Color vs Value

[gs gear grinder]

I bought a 71 grand sport about a year ago from the original owner and I have been working on it for the last year. Now that the motor is rebuilt and the other mechanical problems are done it's off to the paint shop. The car is a pretty rare one as far as production goes and I have all of the documentation to go with it. The original owner was my boss and he ordered it with the Muncie 4 speed, posi-traction rearend, power steering, AC, power windows, and the in dash tach. The car is Cortez gold with the black vinyl top.
So here's my question if I paint the car a different color how's that going to affect the value down the road?

Thanks for any advice Dave

[Marco]

Hi Dave, and welcome to V8buick.com.

Just keep the car a color Buick offered in 1971.

PS - it's Gran Sport, without a 'D'

http://www.stage1registry.com/paint_codes/1971color.jpg

[flynbuick]

I think a popular color like red or black that is not original will bring from some as much or more than an unpopular original color. However, there are going to be some potential buyers who just want original color paint.

[gs gear grinder]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm glad to hear I'm not really locked into the one color. I guess it's back to the most popular color poll to check out some opinions. By the way I'm sorry about the typo Marco, I'll be the first one to admit that I'm a lot better with a wrench than a keyboard. I was looking at your web site the other day, pretty nice. Thanks Dave

[442w30]

Why not keep it the original color rather than "what's popular?"

[Dan Healey]

Because he has NO idea how good Cortez Gold can look!:Smarty:

[JR Wills]

2 items about Color change. 1) It's a PITA unless the car is totally down.
2 It CAN decrease value to people looking for "Authenticity" on ANY CAR.
I agree that some of the color coordinators were on Drugs during that time, or we wouldn't have the combinations we had available, but IF you are looking for something that will bring TOP Dollar. STAY AS FACTORY.
Watching cars go through various sales, a Color change is usually mentioned. Red's are goon most anytime to the average buyer, but NOT on investment vehicles.
If you run into a "Purest" be prepared to get nailed for the change. IF it is a Keeper, you are at your discretion, as you can do as you wish, but the value will NOT match that of a "True" car.
JR

[GSX10/10]

I think an original color car will always bring more money to the enthusiast of that particular make, I asume we are talking about restorations here rather than highly modified street machines.

[71gs 4speed]

I have to ask is this a 350 or a 455 car. I just got a 71 a while back that I am restoring now and hopefully will be done next month. If you plan on keeping this car go with what ever color you like. I am not painting mine the stock color. It was the same setup yours was. But I wanted something a little different. As far as price goes I think if you go with a tri coat candy or a pearl paint job it will not matter because the car will be very nice but be prepared for the price tag that comes with it. The car will stand out. But some people like there cars stock and don't like any extras added. I feel I have been offered more money for my 72 than I would if it had a stock paint job.
Hope this helps

[my3buicks]

I personally wouldn't consider purchasing a color changed car unless it was needing a restoration and I could take it back at that time. But to buy a color changed car that didnlt need a restoration would be out of the question. I'm a purist, but there are lots of us out there. But it's your car, so in the end do what you want!!:TU:

[71gs 4speed]

Hey Keith thanks. I see both sides to this. There are alot of people that like cars stock with no changes and others that want a car that has their own touch. There are buyer for both markets. There is nothing like seeing a untouched car or a very well restored car. But I sure have got a lot of great commentson my 72 convert than I did on the last car I had that was a stock color. It all depends on the color also. If I bought a car it the paint was great and it was stock I would leave it alone. I just need to buy a car that is already redone it would be alot cheaper to. I told my self after my 72 that I would never do another. Then I found the 71 from the true owners with less than 50K miles on it so I talked my self into one more. To bad they left it outside under a tarp sence 1980. But it will be fun to get this one done and show it off. I will hopefully be able to track down the previous owners and send them a picture of the car now. That should be fun.
:beer

[cjp69]

71gs 4speed said:Hey Keith thanks. I see both sides to this. There are alot of people that like cars stock with no changes and others that want a car that has their own touch. There are buyer for both markets. There is nothing like seeing a untouched car or a very well restored car. But I sure have got a lot of great commentson my 72 convert than I did on the last car I had that was a stock color. It all depends on the color also. If I bought a car it the paint was great and it was stock I would leave it alone. I just need to buy a car that is already redone it would be alot cheaper to. I told my self after my 72 that I would never do another. Then I found the 71 from the true owners with less than 50K miles on it so I talked my self into one more. To bad they left it outside under a tarp sence 1980. But it will be fun to get this one done and show it off. I will hopefully be able to track down the previous owners and send them a picture of the car now. That should be fun.
:beer

Robert,

I think it also depends on the car. Most of the "purists" arent pursuing Skylarks like your convertible, they are after GS' like your new car, as they hold their value better due to their rarity. Other than "special" parts, it costs the same to restore a GS as a Skylark (as far as body work, paint, interior, etc. go), so most people will pour their money into the GS if they have a choice.

The guy buying the Skylark, with our without the pearl or candy paint, is probably a different guy than the one who wants the GS because it is a "GS".

Different price range as well. Many times you can buy a real nice Skylark for what it costs for a rough GS. I am not saying it is right, and I don't set the prices, but that is the way it is.

People will almost always pay more for the low production car, and they usually don't want it too "custom".

