blue Metalic.
Bottom line... Whatever makes you happy!! It's your car.

[JOEPROPER]

Prep it for another coat of clear.

[Mikey914]

You can wet sand and polish to be reshot with clear. Best of both worlds. Not really hard but I’d have it reshot in a professional booth. As there’s not base work other than a careful wet sanding it might not be too bad to have it done professionally.

Worth checking it out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[raynekat]

I'll take the new paint everyday. They've made a little bit of progress in paint technology over the past 50 years, so the newer paints are hands down better and last longer, look better.

[twistedstang]

Original all day long. Pretty new paint can hide ugly new bodywork

[brownaar]

Seems to me since this was a known problem that Porsche issued a service bulletin for, fixing the clear coat would be acceptable.
Aaron

[Amphicar770]

Original paint unless it is totally trashed. For any repaint, I would want to see lots of pics of the bodywork underneath before it hit the spray booth. "Sell me red paint" can hide a lot of sins.

[orthobiz]

Original paint unless it is totally trashed. For any repaint, I would want to see lots of pics of the bodywork underneath before it hit the spray booth. "Sell me red paint" can hide a lot of sins.

Resale Red

Paul

[orthobiz]

I have two survivors. One is light ivory and the other is phoenix red. I’m just glad they are not metallic!

Paul

[horizontally-opposed]

To each their own.

Prefer original paint, but there is a perverse/reverse logic to original paint when it comes to use: It's actually riskier to use a car in original paint than one that's been restored. It's only original once...where it can be restored multiple times.

Like I said, I prefer original paint...but super original cars have their downsides when it comes to risk factors. Then again, life is too short either way. "Drive the cars" remains the best strategy…

[Fatarse]

Great thread. How does preservation vs restoration of paint affect the value of these cars? I also have what looks to be a 73 2.0 survivor, but paint is in significantly rougher shape. No rust, but visible dings throughout the paint and horrible touch up to the Alaska Blue.

Steve - who did you go with for your Alaska Blue Metallic repaint?

[Larmo63]

People in SoCal who know me and my black /6 conversion probably wonder why I don't do more to make the car's exterior better.

I like the fact that it shows it's scars and I don't really care about road rash.

I may do something someday, but for now, it's a driver.

I keep the windows on it spotless.