Original colour or not, that's the question.

[EeVeeWee]

My 230 SL is ready for the painter but I'm still struggling to choose the colour.
Originally it was 332 G (dark blue), but I think I like 396 G (a lighter blue) more.
The car will get a full nut and bolt restoration and we will keep the car for ourselves, but of course not for ever.
Many people including Mercedes specialists advise to keep it in the original colour, because it will be worth more than with a colour change.
I know it's hard to predict, but is it really worth to paint it in the original colour?
The rest of the parts have matching numbers.

[thelews]

The real question is, which will give you greater enjoyment, the car in the color you want or possibly more money when you sell it?

[paults1]

I vote for the dark blue!

[ejboyd5]

Life is too short to paint a car in a color you don't fancy just to preserve some illusory resale value.

[dirkbalter]

The real question is, which will give you greater enjoyment, the car in the color you want or possibly more money when you sell it?

I agree with that 100%. I had the same dilemma. I don’t really like the original color and I chose to paint the car in the color I like. Same applies to the interior. However, I want to drive and enjoy it and I am not planning to sell it.
(My body plate also reflects the new color. That will take care of the “tire kickers” and “arm chair judges”, I hope)

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

My car is 903 H blue and in 6 years I got more compliments on the colour then the car. My recommendation would be to paint the car in the colour you enjoy most, after all you will be driving her.

Dieter

[Cees Klumper]

You don't sound all that sure that you really like the lighter blue better, or not. Original color will help sell the car at a premium value, so I would go for that, unless I REALLY liked another color much better.

[bogeyman]

I looked for years for the color combination I wanted (040 black over parchment), it just wasn't out there. I decided to buy a good candidate for restoration
and complete it in my colors, which I did.

My situation is a little different but I can say I am glad I did it.

Resale value might be less but then again maybe there is someone else out there that likes my colors also...

[DaveB]

Only a minority of buyers would be picky about a color change, it shouldn't lower the value more than a few percent.
Personally, I prefer the darker/solid colors over the lighter/metallic. So I would stay with 332G. Your personal preference is more important though.

[MikeSimon]

Only a minority of buyers would be picky about a color change, it shouldn't lower the value more than a few percent.
Personally, I prefer the darker/solid colors over the lighter/metallic. So I would stay with 332G. Your personal preference is more important though.

Like you said, it is a personal preference...however... if you ever want to sell the car at top $$$ and you have the data card, the original color is a must. Except if the "new" color is really, really close and you have a hard time telling the difference between shades of blue.

[stickandrudderman]

I can only speak for the UK but here a change of colour, if done correctly, would have little impact on value. I suspect the same is true in mainland Europe where the OP is from.

[Bonnyboy]

I would say paint the car the colour you like but do a good job of prep and use the proper paint.  If you want to do a base coat clear coat go for it but in my opinion it doesn't look right.    I have seen many cars that were "original" colour but the paint job (or bodywork) was really lacking.  I can't count how many Pagodas I have seen with the wrong colour dash or wrong colour inside the door jams or Mustangs with the drip rails not done because the painter was lazy or forgot to prep those areas prior to repainting or the owner was not willing to pay the extra to get it done properly. 

I saw an old Mustang car on the weekend that just got a new paintjob in the "original colour".  The paintjob was so bad I thought he did it at home.  The owner did the body work himself and it was horrible.  I can't believe the painter agreed to paint the car.  It needed another 10 hours of sanding and filling but it seems that the last 10 hours is what people scrimp on and end up making what could have been a good paint job look awful.  Spend the extra to get someone with a "painting eye" to check body curves and angles to make sure the paint will sit right. 

Re your choice - A light blue with wide whitewalls is the perfect colour combination for a 230sl in my mind. 

[zak]

EeVeewee, since you asked,I think you have the right to paint the car any color you want and love.

Having said that , my 67 250 SL was Horizon Blue when I bought it 30 years ago. But it's original factory color was white.
Over time my hard top paint began to fade and peal, plus my hubcaps were all scratched up so I decided to repaint both.
I had always thought that the horizon blue color on the entire car we a bit feminine for me, so I researched period correct 2 tone paint combos and painted the top and hubcaps in the dark blue 332G color and wow what a beautiful color combo. The dark blue is so dark that at times in certain light it almost looks black but not quite.
Also the 332G was an original color on the 230SLs ( as you know) and was discontinued after 1967.  The slightly lighter blues used in later years seem very modern type colors somehow.
To me the dark blue 332G has a gravity to it that is true to it's era.
My 2 cents,

jz

[Mike Hughes]

The final color is your choice alone, but I would suggest one thing:  Perhaps it is possible that you may be thinking of a different color for your 230SL because the 332G dark blue looked so shabby on the car when you first found it.  That is perfectly understandable.  If your paint job turns out to be of the same standard as all your work we have been privileged to witness thus far, freshly painted in the same color it will be very elegant indeed!