[71gs 4speed]

Hi Chris, I agree that the skylark is not the most sought after car but like you said they are cheaper and this was my first car that was given to me for my 16th birthday. It has a gs hood that will be installed on it hopefully next year. The 71 is a rare car and alot of people will probley not like what I do to it but their will be alot of people that will. I will take it to a couple of buick shows and if they don't like it I will not attend them after that. I hope that will not happen. It might happen at the all buick shows so I might have to stick with the local shows and car cruizes. I will hopefully be bring it up to the puwallap washington show next year. I toke the 72 this year and had alot of fun up their. It was a little bit of a drive though. I am going with what I like and I am hoping that it will look as good as I image. I am keeping the vynle top on it and adding a rear wing. It will be a nice dark blue pearl with ghost flames off the ram air inlets that will go up the hood about a foot. I will know in to weeks what the finished product will look like. I have seen the door jams and stuff painted and I love the color that it will be.
Just my opinion. Not looking to make anyone mad. :beer

[flynbuick]

[i]. I am keeping the vynle top on it and adding a rear wing. It will be a nice dark blue pearl with ghost flames off the ram air inlets that will go up the hood about a foot.. :beer


Once you go this far the value of the car will be hurt --no ifs, ands, or buts. Additions like flames will narrow the field of buyers a lot.

[gs gear grinder]

Hey Dan you brought up a good point that I really would like to know. How good can a Cortez Gold paint job look? I have never really seen one. The buicks around here are really few and far between at the car shows. From what I have noticed it would seem that the more depth you could put into that color the better it would look.

[cjp69]

gs gear grinder said:Hey Dan you brought up a good point that I really would like to know. How good can a Cortez Gold paint job look? I have never really seen one. The buicks around here are really few and far between at the car shows. From what I have noticed it would seem that the more depth you could put into that color the better it would look.

Glad you asked. There is an absolutely beautiful 72 cortez gold GSX in this (http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38444&highlight=cortez) thread.

[Marco]

Here's one (http://www.buickstreet.com/71buickstreet.html)

[Marco]

And Scott's GS -

<img src="http://www.v8buick.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=79474">

[71gs 4speed]

I had a 72 buick gs 455 that had all the paper work to show where it was bought and how it was ordered. It was a matching numbers car except someone added a wing and front spoiler and I had the hardest time selling it. I finnally sold it for 10 thousand. :ball:.
The purist may not like the car when done but I feel their will be alot of other buyers that will. But first I would have to want to sell it and at this time I don't see that happening. It would probley have to go to barit jackson or a auction like that. But well all know that their is alot more money in these cars then they are worth when they are done.

[71gs 4speed]

Dave is this a 455 or a 350 car. :Brow:

[71gs 4speed]

I asked this question a few months back and got a totally different response then I am seeing here.
When you get it done I would love to see some pictures to see what it looks like.
Good luck in your color hunt

[71gs 4speed]

I like the GSX :grin: That paint looks very deep and you probley have alot of polish time in:TU: I like the gsx striping it add alot to it along with the wing.

Very nice:Brow:

[gs gear grinder]

Hey thanks to all for the pictures of the cars. As you can see from just the pictures posted here the gold really can take on different looks in different light situatiions. That was one of the things that made me cautious about going with that color, if you haven't really seen it in person much it's kind of hard to tell what your going to get. I put up a picture of my car how it looked when I bought it if anyone is interested. One more shade of gold.It was pretty clean but the interior was near perfect. I replaced carpet and that was all it needed.
Robert I am sorry to inform you that I only have a 350 under the hood and not the 455. I put most everything into the engine I could when I rebuilt it and still keep it as a functioning original engine with hood scoops and all. Just the same it's fun to drive.

[Steve Craig]

Marco's Stage 1 site has an absolutely stunning '71 convertible,
white top & interior. Really nice shot of the Cortez Gold. Local car here exactly the same. Not for sale yet.....my fingers are crossed.

[Marco]

This one Steve?

http://www.stage1registry.com/BuickGS/paulp_71s1convc.jpg

[71gs 4speed]

Their were only 358 of those made. Still a very rare car with a 4spd. I have just be wanting a 4 spd in buick for a long time so I was glade when I found one. I was going to stick with a stock gold I would go with the darker colored harvest gold it looks real nice on that gsx. :TU:

As far as my car goes their is no turning back now the paint is on it and they are starting the wet sanding process. But I like it alot :Brow: . Hopefully your guys wont kick me off the board :( .

[gs gear grinder]

Thanks for mentioning about the Harvest Gold Robert. I couldn't understand how one color of gold could look so different. It does change a lot under different lighting but I didn't see how it could change that much.
I am glad you finally got your 4 speed. I live in near the mountains and it so much fun driving around the curves with a stick. Please send a picture when they get your car done.
Thanks for the info Dave

[71gs 4speed]

You will have to check and see if they are a different color. They sure look different. You might want to email the guy with the gsx and ask why his looks so different then the other car.

I will get my car back around the 11th of august. I will be going to Reno for hot august nights so I will pick it up when I get back. Then the fun part begins putting everything back together. I still have to get the black vynle top put back on. A new headliner and carpet.

[cpk 71]

I am i the process of restoring my 71 skylark originally bamboo cream but its going to be either statomist blue or a custom blue,alot of kickass blue metallics have come out since 71.But if it was a true gs original color would be it for me.

[bignastyGS]

71 Cortez Gold cars produced 1453 Hardtops 1200 verts according to the daily car reports.
Pat

[Eric]

It's a wash!
Some people buy a car for color and some buy for orginallity.
Personally, color is everthing to me if the car has a factory
color on it that I like. I would pay for the color before I would
buy a car that is original with a color combo I hate.
Aqua Mist with white or black interior...ya! Stratomist Blue with white interior...ya !
It's a wash, It's a wash