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Hey everyone, So this is somewhat random but I am wondering what the "purists" think of using an exterior paint color choice from a different model year. So not in the financial/value aspect but just in general would it be frowned upon? Would it be looked at as an imposter in a sense? This would be for a vehicle that unless unforeseen circumstances happen will not leave the family and does not enter any sort of shows, just a nostalgic driver for fun.
Labels kind of suck. Calling someone a "purist" would imply that "normal" is to be a customizer, when it is actually the "purist" who has the "normal" perspective. Put less inflammatorily, would the average car enthusiast disapprove of painting a car a different color than the one with which it came from the factory?
I think it depends on a few factors. I am going to assume this is an Oldsmobile, being that we are here? The more performance oriented in terms of model and package and year it is, the more money it will be worth, and the more it will matter that it is the correct color. A '70 W-30 stick car should be the original color. A '66 F-85 4 door doesn't matter as much. Another thing that matters is what color was it originally? Black, red, white, silver, these are all big winners. Blue, gray, gold, a little less. Next is green, and yellow. Last is brown. People won't fault you for painting a brown car a different color.
Then there's interpretation of a color. Sure, the cowl tag says dark blue, but what if your paint is a better paint, more metallic, deeper, and more vibrant? The majority of restored cars get clear coat and are glossy compared to lacquer.
So, your average car enthusiast likes to see things the way they were, but I think would be very understanding of an unfortunate color from birth, or feeling less restrained choosing a new color for a less valuable car.
These are the replies that I was hoping and expecting to hear lol. Thanks for the replies. If it was a unique vehicle than I agree it 100% needs to stay original.
Whatever you do, there will always be a 'purist' at just about any decent-sized car show that will happily tell you what you did wrong...
I still remember the first open, non-judged all-makes cruise show I went to back in 2017 once I completed the majority of my rebuild work, it took no time at all for some OCA chapter member in Tampa to descend upon my regular CS ragtop with a whole list literally from memory of all the variations from stock my car exhibited Not sure who was more annoyed with him, me or his wife..
So yeah - as has essentially been said, if it ain't a pedigree that needs to be preserved to maintain big $$ collector-level value, do it any way you want.
Paint it a color you'll enjoy and don't fuss about the purists. You might not score top points at some show, but you'll enjoy it every time you get in the car & drive. Totally agree with 70sgeek about the stranger-guy with strong opinions at some car show. If you care, color within the year/color lines. If you don't care, do what you want. I'm in the second camp.
These old Oldsmobiles are (generally) not mid 6 figure exotics where there might be an investment angle.
I love the factory Target Red of my '66 98 convertible and the Autumn Bronze of my '66 Starfire. But if I didn't love those finishes, I would do a color change without a care in the world. I've already changed the Starfire interior from Ivory Pearl to Ivory. And the 98 interior I had done in leather since I like it better.
Kinda all depends on whether you're painting the car for - you? Or somebody else? If it's you, hell paint it BMW fjord blue if that's your thing. Beautiful color, but nowhere near factory.
I choose 1992 Ford Vivid red, a fleet color.
The car was a K-6 code with a 957 interior...deciphered = Ocean Turquoise Poly with a parchment roof and interior.
Lots of options here.. if the car is mainly all original equipment then I am in the camp of at least keeping it in the shade of the same model year color chart.. but that’s just me. I had a 66 pontiac 2+2 that was originally Martinique bronze, aka Sierra Mist in Olds speak. I painted it Tiger Gold. It was a beautiful car.. Now in the hands of a retired airport engineer in Tennessee who loves it like I did. Funny thing is I have two 66 442 cars, both are coded TT Sierra Mist paint, both black now. Don’t know what it is about me always finding that same paint code colors in both Pontiac and olds as they just aren’t my cup of tea. Maybe that color sold extremely well back then, who knows. Paint it a color you will love as you said you are keeping the car.. As far as purist mindset goes base clear is way to plastic looking to even be close to an original paint car even in the factory paint code..but most folks use it simply because it holds up extremely well. Be sure the color you choose goes well with the interior colors is all I can say..
Going to assume it's your 72 yellow Cutlass? I had a Sunfire Yellow 72 442 350 auto, non-vinyl top, with white stripes and white/black interior many many moons ago in the 1980s. It was a pretty neat combo for me.
But if you want a different color, do it. Use a brush too, while you're at it if it pleases you. It doesn't matter if it's a W-30, 442, Supreme, whatever, or not. If it makes you like the car more, then do what you like. It only will matter to the next owner before they buy it, provided it's ever for sale. But the only "value" a correct factory color does is prevent a higher value car from taking a ding on the incorrect color during the next purchase, but only if the buyer is aware, or even cares, of what they're buying. The car isn't going to care. Even the interior color doesn't matter as I've seen some really ugly color combinations from the factory roll out from that era, IMO.
I must agree. My 70 W was Sherwood Green when new, but Burnished Gold looks so much better to me.
I didn't paint it, if I did, I would have the stripes done better. One of these days I may redo it, but not back to Sherwood.
