I am new to this forum - have many GM cars but this is my first 442. 1970 convert - I gave up finding my dream Astro Blue car and bought a red one. It is a color change already from Sebring Yellow. I do have the build sheet and you can still make out the original color words. How much does it hurt the value when you have a color change (to a different but factory color)?

 

IMO it really depends on the car but overall, a color change to a factory color, as long as its done right and works with interior would be minimal.

 

Resale red is really overdone. I personally really like Sebring Yellow (as seen on my 70 W30). The build sheet would have had the paint codes, not the words. Depending on the assembly factory and build date, the cowl tag could have had either the "- -" paint code or "51 51" for Sebring Yellow. As for color change, most judged shows (including OCA and AACA) do not deduct any points if the car is painted in a color that was originally available for that year and model, so that's pretty well accepted in the community. Red repaints are done by dealers to increase sales, but personally they are so overdone that I don't even look at them any more. A documented special order color MIGHT be worth slightly more to someone, but probably not enough to matter. Bottom line is that if you are looking at this car as an investment, you'll be sadly disappointed no matter what color you pick. Enjoy it for yourself. There are far better ways to invest your money if that's all you care about.

 

I should add (to manage expectations) that a correct color change requires complete disassembly of the car to do it right, and will likely cost you somewhere north of $15-20K from a quality shop using quality materials. That doesn't count any metal work that will be required, or any surprises you find under the Resale Red (and there will be). You'll NEVER recoup this investment, no matter what color you pick. A less expensive, half-fast color change will likely hurt value. Your call.

 

10-4 and thanks
I do my own painting anyway. Really feel for the guys who have to farm it out - not many shops can bring the level of satisfaction and those that do are going to want far more than $15K. Personally I wouldn't do it for $30K for somebody else

 

Same here, and I agree with you. I had to learn because there's no way I could afford to pay someone for the quality that I want.

 

My 66 442 was originally Ocean Mist but I changed the color to Target Red,an OEM color. It won Best of Class and SR. Preservation @ the OCA Nats. The judges asked me if it was originally red and I told them the story. They deducted no points and when I sold it it made no difference in value. To some it may hurt but not always,so paint it to please yourself because you're the only one that matters.

 

My car is a color change from Sable (brown) to Crimson and it was pretty carefully done, albeit 25 years ago. If you saw a Sable paint chip, you'd understand why the PO did it. I had no problem paying market price for this car at the time and no regrets since. I don't enter it in shows.

 

There are exceptions....
1968 OLDSMOBILE 442 CONVERTIBLE

 

It looks like a giant Creamsicle.

 

I could probably live w/ the exterior paint scheme, but that yellow dashboard..........yikes!

 

My car was originally a Nassau Blue/Parchment interior. Judging by the date on the glove box, it was disassembled in the mid 90's and put back together as a Burgundy Mist/Black interior. Had I not been under the dash and seen the burgundy all the way up the firewall, I would've considered putting it back to original. I'm thankful (as previously mentioned) that it was an available color in '69 though..it'll make the hunt much easier when getting my rear quarter repaired and addressing all of the touch up issues.

 

Did I read that right? "Built for the 1968 Chicago Auto Show" I can't imagine that color being popular in any way shape or form in 1968. Pastels came into popularity in the 1980's I think.