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

[Tom_T]

[quote name='Tom_T' date='Apr 22 2009, 05:31 PM' post='1161056']
[quote name='Jasfsmith' post='1160815' date='Apr 22 2009, 06:46 AM']
BTW - I keep getting the confusion over a complete strip down to bare body/uni-body as the only ostensibly "true" restoration.

However, in my day - and I AM an old fart now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/howard.gif) or nearly so at 56-57 - that was called a "frame up rebuild" or "strip to frame rebuild"!

Whereas, a "restoration" was leaving the car largely assembled - only removing what must be taken off to repair & restore damage &/or to ease the repaint & repair work process, and perhaps stripping the surfaces to be repainted to bare metal if necessary to get a good finish. The latter is what I'll be doing & not for concours.

Back in the 60's I helped my Uncle do a frame-up rebuild on his "barn find" (literally) 58 Vette, so I know the diff!

And when you get into "Antique Car" circles (over 50 years old) - which the 914s soon will be & some 356s are already - it is considered preferable & more valuable to have a well "restored" car with a maximum number of well kept original parts still intact & unmolested - as they say - versus a completely "frame up rebuild" where nothing much is still original from the factory.

These are 2 entirely different processes, and generally recognized within other collector car circles - so why the confusion here at 914world?

Can Pat or some other CWs weigh in here on my apparent ignorance on this terminology regarding 914s????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
[/quote]

Pat - how about this terminology question - so's I stop corn-fusing everybody with wut I mean!? Am I doing a "Restoration" or wut????? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Tom_T]

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'!

So, this is one of your "simple" posts? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Andy

PS: Paint her in the original color!

I thot you'd like that "simple post"!

Geez - I'm bored & too much time on my hands! ...can you tell I'm laid up sick in bed!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ...let me out!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[Tom_T]

Tom, I wouldn't get too hung up on the paint colour you choose affecting value; if you plan on doing a concours resto and showing it that's a different story. Sounds like you've got a car you love with real personal history. That's why you ARE going to spend thousands and thousands and thousands (get my drift yet?) to bring it back to where you will be statisfied. A car you plan to keep and enjoy.

paint it the colour you've always wanted; do a good enough job - strip the car to the tub, bare metal and back, everything painted as the factory did - and you'll be rollin' in roses. Paint it Marathon Blue. The value to the average Joe on the street will not be damaged.

Now, if you end up going pink or some wild metal fleck job, yes, the $$$ you'd command at re-sale will be determinded by/if you find someone that shares your taste.

It's your car, your wallet that will bring it back. Get what you want and enjoy.

and man, you type long posts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

cheers, m.

Yup - I talks a lot too!? Drives the wife crazy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[Tom_T]

Tom, I wouldn't get too hung up on the paint colour you choose affecting value; if you plan on doing a concours resto and showing it that's a different story. Sounds like you've got a car you love with real personal history. That's why you ARE going to spend thousands and thousands and thousands (get my drift yet?) to bring it back to where you will be statisfied. A car you plan to keep and enjoy.

paint it the colour you've always wanted; do a good enough job - strip the car to the tub, bare metal and back, everything painted as the factory did - and you'll be rollin' in roses. Paint it Marathon Blue. The value to the average Joe on the street will not be damaged.

Now, if you end up going pink or some wild metal fleck job, yes, the $$$ you'd command at re-sale will be determinded by/if you find someone that shares your taste.

It's your car, your wallet that will bring it back. Get what you want and enjoy.

and man, you type long posts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

cheers, m.

Yup - I talks a lot too!? Drives the wife crazy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

....and if I split them up into little bitty ones, I'd probably be a 4-5 box "expert" poster rank, like the rest of you!? ......hmmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Tom_T]

Tom, I wouldn't get too hung up on the paint colour you choose affecting value; if you plan on doing a concours resto and showing it that's a different story. Sounds like you've got a car you love with real personal history. That's why you ARE going to spend thousands and thousands and thousands (get my drift yet?) to bring it back to where you will be statisfied. A car you plan to keep and enjoy.

paint it the colour you've always wanted; do a good enough job - strip the car to the tub, bare metal and back, everything painted as the factory did - and you'll be rollin' in roses. Paint it Marathon Blue. The value to the average Joe on the street will not be damaged.

Now, if you end up going pink or some wild metal fleck job, yes, the $$$ you'd command at re-sale will be determinded by/if you find someone that shares your taste.

It's your car, your wallet that will bring it back. Get what you want and enjoy.

and man, you type long posts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

cheers, m.

Yup - I talks a lot too!? Drives the wife crazy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

....and if I split them up into little bitty ones, I'd probably be a 4-5 box "expert" poster rank, like the rest of you!? ......hmmmm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

...am I gettin' points for this teacher? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

Hmmm "not uheard of...". Yep, it is. I've never heard of this scenario in the early 70's. You didn't have to wait more than 2 months for the colors you wanted. Four months if you wanted it paint to sample.

I know of someone who wanted his 914 painted Smyrna Green. Goot it 3 months later.

