colour dilema

Protect your investment...if green is the original color...leave it green. I feel a car is worth more remaining the color the factory painted it. Enjoy....damn their fun cars!

The car was originally white, then black before turning green. Would you spend $7000 to respray a car with concours standard body work ?

There is no color code on a Pantera to indicate what the original color was.
The only indications you will get of it is from the overspray on the car.
Even if there is overspray who is to say if it is original overspray, that would just be someones opinion. It is possible to strip all original indications of the color.
There is no indication, or market trend that the original color on a Pantera makes the car more valuable, particularly in light of the fact that there is no factory paint code indicating the original color on the car.
Paint it what color makes you happy.
You really can't make the car more valuable with a particular color but you certainly can hurt it.
I do know the color green you speak of and it is not attractive on a Pantera to me.
Paint is only temporary. It won't last forever.
One really has to figure that if you get tens years out of the paint that is fine.
If one is of the school that a restored car has to have the original color to be restored, then don't forget that you must use the original paint system as well to be accurate.
For instance if one "restores" a '65 Corvette, then the painst system must be acrylic laquer. A 63 Cobra will be nitrocellulose, etc, etc.

Lets see some photos of your new car

In case anyone's interested, here's the paint codes for the USA cars.

Didn't realize "black" didn't exist, except for '74 GTS cars.

If you know the original color was white...then that would be the color to repaint it, in my opinion. Any future buyer will be more willing to purchase a car that is the color the factory first painted it. As more Panteras get highly modified and changed around, the stock ones become scarce and more desirable, again, in my opinion. That's not to say highly modified cars are NOT in demand, just that there is a wider audience for stock type cars. I don't think the chemical makeup of the paint itself is important.

BD, is that a solid BRG, or something lighter, brighter, metallic?

I love BRG, but then, I have the surname for it.

There's the problem, "British" racing green on an Italian car. Mine is red. Not to be comfused with Ferari red. It is Pantera Red #2. I don't believe that there are any metalic colors on the Pantera.
Metallic colors are seen as American inventions.

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
There's the problem, "British" racing green on an Italian car.

But at least BD lives in England.

Wait wait wait,,, Hey I know paint it Blue

Bulldog,

PLEASE post a pic of your car. Mine was originally lime green (close enough to Kermit, I guess) before it was painted white. I've never actually seen a Pantera in this colour and it was apparently fairly rare (I think I know why).

Mark

Paint it the color you want it not the color someone else wants. Do it as soon as funds permit so you can enjoy it longer. Every time you look at the GRG you don't like, it takes something out of your enjoyment of the car.

My vote is for black pearl...these cars look wicked black in my opinion

quote:

Originally posted by shotgungrooms:
Wait wait wait,,, Hey I know paint it Blue

Gee, great picture. It would real nice to see the car too. What kind of car is it?

My opinion gun metal grey would look hot!
And yes the steering wheel is on the right side...

Dennis

The steering wheel is on the right side but is it the correct side?

I agree Dennis.
Today, I was admiring this color on another car.

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
The steering wheel is on the right side but is it the correct side?

As you said Doug the "right side"
Dennis

JK is that your mustang, nice ride

Original color White? How do you know? You might check under the carpets to see what color is there or under the headliner area.

Original colors will be more valuable in the long run and White has some very desirable characteristics: it hides imperfections, scuffs and dings very well; it hides waves in the metal very well; it is the easiest color to touch up should that ever be necessary; it is easy to match should you get in a little fender bender; it is not ticket bait; and white cars are cooler in the summer heat. Dark colors or metallics are difficult in any of these situations and they look dirty quicker.

It's okay to use modern base coat, clear coat paint. And in fact, a good layer of clearcoat can alleviate a lot of problems, scratches, nicks, chips, and dings because it can be wet sanded to get through the problem. When you wet sand the darker colors, it leaves a visible low spot in the paint, even though the low spot may only be microns deep. Of course, if you are absolutely sure that your car will never get any of these, then that is not an issue. %^)

In spite of all this, if the present paint is very high quality, just drive it and enjoy it. Quality rules. More people will comment on the quality of the paint job than on the color.

Jeff
6559

Jeff, those are all great, positive attributes for having white on a car, but I thought we agreed white only belongs on appliances!

Josh

quote:

Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
My vote is for black pearl...

yes black IS beautiful. everybody will own ONE black car in their life, but few ever own two, vey demanding color to maintain. it is a very classy color though, and at the same time mean and menacing.

quote:

Originally posted by JK:
...I thought we agreed white only belongs on appliances...

besides black, the other classy color is silver.....

And of course, black cars go faster!

This Pantera never made it into full production!
It was ahead of it's time....
They only kept the colour, and the different size wheels!
Dennis

quote:

Originally posted by shotgungrooms:
Lets see some photos of your new car

Thanks for your interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Charlton:
Bulldog,

PLEASE post a pic of your car. Mine was originally lime green (close enough to Kermit, I guess) before it was painted white. I've never actually seen a Pantera in this colour and it was apparently fairly rare (I think I know why).

What do you think ??

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by jeff6559:
Original color White? How do you know? You might check under the carpets to see what color is there or under the headliner area.

Original colors will be more valuable in the long run and White has some very desirable characteristics: it hides imperfections, scuffs and dings very well; it hides waves in the metal very well; it is the easiest color to touch up should that ever be necessary; it is easy to match should you get in a little fender bender; it is not ticket bait; and white cars are cooler in the summer heat. Dark colors or metallics are difficult in any of these situations and they look dirty quicker.