I bought this 69 W-30 in 1989. I had the car restored with me doing all the mechanicals. The restorer had 4 beautiful Cutlass' droptops. He asked what color I wanted as the car had black interior. Remember that the year was 1989 and the "purists" had yet to get hold in the hobby. He showed me a Chrysler color that he had done on another car (his). I agreed it was very dignified and classy. That was what I was looking for. Not red, blue, or black like all the others. Anyway, the motor was gone long before I got it so the originality was gone. The OAI was gone too. I did what I wanted. Just make sure you get a good paint job as a bad one will basically ruin the car. Don't be afraid to pay up a bit.
I thought my car looked really great. That's really what counted. You do you.
Gotta be honest, I cannot fathom ever even considering this question. Unless someone is giving me money for my decision, I genuinely couldn't care less what they think.
No matter how you build your car, someone isn't going to like it. Best course of action is to make sure YOU do like it.
Some people like the backup of the considered opinions of others. I've got a red car, a light blue car, a dark blue car, a green car, a gray car, a silver car, and a white car. Variety is nice.
These are all great thoughts and opinions and I appreciate them all. To answer the question I am considering painting my 72. The current paint was done in the early 80"s and is beginning to show. My age and abilities are beginning to set in and I figured I'd get the paint handled before I am unable to. The car will be handed to my son when it's time, so I was also taking his thoughts into consideration. We weren't completely fond of the yellow when we first got it however it has definitely grown on us, especially after I gave it the vinyl top that it came with. Clearly this isn't any type of specialty car, but I was just curious how others viewed it. I most likely will keep it as it was born in Sunfire Yellow, however my close second would be Code 14 Platinum Poly from 1970.
Gotta be honest, I cannot fathom ever even considering this question. Unless someone is giving me money for my decision, I genuinely couldn't care less what they think.
No matter how you build your car, someone isn't going to like it. Best course of action is to make sure YOU do like it.
X2 what he said. There are those Knuckleheads out there that will complain if it is painted the factory color that the car came with. Our W-30 still has the born with Gold/black stripes and Gold interior with regular floor shifter. I used to get grief because of the _ _ in the paint code.
Somebody switched my car to Resale Red long before I bought it, saving me from losing sleep over whether to paint over the original Sable (brown). The paint is in great shape, well-applied and is a reasonable approximation of Crimson so I'm going to leave it be.
I'm glad they did it because I don't much like brown cars. So now I get to have a red one while taking no responsibility for defacing its originality.
I must agree. My 70 W was Sherwood Green when new, but Burnished Gold looks so much better to me.
I didn't paint it, if I did, I would have the stripes done better. One of these days I may redo it, but not back to Sherwood.
Being one who inhapbits the Great State of Texas, I can appreciate the field of blue bonnets. Nice photo.
Labels kind of suck. Calling someone a "purist" would imply that "normal" is to be a customizer, when it is actually the "purist" who has the "normal" perspective. Put less inflammatorily, would the average car enthusiast disapprove of painting a car a different color than the one with which it came from the factory?
I think it depends on a few factors. I am going to assume this is an Oldsmobile, being that we are here? The more performance oriented in terms of model and package and year it is, the more money it will be worth, and the more it will matter that it is the correct color. A '70 W-30 stick car should be the original color. A '66 F-85 4 door doesn't matter as much. Another thing that matters is what color was it originally? Black, red, white, silver, these are all big winners. Blue, gray, gold, a little less. Next is green, and yellow. Last is brown. People won't fault you for painting a brown car a different color.
Then there's interpretation of a color. Sure, the cowl tag says dark blue, but what if your paint is a better paint, more metallic, deeper, and more vibrant? The majority of restored cars get clear coat and are glossy compared to lacquer.
So, your average car enthusiast likes to see things the way they were, but I think would be very understanding of an unfortunate color from birth, or feeling less restrained choosing a new color for a less valuable car.
what a worthless post. the op should flush everything your said down the toilet.
the last thing the op should care about what a purist thinks.
Last edited by CANADIANOLDS; Jun 16, 2025 at 02:45 PM.
I just want to know if it has a "fourfortytwo" engine in it. You know from a purists perspective. Because that will tell me if it's a good car. It IS a nice Chevelle.
what a worthless post. the op should flush everything your said down the toilet.
the last thing the op should care about what a purist thinks.
You are actually the first rude Canadian I have ever met. Are you, perhaps, physically small? Do you wear glasses? Being that you talk a lot of trash to multiple people on this forum, and it's usually as wrong as it is here, my thinking is you're short and myopic. You couldn't have gotten this one much more wrong as the OP already thanked me for my response and said it was exactly what he wanted to hear. Go crap up some other thread.
You are actually the first rude Canadian I have ever met. Are you, perhaps, physically small? Do you wear glasses? Being that you talk a lot of trash to multiple people on this forum, and it's usually as wrong as it is here, my thinking is you're short and myopic. You couldn't have gotten this one much more wrong as the OP already thanked me for my response and said it was exactly what he wanted to hear. Go crap up some other thread.
