Dilemma- What colour to paint car?

PostPost by: elanfan1 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:09 pm

Paint is probably the biggest single investment in your car, other non original things can be changed back relatively cheaply in comparison (should you ever want to). So keep it in its original Colorado
Steve

Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver
User avatar
elanfan1
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2238
Joined: 13 Jan 2004

PostPost by: cabc26b » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:25 pm

I could see flinching over Roman Purple but not Colorado Orange - its a good color on an ?lan and you get to stay original -

George
cabc26b
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 954
Joined: 21 Sep 2003

PostPost by: denicholls2 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:27 pm

Any thought that the original orange will cause the car to be a slow seller is silly. Sprints bring a premium, and original colors bring a premium, though arguably a much smaller one. People aren't going to walk past your orange Sprint to buy a blue S3 unless they really like blue. Investor buyers aren't going to walk past it. Plus as noted there are many fewer Colorado Orange cars available.

I agree with those who say you should paint it what you like, but don't see any valid reason not to like Colorado Orange.

Then again, I have orange shoes and my Europa's seat covers came out looking orange. :wink:
denicholls2
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 656
Joined: 23 Jan 2006

PostPost by: lotusfan » Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:32 pm

I have a Colorado Orange and white Sprint and recommend that colour to you.
Mike
72 Sprint DHC
User avatar
lotusfan
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 376
Joined: 15 Sep 2003

PostPost by: JimE » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:06 pm

Some interesting observations. When I bought my Sprint a few years ago I had a debate about whether I should repaint the car along with the chassis up restoration where I kept the perfect original chassis/wishbones etc. The conclusion, with Morland Jones who use to look after my cars until they ceased trading, was that the car didn't deserve to be repainted and to do so might actually devalue it given how nice the original paintwork still is. So if you ever see my Sprint you will see some interesting history where the bodywork was clearly filled in a few places by the factory prior to them spraying the car. A few pics including the end result which may be of interest. Jim
Attachments
p1030359.jpg and
p1040536.jpg and
p1030408.jpg and
JimE
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 406
Joined: 22 Jan 2017

PostPost by: Famous Frank » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:40 pm

Lovely Sprint! Wow!

Frank
Famous Frank

67 Elan Coupe
66 Elan S2 SE
65 Elan S2
65 Elan 26R
69 S2 Europa
06 Elise
67 Barracuda
User avatar
Famous Frank
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 627
Joined: 29 Apr 2004

PostPost by: richardcox_lotus » Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:46 pm

That is unfeasibly clean; it's not fair on the rest of us.
Richard
'72 Sprint
richardcox_lotus
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1357
Joined: 11 Jul 2004

PostPost by: knockoffnut » Fri Mar 10, 2017 3:26 am

I agree that the Sprint two tone generally detracts from the shape of the body, but I would definitely vote for Orange or orange/white over red/white. There are so many red/white cars, and I never found it attractive. Orange is unusual, and attractive. Also as cars attract more collector interest and higher values, the more rare colours also attract the highest interest and prices. Plus its original to the car... Many good reasons to go for Orange IMNSHO

Or perhaps, you could take a penny, leave one side all tarnished dark red, and shine up the other side to bright copper orange, look at the one side, then the other...and flip for it!
1963 Unicorn
1964 S1
1965 S2
1967 S3 SE DHC
Frankentwincam 26R
Seven S2 A
Seven S2 F
knockoffnut
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 227
Joined: 02 Sep 2011

PostPost by: Type28 » Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:59 am

It's nearly time to make the decision on colour :shock: maybe one side red and one side orange :lol:
Attachments
img_0734.jpg and
Type28
Second Gear
Second Gear
 
Posts: 126
Joined: 26 Dec 2013

PostPost by: knockoffnut » Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:20 pm

Now that's thinking outside the box! Maybe red base with long thin orange flames coming from the front (come to think of it one of my cars WAS once red and had a fire from the front end...), or red at the back with a long slow fade to orange at the front...? Or how about paint that flips from orange to red depending on which angle the light hits it? Perhaps someone can photoshop some of these ideas, and then maybe top it with some 22" chrome spinners...

I once saw a Europa that was painted a colour that was halfway between red and orange...you definitely don't want that! BTW my first Elan was purple with pink bumpers when I first pulled it from a chicken barn but I quickly repainted it in its original yellow, but with black wheels.

Perhaps you could print the pics of Orange and Red Sprints and post them around the house/garage to help with the decision?

Are you planning to run stock steel wheels or alloys? If so what colour?

Type28 wrote:It's nearly time to make the decision on colour :shock: maybe one side red and one side orange :lol:
1963 Unicorn
1964 S1
1965 S2
1967 S3 SE DHC
Frankentwincam 26R
Seven S2 A
Seven S2 F
knockoffnut
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 227
Joined: 02 Sep 2011
Previous

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: alan.barker, prezoom and 28 guests