[dpreston Virginia]

It is always interesting to me to see Mercedes colors in person. Time and time again I would think yuk I don’t like that color then I see it in person and say wow that really looks great.
Go look at car with the colors you are thinking about don’t go by a color board.
Also if the original color is too dark or light just adjust it to suit you
My car below is 903 Blue.
Never had a blue car but really like the color.

[RobSirg]

I agree with Dpreston about seeing the colour in person.
396G is actually 'medium blue' - I think you might be lured by the fact that 396G is metallic colour whereas 332G is solid.
I once read on the forum that a survey of the most desirable combination was Midnight Blue 904G with parchment interior.

I am a purist and swore never to change an original colour (and am 3/4 way through a nut and bolt restoration in it's original colour of Dark Red) ……..but I have now weakened, and would entertain the thought of restoring a car (future resto) in a preferred colour. I love Anthracite or Beige Grey - my friend has a stunning Moss Green car...…..I could go on.
I also feel the change in colour (as long as it is one of the more desirable colours) has little impact on the value these days.
Of course, I would have no qualms about changing the interior colour.

I have 3 Pagoda's and love them all but my 906G Grey Blue is the rock-star that turns the most heads. It is it's original colour with an original 2-tone darker Blue roof/Hubcaps. The original interior was blue vinyl but it had a cream interior when I bought it. I restored it with parchment leather interior as it looked nicer. I'm also partial to two-tone colours.

For mine - go with your preferred colour but look at the cars in the flesh first  (5 years ago I would shot myself for saying this).

Also bear in mind colours  look different under different light - especially the metallic. (see attached - same car in each photo).
p.s- I agreed to let it be used in a wedding shoot  - I don't actually know them

Good luck! Would love to hear and see your final choice!

[johnk]

I agree with Dpreston about seeing the colour in person.
396G is actually 'medium blue' - I think you might be lured by the fact that 396G is metallic colour whereas 332G is solid.
I once read on the forum that a survey of the most desirable combination was Midnight Blue 904G with parchment interior.

Where did you see that 904g with parchment interior was the most popular color combination? That wat the originacl color combination of mine and I just changed it to beige grey with parchment interior. I never saw mine in 904g as it was repainted red when I got it. I was never able to see a nicely finished 904g whith parchment in person but I did the beige gray. While I like my beige gray, I do have moments like this where I question if I made a mistake.


John K

[RobSirg]

Hi John

I wasn't sure I would bother finding it but below is the 2005 post by someone (sorry I don't know how to attach the actual link):

Glad I found it, and that I quoted it correctly (mostly) as it years ago when I read it …..might have been a tad embarrassing otherwise. I also recalled that Red is the least desirable, but I didn't want to offend anyone.

As for your chosen colour - you will note that I specifically mentioned Beige Grey as one of my favourites. So you didn't make the wrong choice IMO. 

 

Color combos

« on: May 31, 2005, 23:33:30 »



The recent issue of Merc Enthusiast's special Pagoda section was very informative.  One thing which was striking was their discussion of car value as it relates to color combo.  They state that dark blue with cream interior is the most desirable color combo (this is wonderful news to me, because that's what I have!  ), but I was surprised to read that red is the worst color.  What do some of you guys think about all this?

[EeVeeWee]

I agree I will have to see the color in real life before I make a final decision.
Not long ago I made the mistake to paint my Volkswagen T1 (Split Window) bus in the original colours VW T1 L472 Beige Grey and L53 Sealing Wax Red.
I have seen many of the buses in real life, but actually they changed the color to a more red than original.
Also the pictures of it looked nice:


The real color was a bit brown/red, I was somewhat unpleasantly surprised after the painting:


Fortunately there was an extra reason for some painting so after a few weeks I had the red colour been repainted in LY3D Tornado Red and now we are very satisfied.
I have learned my lesson! 

[JamesL]

Maybe not original but I love the Tornado red
Great pic, too!

[johnk]

Thanks robsirg! I appreciate the vote of comfidemce. The other deciding factor that I must remember is that my son, who could end up owning the car someday didn’t like midnight blue but he loved beige gray.

[teahead]

I dunno, kind of partial to the dark blue, but unless it was born (ordered) with a real REAL DESIRABLE color, then paint it what you want.

And if the original color is particular not complimentary (e.g. 423H), then by all means, paint it to how YOU would have ordered it new.

[RobSirg]

Beauty must be in the eye of the beholder...…..I happen like Tobacco Brown  …..especially with a cream interior.

When I first started looking for a Pagoda - it had to be White or Cream with a Tan interior.......after searching for 6 months.....I flipped, and decided I wanted anything but White/Cream, Silver or Red, as they seemed to be the most common (in Aust. anyway).