I bought a 71 grand sport about a year ago from the original owner and I have been working on it for the last year. Now that the motor is rebuilt and the other mechanical problems are done it's off to the paint shop. The car is a pretty rare one as far as production goes and I have all of the documentation to go with it. The original owner was my boss and he ordered it with the Muncie 4 speed, posi-traction rearend, power steering, AC, power windows, and the in dash tach. The car is Cortez gold with the black vinyl top. So here's my question if I paint the car a different color how's that going to affect the value down the road? Thanks for any advice Dave
Hi Dave, and welcome to V8buick.com. Just keep the car a color Buick offered in 1971. PS - it's Gran Sport, without a 'D'
I think a popular color like red or black that is not original will bring from some as much or more than an unpopular original color. However, there are going to be some potential buyers who just want original color paint.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'm glad to hear I'm not really locked into the one color. I guess it's back to the most popular color poll to check out some opinions. By the way I'm sorry about the typo Marco, I'll be the first one to admit that I'm a lot better with a wrench than a keyboard. I was looking at your web site the other day, pretty nice. Thanks Dave
2 items about Color change. 1) It's a PITA unless the car is totally down. 2 It CAN decrease value to people looking for "Authenticity" on ANY CAR. I agree that some of the color coordinators were on Drugs during that time, or we wouldn't have the combinations we had available, but IF you are looking for something that will bring TOP Dollar. STAY AS FACTORY. Watching cars go through various sales, a Color change is usually mentioned. Red's are goon most anytime to the average buyer, but NOT on investment vehicles. If you run into a "Purest" be prepared to get nailed for the change. IF it is a Keeper, you are at your discretion, as you can do as you wish, but the value will NOT match that of a "True" car. JR
I think an original color car will always bring more money to the enthusiast of that particular make, I asume we are talking about restorations here rather than highly modified street machines.
I have to ask is this a 350 or a 455 car. I just got a 71 a while back that I am restoring now and hopefully will be done next month. If you plan on keeping this car go with what ever color you like. I am not painting mine the stock color. It was the same setup yours was. But I wanted something a little different. As far as price goes I think if you go with a tri coat candy or a pearl paint job it will not matter because the car will be very nice but be prepared for the price tag that comes with it. The car will stand out. But some people like there cars stock and don't like any extras added. I feel I have been offered more money for my 72 than I would if it had a stock paint job. Hope this helps
opinion I personally wouldn't consider purchasing a color changed car unless it was needing a restoration and I could take it back at that time. But to buy a color changed car that didnlt need a restoration would be out of the question. I'm a purist, but there are lots of us out there. But it's your car, so in the end do what you want!!:TU:
Hey Keith thanks. I see both sides to this. There are alot of people that like cars stock with no changes and others that want a car that has their own touch. There are buyer for both markets. There is nothing like seeing a untouched car or a very well restored car. But I sure have got a lot of great commentson my 72 convert than I did on the last car I had that was a stock color. It all depends on the color also. If I bought a car it the paint was great and it was stock I would leave it alone. I just need to buy a car that is already redone it would be alot cheaper to. I told my self after my 72 that I would never do another. Then I found the 71 from the true owners with less than 50K miles on it so I talked my self into one more. To bad they left it outside under a tarp sence 1980. But it will be fun to get this one done and show it off. I will hopefully be able to track down the previous owners and send them a picture of the car now. That should be fun. :beer
Robert, I think it also depends on the car. Most of the "purists" arent pursuing Skylarks like your convertible, they are after GS' like your new car, as they hold their value better due to their rarity. Other than "special" parts, it costs the same to restore a GS as a Skylark (as far as body work, paint, interior, etc. go), so most people will pour their money into the GS if they have a choice. The guy buying the Skylark, with our without the pearl or candy paint, is probably a different guy than the one who wants the GS because it is a "GS". Different price range as well. Many times you can buy a real nice Skylark for what it costs for a rough GS. I am not saying it is right, and I don't set the prices, but that is the way it is. People will almost always pay more for the low production car, and they usually don't want it too "custom".
Hi Chris, I agree that the skylark is not the most sought after car but like you said they are cheaper and this was my first car that was given to me for my 16th birthday. It has a gs hood that will be installed on it hopefully next year. The 71 is a rare car and alot of people will probley not like what I do to it but their will be alot of people that will. I will take it to a couple of buick shows and if they don't like it I will not attend them after that. I hope that will not happen. It might happen at the all buick shows so I might have to stick with the local shows and car cruizes. I will hopefully be bring it up to the puwallap washington show next year. I toke the 72 this year and had alot of fun up their. It was a little bit of a drive though. I am going with what I like and I am hoping that it will look as good as I image. I am keeping the vynle top on it and adding a rear wing. It will be a nice dark blue pearl with ghost flames off the ram air inlets that will go up the hood about a foot. I will know in to weeks what the finished product will look like. I have seen the door jams and stuff painted and I love the color that it will be. Just my opinion. Not looking to make anyone mad. :beer
Once you go this far the value of the car will be hurt --no ifs, ands, or buts. Additions like flames will narrow the field of buyers a lot.
Hey Dan you brought up a good point that I really would like to know. How good can a Cortez Gold paint job look? I have never really seen one. The buicks around here are really few and far between at the car shows. From what I have noticed it would seem that the more depth you could put into that color the better it would look.
I had a 72 buick gs 455 that had all the paper work to show where it was bought and how it was ordered. It was a matching numbers car except someone added a wing and front spoiler and I had the hardest time selling it. I finnally sold it for 10 thousand. :ball:. The purist may not like the car when done but I feel their will be alot of other buyers that will. But first I would have to want to sell it and at this time I don't see that happening. It would probley have to go to barit jackson or a auction like that. But well all know that their is alot more money in these cars then they are worth when they are done.
