If a Quality Paint Job Was Free, Would You Paint It?

[CraigT]

I was watching Leno's Garage and Leno and Seinfeld were talking about loving unrestored original condition 356 Porsches. I saw the thread "Paint or Patina" and thought a pole would be interesting.

Forget the cost. If a good quality rust repair and paint job was free, would you paint it.

[Mr Handy]

I say yes paint it whatever color you want, however if the paint and metal are solid and not going to cause the metal to degrade then I would absolutely leave it original.
My truck already had at least 3 different colors on it so it is getting stripped and repainted 518 green... The cab and doors were originally gold, the hood and bed are 518 green and staying that way, and the front fenders were originally medium green metallic...
the paint on the bed is in good shape and getting buff and the hood is getting to the point that it needs a fresh coat, and i hopefully will have enough paint to get it done with this batch.

[toolboxchev]

I can not pay enough for quality parts and services myself. So looking at reality the original paint is still on there after 47 years and holding as long as a coat of wax is applied every 3-6 months.

I had a buddy repaint inside the bed floor and that was failing after a 1 year.

[CraigT]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

I can not pay enough for quality parts and services myself. So looking at reality the original paint is still on there after 47 years and holding as long as a coat of wax is applied every 3-6 months.

I had a buddy repaint inside the bed floor and that was failing after a 1 year.

Forget financial realities for a second. I'm saying if money was NOT and issue (pretend you hit the lottery), then would you restore the paint and body?

My guess is the word "patina" is a euphemism.

My bed had been repainted hugger orange, but it doesn't exactly match the original paint on the cab. I also have some rust bubbles on passenger door and small patches on the floorboards. If I had an extra $10,000 laying around, I'd strip, rust repair, and paint her in a NYC second.

[ovalshark]

Free paint, I would be first in line!

[leddzepp]

Of course!

[57taskforce]

Absolutely... Only reason I wouldn't is if the original paint was still in excellent condition...

[CraigT]

I plan to fully restore mine over time. I have all the suspension and interior done already. I have a couple friends with rough paint jobs. They say "I would NEVER paint mine! I LOVE the patina". Well, I say BU!!S#IT to that. If they had the money they'd be pimpin in candy apple red and 20"s!

"Patina" IS pretty much a euphemism.

[Grumpy old man]

Your comparing gold coins to a dime you would never paint an original 356 Porsche but a free paint job on one of these old trucks is a no brainer .

[ElKotze]

Sure I would paint. But then I would turn around and buy a beat-up truck I could actually drive.

[CraigT]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Your comparing gold coins to a dime you would never paint an original 356 Porsche but a free paint job on one of these old trucks is a no brainer .

My point exactly! These trucks will never be six-figure investments. They simply made too many off them. Why be pretentious and pretend we cherish "patina". The poll shows, by far the majority of us would paint them if the paint job was free.

[F.A.A.benny]

Wouldn't have to ask me twice on a free quality paint job. Be careful with that ,"these trucks will never be six figure investments" statement. I sure you are gonna piss off some folks. And it'll start with, " these trucks are going up in value" and then " have you seen what they are fetching at barret Jackson?"

[yuccales]

Free is my favorite price. Let the paint begin!

[CraigT]

Originally Posted by F.A.A.benny

Wouldn't have to ask me twice on a free quality paint job. Be careful with that ,"these trucks will never be six figure investments" statement. I sure you are gonna piss off some folks. And it'll start with, " these trucks are going up in value" and then " have you seen what they are fetching at barret Jackson?"

They are shooting up for sure! In SoCal I can't get gas without somebody offering to buy mine. Love it. As for pissing people off with the " no six-figure investment" comment ..Maybe someday they'll be valued at $100,000, but I'm almost 60 and will be dead before that happens. It's pretty rare to see a driver sell for over $30k. Some frame-off restos are out there in the low 40Ks, but those above that are languishing in showrooms.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by F.A.A.benny

Wouldn't have to ask me twice on a free quality paint job. Be careful with that ,"these trucks will never be six figure investments" statement. I sure you are gonna piss off some folks. And it'll start with, " these trucks are going up in value" and then " have you seen what they are fetching at barret Jackson?"

