Does bad chrome enhance value?

[Mike R.]

A primary goal of my L89 restoration is value creation. I certainly don't want to spend more money to make the car worth less. Sometimes this is straight forward. I am painting the frame instead of powder coating it. Painting costs less and is more original. Sometimes the decisions are more difficult. I talked to an NCRS judge and fellow 69 L89 owner who told me that I would be better off to have a cheap chrome job done on the bumpers and other chrome bits because that is the way it came when new. The cost to chrome is the same whether show chrome or the lesser factory quality (The cost is all in the polishing).

With value being the criteria, should I try to duplicate the original, cheap chrome? Or do something better?

Thanks

Mike

[Dick W.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Mike, go for the cheaper chrome. OEM chrome, I believe, lacked the copper coat that is polished before the top layer is applied, therefore lacked the depth of show chrome. Valve covers are flash chrome, Richard Fortier has a source to get this done.

When we were restoring cars, we used a plater that did all the local car dealers work. We cleaned the back side of the bumpers, etc before we sent them out. Never had a car dinged for chrome. A couple of owner's were not happy about the lack of show chrome, but when we were attaching a guarantee of a Duntov and/or Bloomington Gold award with our work, we did not want to spot the judges any points. They could find enough without us making it easy to take more

[Mike R.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

OK, this is what I will do. It pains me though.

Mike, go for the cheaper chrome. OEM chrome, I believe, lacked the copper coat that is polished before the top layer is applied, therefore lacked the depth of show chrome. Valve covers are flash chrome, Richard Fortier has a source to get this done.

When we were restoring cars, we used a plater that did all the local car dealers work. We cleaned the back side of the bumpers, etc before we sent them out. Never had a car dinged for chrome. A couple of owner's were not happy about the lack of show chrome, but when we were attaching a guarantee of a Duntov and/or Bloomington Gold award with our work, we did not want to spot the judges any points. They could find enough without us making it easy to take more

[George J.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Because it's ridiculous. Who in their right mind wants to pay the same money for inferior materials, and/or workmanship.

George

[Michael Y.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Ultimately the decision is up to you. Do you want bad chrome, in order to not lose a couple of points? I myself would sacrifice the points, and go with the nice chrome. That is my opinion, but you have to decide what is most important to you. Remember that no one else has to look at the car each and every day, except you!!!!!!! So do what you think is right.

[Patrick N.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Ultimately the decision is up to you. Do you want bad chrome, in order to not lose a couple of points? I myself would sacrifice the points, and go with the nice chrome. That is my opinion, but you have to decide what is most important to you. Remember that no one else has to look at the car each and every day, except you!!!!!!! So do what you think is right.

I second that, Do what you think will best meet your goals for the restoration. If "Value" is tied to faithful restoration to match typical factory production quality and highest points achieved during flight judging, then "bad chrome" is the way to go, along with "bad paint", runs drips... If value is ultimately tied to resale, show chrome will go a long way, along with better than factory painit and the like.

just be happy with your decision in the end - it's your car.

[Mike R.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

My understanding is, with a rare car (L89 automatic), the greatest resale value will come with the greatest originality, drips, runs and all. Let me know if I am wrong about this.

I second that, Do what you think will best meet your goals for the restoration. If "Value" is tied to faithful restoration to match typical factory production quality and highest points achieved during flight judging, then "bad chrome" is the way to go, along with "bad paint", runs drips... If value is ultimately tied to resale, show chrome will go a long way, along with better than factory painit and the like.

just be happy with your decision in the end - it's your car.

[Dick W.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

It goes back to the fact, does he want an authentic appearing restoration, or one of the over restored show cars? We always tried to find a balance between the two.

George, there is a ton of difference in the pricing of show chrome and what you would pay for average chrome. We restored a '57 Cadillac convertible around 1980. All the chrome was sent to the company that was doing GM's showcar chrome. The bill, 30 years ago, was North of $12k.

[Paul J.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Mike, remember that cheap chrome, bad paint, and other NCRS standards can hurt the value of your car in a non-NCRS forum. The types of details that we fret over are in the reproduction and preservation of a poor quality standard. That is not appreciated by a lot of the buying public, who prefer to own cars with high quality finishes.

If you are going on the NCRS judging trail, you may wish to have the poor quality finishes. If you are going for concours judging, you need the high quality stuff. However, if you're not going to have the car judged then maybe you want something in between (like most cars that I see).

In my present restoration, I'm following NCRS standards when I know I can fix them after judging (like paint). But I'm using higher quality methods on things like show chrome because it will allow the car to appeal to a broader market when it is sold. The higher quality finishes should also last longer.

Paul

[Gary J.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

I respectfully disagree with those stating go with bad chrome, anyone who has had chrome done knows that is does not take long for that appearance to demish very quickly no matter how careful or protective you try to be.
What are we looking at; a one or two point deduction for chrome too good, please, that never stopped me or anyone else from a top flight award or the value of the car. Divide the number 2 by 4510 and you get 1/5 of 1%, you can still have a 99 point car and lose another 43 points
Get the best chrome work done you can afford.

Gary

[Domenic T.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

I was told by a guy that dealed in corvettes that the buyers that spend the big bucks buying a corvette want it to look spectacular. He also said the #s guys are not the big spenders. If you want to sell it or have it last a life time then make it look good and up grade the material you use now.
If you enjoy the hobby we have then keep it original and keep working on it when the paint, chrome, rust ETC. re- appears.
I collect model airplane motors,gas powered cars, and boats and I keep them all original because they are in a cabinet and not for sale.
I on the other hand want my vette to out last me and am over restoring it and want it to be one that can bring in the big bucks if the need came.

DOM

[Patrick N.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

Factory vs. Flash, which will win

The judging process from what I can see will enable you to absorb minor deducts along the way for over/under restored items and still achieve top flight- adding to the car's "value". Documentation to me is a much bigger deal in today's market to verify you are getting what you think you are purchasing.

For me, I plan to have my car judged as well as sell it at some point in the future. It is by no means a rare car, but I do like some flash- my L68 valve covers are show chrome to add some wow factor when you pop the hood. I reviewed the judging guide and feel I'll be OK with any point deductions in this area, and have focused on the bigger point items to achieve top flight when that time comes.

Best of luck

[Dick W.]

Re: Does bad chrome enhance value?

I respectfully disagree with those stating go with bad chrome, anyone who has had chrome done knows that is does not take long for that appearance to demish very quickly no matter how careful or protective you try to be.
What are we looking at; a one or two point deduction for chrome too good, please, that never stopped me or anyone else from a top flight award or the value of the car. Divide the number 2 by 4510 and you get 1/5 of 1%, you can still have a 99 point car and lose another 43 points
Get the best chrome work done you can afford.

Gary

I have to respectfully disagree with you Gary. There are cars out there that we restored over 20 years ago and the chrome is hold up as well as show chrome would. It is not bad chrome, it just has a shortcut taken, the base is the same on both, and the chrome is the same material, just the difference in copper or not.