The lady you metioned Had to pay a fortune to change color. Makes me wonder.
Pat

Really Pat? You've never heard of dealerships selling off last years model, sometimes at significant savings, come August/September to make room for the new MY rolling in? Wow, it's different down there. Still goes on here every year. Problem is of course, to take advantage of those savings, well you get what they have as far as options, colours etc. It is a sell-off after all. You'd obviously be shocked to talk to body shops who make a nice buck doing colour changes on brand new cars come fall. It's pretty common stuff really for say one of the rich rice burner kids to pick up his brand new whatever, for say $30k, drive it to my brothers shop, pay him another $20-$30k to have him do a complete, then drive it to the tuners shop, drop another $$$$$ to get it the way he wants. THEN he has the car he wanted in the first place.

Crazy? You'd better believe it. Unheard of? Hardly. Paul, my brother, has done it on Jags, Porsches, BMWs, Mercedes . . . people with the dough will pay for what they want. Someone, somewhere is doing it right now.

The only areas left on my old '73 that still showed sunflower yellow was behind the back pad and the floor under the carpet; everything else - trunks, tank area and engine compartment, had been changed to Marathon Blue and I've known that car since the day she drove it home. Go figure.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Yeah - same here in SoCal. ....and "Back in the Day" it also happened early in the model year with "new releases" such as with the 240Z, the 914's various models, 912E re-release, 911S, 930 Turbos, etc., etc.! Of course we're notoriously car crazy bunch out here on the "Left Coast"!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[Tom_T]

[quote name='MDG' date='Apr 22 2009, 06:10 PM' post='1161090']
[quote name='Pat Garvey' post='1161066' date='Apr 22 2009, 08:45 PM']
It's pretty common stuff really for say one of the rich rice burner kids to pick up his brand new whatever, for say $30k, drive it to my brothers shop, pay him another $20-$30k to have him do a complete, then drive it to the tuners shop, drop another $$$$$ to get it the way he wants. THEN he has the car he wanted in the first place.

Crazy? You'd better believe it.
[/quote]
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) ...I don't understand why they don't just but a good Porsche or Bmr or something with that $60-100k!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[dw914er]

[quote name='Tom_T' date='Apr 22 2009, 06:45 PM' post='1161139']
[quote name='MDG' date='Apr 22 2009, 06:10 PM' post='1161090']
[quote name='Pat Garvey' post='1161066' date='Apr 22 2009, 08:45 PM']
It's pretty common stuff really for say one of the rich rice burner kids to pick up his brand new whatever, for say $30k, drive it to my brothers shop, pay him another $20-$30k to have him do a complete, then drive it to the tuners shop, drop another $$$$$ to get it the way he wants. THEN he has the car he wanted in the first place.

Crazy? You'd better believe it.
[/quote]
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) ...I don't understand why they don't just but a good Porsche or Bmr or something with that $60-100k!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)
[/quote]

It's because the car will be the 'sex'. If I had money, I would have gotten a brand new Subaru STI or Evo and modded it to be an even faster and cleaner car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

basically, to each his own


as for the car, I didnt read the entire text, but from what I gathered, paint the car in the color you want. If its done clean it will show. It may not have the same value as the concours car, but its always about personal preference. The blue will look good (though a white 914 is also a very attractive car in my opinion)


as for the interior, not sure if you mentioned this, but are you positive its original? It could have been black (not sure if the white ivory had a black interior) or the COA is off.

[MDG]

I agree on the Light Ivory. White cars have never been my favourite however Light Ivory is one of the nicest whites out there. My '76 2.2 six conversion is Light Ivory and it's been done to look like a factory six. The contrast of the various chrome bits and the black and silver Fuchs plays beautifully with the black roof, bumper strips and sail panel etc. . . . looks sharp. Gives the car an elegant look in my opinion.

[MDG]

It's because the car will be the 'sex'. If I had money, I would have gotten a brand new Subaru STI or Evo and modded it to be an even faster and cleaner car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

basically, to each his own

Lots of people do it and people with money to burn do it without hesitation. To that mind-set it's no different than buying a suit or sport jacket and then taking it to a tailor to make it just the way you want. I don't own a suit or jacket that hasn't been tailored to me.

However that wasn't the case with my 914 although the woman (read: her husband) could certainly afford it; the first 300SL Gullwing I ever saw was his.

She bought an end of the year '73 - and couldn't get the colour she wanted without ordering a new '74. The car in question was a fully optioned 2.0 and she loved it so she bought it. And then had it painted the colour she liked best. And I'll tell you, the re-paint was perfect. No idea if it was done at the dealer (doubtful) or she took it to a shop. Whoever did it knew what they were doing.

[Tom_T]

[quote name='MDG' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:04 PM' post='1161852']


as for the car, I didnt read the entire text, but from what I gathered, paint the car in the color you want. If its done clean it will show. It may not have the same value as the concours car, but its always about personal preference. The blue will look good (though a white 914 is also a very attractive car in my opinion)


as for the interior, not sure if you mentioned this, but are you positive its original? It could have been black (not sure if the white ivory had a black interior) or the COA is off.
[/quote]

...and....