Most threads on here are nothing more than arguing about money anyways

[davepl]

Originally Posted by F.A.A.benny

Wouldn't have to ask me twice on a free quality paint job. Be careful with that ,"these trucks will never be six figure investments" statement. I sure you are gonna piss off some folks. And it'll start with, " these trucks are going up in value" and then " have you seen what they are fetching at barret Jackson?"

You could build and sell a 100K version of one of these trucks right now. But not in stock form, it'd have to be a restomod. And you'd have to spend $150K to get $100K back, most likely. More if you're paying for mechanical and fabrication work rather than doing it yourself. I'm talking Art Morrison chassis, independent rear suspension, LT4 crate motor, that sort of thing...

I think, as a stretch, if you found a super-well-optioned Cheyenne Super shortbed, big-block, etc, and restored it CORRECTLY to a high standard, it'd pull $60K. If it were a sub-10K mile survivor in original condition, maybe a touch more.

But your typical idiot-light C10 longbed pickup? They'll max out in the teens (restored or clean) for a long time, I'd imagine. And there will always be a faction of folks whose cousin could do it for a case of beer and $3500, but those claims rarely turn into build threads.

[hewittca]

My answer on this is true regardless of what the paint costs, even if it's free. If it's an all original solid truck, then no way should it be painted. If it's a truck that is falling apart and needs restoration, then yes definitely paint it. For me, I love all styles of these trucks but the ones that catch my attention the most are the clean all originals. I much prefer preservation over restoration.

[Steeveedee]

Free paint job? You betcha, Red Ryder! Do the dents come out, too? I only have a couple...

[nlped]

Free would be great! But my 68 is original, although rough looking, paint. I'm going to clean the $hit out of it, throw Porterbuilt front & rear dropmembers with Accuair, Wilwood BBK's, EFI BBC /c AOD, and a bunch of other cool parts. I feel confident that it'll make me smile like H3LL and I don't give a rats ass if nobody else likes it...but I'll bet a fist full of cash that it'll be well received in most circles. Just my .02¢

[71sierragrande]

Mine? Yes. But if the paint was in decent original condition? Nope. Also the climate is a factor. If I still lived in the rust belt, and money was no object, I would have the truck stripped and repainted every five years. :-)

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by CraigT

Forget financial realities for a second. I'm saying if money was NOT and issue (pretend you hit the lottery), then would you restore the paint and body?

My guess is the word "patina" is a euphemism.

My bed had been repainted hugger orange, but it doesn't exactly match the original paint on the cab. I also have some rust bubbles on passenger door and small patches on the floorboards. If I had an extra $10,000 laying around, I'd strip, rust repair, and paint her in a NYC second.

Ok your on! Where do I locate a source for original paint? Would love to have some of that stuff!

[70 shorty]

I'd be beating people down to be first in line! I just finished a rattle can paint job on my formerly primer and rust truck. Would love to have a nice paint job on it, but it's too far gone to justify the cost.

[CraigT]

Originally Posted by 70 shorty

Would love to have a nice paint job on it, but it's too far gone to justify the cost.

My issue is similar, only my truck looks pretty good. I took it to two reputable paint shops locally. To repair rust and do a good hugger orange paint job...both want $10k. I paid $20K for my truck, have $5k into suspension, A/C, carb, radiator, wheels and tires, and interior. If I put $10k into paint, I'd be $35k into a truck worth $25k. Plus, i use my truck. I loan my truck to friends and family when the need a truck. If I put $10k into paint, I'd be afraid to put three scoops of manure in it and my avocado trees would suffer.

But I don't put my nose in the air and say I love the "patina" lol

[Old_Gold]

Yup, I'll take the new shiny any day!

[HO455]

Since I have painted my Burban I'm in the " paint it crowd". As to the previous discussion the fact is that Porsche 365's will always command more significantly more money on the open market than our trucks, as long as both vehicles are in similar condition. Now maybe if James Dean had died in a truck crash things might be different.