Color change on muscle car

[Gasrat]

Hi guys, I know this has been discussed here before but what kind of percentage value wise does a color change affect a muscle cars value? I know there are variables but let’s just say a vehicle is valued at $50000.00 on Hagerty but it has had a color change from the trim tag. Everything else is born with drivetrain and has real documents. Thanks for any opinions. Shane

[MYSTERYCHEVELLE]

My opinion. It’s a subjective value depreciation that any particular potential buyer is only able to determine. Yes, we can all GUESS and give opinions and ballpark estimates but I’ve had clients hire me to find cars or to help with valuation before buying or selling and it is something that the buyer decides. I have guys who I’ve located THE CAR only to say no thanks once they see color change. Others could care less because it’s the COLOR the have always wanted.

That said. Color Change to a FACTORY Available color that year for that particular car is better than one not offered.

In General. There’s a drop in value by most buyers but is it 10%? 25% ?? Hard to say.

For me. I am not interested in buying it if nots the factory color it was born. Price won’t change my mind.

[NorCam]

It really depends on the car and whether or not it's a car of true significance. For instance, a solid lifter muscle car (i.e. L/78 or Z/28 for example) is always going to be priced above that of a lower horsepower hydraulic flat tappet muscle car (i.e. L48 or L35 etc).

IMO...a true numbers-matching muscle car is going to suffer a 25%-30% hit in value right off the bat. That's due in part to the fact the entire car would need expensive paint and restorative work to bring it back to its original color, should it truly be a car significant enough to save or bring back? It's getting more and more costly for a complete paint job with quality materials, and those guys who do nice work on these older cars are becoming harder and harder to find nowadays.

Now if it's a simple coupe or hotrod car with a swapped engine, trans, and diff...then none of it really matters. Paint it up in whatever style or colors you like and never have another thought about it again.

[Lynn]

I think these guys are spot on.

[Gasrat]

Yes I totally agree with being spot on. Thank you guys for your input,as it is valued. Sometimes wrong color with the right options makes you want to steer towards a color change but may be the wrong move after all.

[ryanchevelle]

Depends on the person and the exact car in question. For example I want a Monaco orange 70 chevelle. I wouldn’t buy a color changed car that was just painted Monaco orange regardless of how nice it was or the price point. I would however buy a real Monaco orange car that had been repainted another color with the intention on taking it back to orange even if it was priced at correct color value. If it was a more common color like say I wanted a cranberry car, id prob only buy if it was discounted enough to offset the price and time to take it to the correct color. And I’d prob just hold out to find the right car that’s done unless the price was good enough to justify the labor of love.

[L16pilot]

Great discussion, but to take it a step further, if a car was originally equipped with a vinyl top and subsequently removed during repaint/restoration, how does this affect the value? I would guess no decrease in value if the color was also changed, but what if the color remained as per trim tag...just the vinyl top removed?

[tom406]

On most cars I don’t think it’s a notable decrease since vinyl tops are polarizing and can be added fairly inexpensively and without causing harm. Removing a vinyl top from a car not coded for one is obviously much more problematic and would probably affect buyers more. I would make an exception for 1969 Camaros in this argument because adding the correct trim mounts to an already nicely painted car is a really intimidating prospect, and don’t forget the changing stripe color implications on HO or LB Z/28’s.

[Pro Stock John]

But some color changes will increase the mass appeal of the car.

Green Camaro to Cortez silver... More people will be interested.

So it's situational.

[x44d80]

How about a 1969 Cortez silver Camaro with a black vinyl top versus without? I saw a 1969 Cortez Silver
Camaro with the black vinyl top a member on this site owns and it knocked my socks off. I never liked the vinyl tops on 1969 Camaros till I saw his.