It's okay to use modern base coat, clear coat paint. And in fact, a good layer of clearcoat can alleviate a lot of problems, scratches, nicks, chips, and dings because it can be wet sanded to get through the problem. When you wet sand the darker colors, it leaves a visible low spot in the paint, even though the low spot may only be microns deep. Of course, if you are absolutely sure that your car will never get any of these, then that is not an issue. %^)

In spite of all this, if the present paint is very high quality, just drive it and enjoy it. Quality rules. More people will comment on the quality of the paint job than on the color.

Jeff
6559

A lot of common sense there. Thanks !

quote:

Originally posted by bulldog:

quote:

Originally posted by shotgungrooms:
Lets see some photos of your new car

Thanks for your interest.

That's the only lime green Pantera I've ever seen. I didn't know it existed.
I suppose one has to consider that these are '70s "mod" colors. Ford US was into "grabber colors" at the time.

It is most interesting to me that the car was never available in black. Regardless of the lack of it's practicalaty, I think it looks best in that color even today.

There are probably more black Porsche 911's then any other color also with the possible exception of metallic silver.

Bd, I think the green looks pretty good ! I think most people will agree...

What's REALLY important here is that you purchased the best Pantera within your budget. Later on if you tire of the color or being known as the guy with the lime green Pantera, you can always paint it.

Good luck.

BD, I paint cars for a living. If your paint is that perfect, I would not strip it, but paint over it. Todays paints are much better than 30 years ago. I just finished my car with single stage urethane. If you think the green is just too much, how about break it up with the hood and deck blacked out? I ran my car this way for about a year while I contemplated what to do next. It gives the car a 70's look. $7000 sounds like a lot for a paint over. if you strip it back to metal. There is no telling what is under the paint. Drive it a while and see if anything pops up or cracks back. If it is fresh paint., it should cure good anyway. Congradulations on your purchase. When I am asked to paint black, I steer my customer to a black sunrise metallic colour that looks pure black until you get real close then you ess the flash of the flake instead of the minor suface imperfections that regular black shows so well.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lastpushbutton:
BD, I paint cars for a living. If your paint is that perfect, I would not strip it, but paint over it. Todays paints are much better than 30 years ago. I just finished my car with single stage urethane. If you think the green is just too much, how about break it up with the hood and deck blacked out? I ran my car this way for about a year while I contemplated what to do next. It gives the car a 70's look. $7000 sounds like a lot for a paint over. if you strip it back to metal. There is no telling what is under the paint. Drive it a while and see if anything pops up or cracks back. If it is fresh paint., it should cure good anyway. Congradulations on your purchase. When I am asked to paint black, I steer my customer to a black sunrise metallic colour that looks pure black until you get real close then you ess the flash of the flake instead of the minor suface imperfections that regular black shows so well.


The prevoius owner put a double coat of everything on. You can tell from one large stone chip the thickness of the paintwork. People have commented that if there is too much paint, it will have to be striped to the metal because paint over thick paint will eventually cause rippling.
How true is this? If this is the case an expensive bare metal respray is the cure.

Just a chance to show off my car.........I am partial to red!

BD,

that certainly isn't BRG is it?

In the states, 40 years ago, that color was called Grabber Green.

I'll lend my voice with the others who have advised you to "drive the car awhile". Don't rush into anything. If the car is an investment you plan to turn around for a profit, then repaint it in the oem color. If you plan to own the car awhile, then paint it the color you've always dreamed about.

your friend on the DTBB

quote:

Originally posted by george pence:
BD,

that certainly isn't BRG is it?

In the states, 40 years ago, that color was called Grabber Green.

I'll lend my voice with the others who have advised you to "drive the car awhile". Don't rush into anything. If the car is an investment you plan to turn around for a profit, then repaint it in the oem color. If you plan to own the car awhile, then paint it the color you've always dreamed about.

your friend on the DTBB

You always hit the nail on the head. Thanks.

If you want green...

Another shot.
I nearly bought this car. I rather like the colour...

Oops forgot the picture

BD,

I have had much the same dilema, having acquired a green Pantera in Nov last year. Mine is the later BRG type green and I have to admit the color does grow on you after a while. It has been repainted the origional color at some point, although there is a lot of crazing and it will need a repaint. That'll come after the addition of GT4 flares and I think the color will suit the wider GT4 stance...we'll see.

For me being a Brit, the BRG is growing on me. I had a Triumph Stag years ago in the same color. I'm relishing turning up at events in an original color car where the likelihood of having more than one other P car the same color is small.

Here's some of thoughts to mix it up a little on color choices;

A) The guys that steer you to red are mostly wanna be Ferrari guys . Too many Ferrari's out there and even more 'uneducated' people who think you have a Ferrari..Take the confusion out of it, don't go red.
B) Black seems a popular choice at present; Anomolous to Kids names these things go in phases, be different.. buck the trend or start a new one!
C) Having owned two black Vette's in hot climate zones I swore I'd never have another black car, especially one that is renowned for being hot inside (I actually melted a portable CD player, left in a Vette during summer).
D)Black can be a 'Bitchen' color but a 'Bitch' to keep clean and looking the way it should.
D) Don't go white....you just can't find your white car in the snow

If I ever did change color it would be to a dark blue, Panteras look good dressed in blue. But for now green it is....

Julian

Haven't lost my white Pantera yet here in Phoenix. It's hot in any color in the summer time!

Whiplash is the only dark blue car that I can remember and for me it isn't dark enough.
Anyone out there have a dark, dark, dark blue car or darker they can show?
My car is red with black highlights. I really hate red.
I had seen a light orange or tangerine car from Montreal awhile ago. I thought that was nice.
Mike Daily's car is a very dark red, almost maroon. It's pretty.
I wanna stay away from those "grabber colors". I thought that the nicest was the "competition orange".
I think dark colors look best on the Pantera.