Non Black GN repaint

[green95ss]

How many of you have seen or done this: repaint a GN in a color other than black? I have noticed that all GN's look pretty much the same, and I want something a little different. Is this going to really affect the desirability of my car if I decide to sell it in the future? Will it also affect the value? The car has 106K miles, so does originality and "pristine-ness" still matter at this point? Will I have to re-register the car with the DMV, since it shows up as black on my current registration?

My '86 GN is being disassembled and stripped right now, so I want to make a decision by next week regarding the color--go back in black, or choose something a little wilder?

Thanks in advance,

Guhan

 

[John Larkin]

A $7,000 body shop bill, wow. You must really be in love with the car and plan to keep it for a long time. If that's the case, then by all means make it the way you want it. If you plan to sell it at some point then just consider how many buyers would want a non-original color car. Unless it's really cool like that black/silver cover car on GMHTP from a few years ago, chances are slim that many will see it as a positive.

 

[Red Regal T]

As John says, paint it the way you want it. 1nadrag painted his GN a candy burgundy with ghost flames and somebody gave him $17,000. Depends on the buyer. I wouldn't worry about it. I had a GN for sale and had complaints it was an 86 instead of 87. People are idiots. Do what YOU want.

 

[87gninpa]

If you already have that many miles and are spending that much on the paint job, even if it was black again you probably wouldnt get your moneys worth. i say do something different, cause all gns kinda do look alike........

 

[zam70]

Painted mine Dark metallic grey - much better than black IMO.
If you've ever been to the Nats you will understand that BLACK is not the color to have if you want to stand out.

There were a 100+ Black Gns and like 6 TR a different color.

I say be different - who cares about resale

 

[kh440]

I have to vote with the masses. Do what makes you happy, there will still be plenty of black cars for all the purists

 

[gn85]

Originally posted by Red Regal T
As John says, paint it the way you want it. 1nadrag painted his GN a candy burgundy with ghost flames and somebody gave him $17,000. Depends on the buyer. I wouldn't worry about it. I had a GN for sale and had complaints it was an 86 instead of 87. People are idiots. Do what YOU want.

John,

Do you have a pic of this car? I remember seeing something like that several years ago at BG. I got a pic of it, but when I got the pic developed, it didn't come out right.

 

[gn85]

If re-sale is your only worry, then don't change colors. But with the amount of money you're putting into a restore... I'd be a little hard pressed to say you'll get all your money back.

IMHO, change the color to what you want. (If I see GN with the multi-color painscheme that the VW Golfs have, I'll know who's it is! ) I saw a red GN one summer with t-tops off and two nice looking girls up front. Man, that got my attention quick. I have seen some others that came out really nice and was well worth the color change.

Then again, my experience at the nats is that if you have a black GN and you're doing burnouts in the parking lot, it's an easy scape goat. If someone asks.. you say "No, that wasn't me.. it was one of those black cars!" You may laugh, but I've seen that work.

 

[green95ss]

Thanks for the replies guys--I have a picture of a GN from Vegas I saw on ebay--It's burgundy ith ghost flames. I'm not a fan of flames, but the burgundy with burgundy bumpers looked really nice. I don't know how to post pics here, but if someone wants a pic, I can email it. I think I might go with the burgundy w/burgundy bumpers and blackout trim, and then reapply the GN badges. Should make for something a little different.

The resto is going to be around $7K, but the car is being completely rebuilt from the ground up. The motor and tranny were rebuilt prior to this resto, so the car is practically brand new inside and out. You guys think I won't be able to get $7K for the car in the future? I don't plan on selling the car for a LONG time unless necessary ($$$).

Thanks,

Guhan

 

[Billdogg]

Go to your chevy dealership and find a corvette in medium spiral gray metallic. I was going to paint my old GN in this color. It's an awesome color, and would look fantastic on a GN!

 

[Lt4-turbo]

I guess I am the only one that would keep it the same color. I just cant see changing the color on an 86. Only 5512 made and probably about half of that left. The turbo regals are the only real collector cars of the 80's. I guess if you are planning on keeping it than you should do what makes you happy but I think in 10 years you will be sick and it will really cost you to put it (back in black). I don't think that 106,000 miles is high mileage on a 18 year old car and I feel that at some point it is not going to matter how many miles if the car is restored right. Again if you are not going to sell do what makes you happy.

 

[grandwazoo]

It's America, live like you want to live baby!!!

But I have to say, I will always stay black. These cars are automotive history, not just a typical Mustang or Camaro - I don't imagine that I will ever have issue with my GN looking like all the others, because I NEVER SEE ANY OTHERS!!!! Thats why I say stay Black, when you pull up, let 'em know what you are. If you go another color, the question will be, "is it a Monte?" (we get enough of that) or they will say "It must not be a real GN, just a regal that someone modified." Sure you can prove them wrong when you lay it on, but GN's are MONSTERS, and I like to benefit from they're reputation.