I agree on the Light Ivory. White cars have never been my favourite however Light Ivory is one of the nicest whites out there. My '76 2.2 six conversion is Light Ivory and it's been done to look like a factory six. The contrast of the various chrome bits and the black and silver Fuchs plays beautifully with the black roof, bumper strips and sail panel etc. . . . looks sharp. Gives the car an elegant look in my opinion.
[/quote]

I've seen L80E's (white) with the full range of black, tan & brown interiors before over the years, and even on online as white/white - which was a bit too much WHITE for me!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

The tan interior is & always was TAN in my car - it's the COA that's off & their records are completely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sheeplove.gif) with their alleged 1st sale 9/73 in Conn. vs. my CA-DMV for 11/9/72!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) Doesn't give me much faith in their records, so I'm in the process of documenting everything & will send it to PCNA & request them to correct both the COA & their data files to show proper & accurate info for this car!

Yes - I've seen some very clean & slick looking light ivory's, so I'm sure I could live with it back to the L80E (at least I confirmed that one under the floor mats - that's "1" for PCNA's COA & "2" for engine number!), unless it's more correct to do it back to the Tan/Gold - IF that was a buyer/dealer color change
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) - - - - ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE ON WHAT'S MORE CORRECT???

I even put a white 74 L80E on my desktop, just to get me used to it! ...I suppose I could have it black-over-charcoal double hand pin-striped along the fender line & still be CW correct..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[MDG]

Light Ivory with tan interior is fab man!!

Saw a brand new Cayman at the dealership in Cream White - not sure if that's a new colour but I haven't seen it before - it's similar to Light Ivory, maybe a bit more yellow in it. This car had tan leather and wow it looked good.

[tod914]

Tom here is a shot of my old 75 2.0 in light ivory.

[tod914]

Here is a nice gold colored car.

[Tom_T]

Tom here is a shot of my old 75 2.0 in light ivory.

....yours wuz (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) , but did you drive it much? ....man I could eat off that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This is the one I put on my laptop screen to pump me up:



^ It's really a 74 2L, but looks the same as a 73 from the front & has the same type of blue with yellow digits CA plates as mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)



And then there was this I came across from a Motor Trend article online from last year, as a possible 914 II -



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ..hopefully they'll make it less rust prone!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Tom_T]

Here is a nice gold colored car.

Thanx - I think I saved this one too, or another similar - for an example of gold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm hoping I get the selling dealer &/or original buyer form an info request which I put into Calif. DMV to search their microfilm records, then maybe I can run down the true color history & "missing" 2.0 appearance group features from when I bought it - the 2.0 Alloys were not on it - replaced by Rivieras, fog lights cut off & switch removed, center console & 3 gauges gone - everything else was there! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Here's another version of that 914 II concept from MT



I prefer the other one, as it's closer to the 914 look, than whatever this one is??? ...fun to ponder a return anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Tom_T]

Light Ivory with tan interior is fab man!!

Saw a brand new Cayman at the dealership in Cream White - not sure if that's a new colour but I haven't seen it before - it's similar to Light Ivory, maybe a bit more yellow in it. This car had tan leather and wow it looked good.

If done well, I'm sure it will look good.

Now I just need to get PCNA to correct their dang COA & data records! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) ...maybe I should just write it for them!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

Heck, I'm ending up having to send them pix to document everything for them to put it!

I even had to send them a pic of my engine number as a GA, since their "half-fast" records only show the 6 digits with no engine code! ...so tell me, how do they then tell whether a 2.0 specific recall applied to a certain vehicle!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif)

[MDG]

[Tom_T]

Is that a "true 6" from 70-72, or your conversion? Veeeeeeeeeery nice, whichever! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)
What airport is that? ...are you also a pilot?

Alright, I think I'm okay now with L80E - if that turns out to be the proper color to restore to - vs. the Gold???

"Dr. George" at AA also strongly recommended L80E to me before.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Any opinions on whether it is more correct to go to the factory L80E - or to the Dealer repaint as a new buyer request - IF that's what it turns out to be???

If the L80E is the most correct anyway, then I can research that color history later at my leisure, when I get the DMV research & as I have more time to run down past owner(s) &/or the dealership. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) I think that's the only way that I'll ever be able to get that story straight, and for the "missing" options! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[MDG]

Tom, that is a shot of a factory six that was for sale a year or so ago. Since the conversion my '76 mimics that but, alas, when I went to post a shot I realized I have none on this computer. I'll download some this weekend and post.

If the car came from the factory as L80E, that would be "correct" just as L13K was for my old '73. A re-paint, done within hours of purchase or years later, is still a re-paint. I have not noticed if you ever posted the paint code stamped on the Karmann plate in the front drivers door jamb? It will have the chassis number as well as the factory applied paint code.

and no, I am not a pilot.

m.