Premium for a factory Black car?

[Grahame M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Hi guys,
interesting thread. My car is black, but having spoken to the previous owner it was green and the build plate code is Monaco Orange. If I was to repaint or restore the bodywork, would it be better to keep black or go back to the original colour for resale value.
I understand it would judge better being original colour but I always have in the back of my mind that Monaco Orange is reasonably rare, and not such a bad colour when you see a restored vehicle?

Thanks
Grahame

[Kevin S.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Nicely prepped and painted Black cars have a special way of looking mean, sexy, classy and beautiful all at the same time

[Russ S.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Hi guys,
interesting thread. My car is black, but having spoken to the previous owner it was green and the build plate code is Monaco Orange. If I was to repaint or restore the bodywork, would it be better to keep black or go back to the original colour for resale value.
I understand it would judge better being original colour but I always have in the back of my mind that Monaco Orange is reasonably rare, and not such a bad colour when you see a restored vehicle?

Thanks
Grahame

Monaco orange is one of the best colors a vette ever came in and fairly rare.

[Terry M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Hi guys,
interesting thread. My car is black, but having spoken to the previous owner it was green and the build plate code is Monaco Orange. If I was to repaint or restore the bodywork, would it be better to keep black or go back to the original colour for resale value.
I understand it would judge better being original colour but I always have in the back of my mind that Monaco Orange is reasonably rare, and not such a bad colour when you see a restored vehicle?

Thanks
Grahame

Grahme,

It is your car. Do what makes you happy.
We are only custodians of our Corvettes, and none of us have any way of knowing what the conditions or circumstances will be when the next custodian takes over. I have thought it best not to trouble myself with such circumstances that I have no control over, but you can do what you want. Colour (or color) is very subjective, and even a person's idea of what is an appealing color (or colour) can change over time. There are a whole lot more Corvette owners who don't give a whit about originality than there are those of us who make a big issue of it. I believe the only way out of that conundrum is to do what makes me happy. You may do what you wish.

[Paul J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Hi guys,
interesting thread. My car is black, but having spoken to the previous owner it was green and the build plate code is Monaco Orange. If I was to repaint or restore the bodywork, would it be better to keep black or go back to the original colour for resale value.
I understand it would judge better being original colour but I always have in the back of my mind that Monaco Orange is reasonably rare, and not such a bad colour when you see a restored vehicle?

Thanks
Grahame

Grahame, the car will always be worth less if the color and trim tag doesn't match. If you're going to put a lot of money into a restoration and then sell the car, you could easily go upside down if the car is any color other than Monaco Orange. However, if you are going to keep the car then you will lose money anyway as the restoration deteriorates over time and mileage. So then it doesn't matter that much what the color is. It depends on what you intend to do with the car. If you're not going to sell it soon, paint it whatever color you want.

Paul

[Monte M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I know you guys got a little off topic, but the original thread was about black cars.
There has always been a premium paid for certain car. The classic is the red Corvette with black interior. They typically cost more.

I remember when I was looking for my first Corvette. I was looking at 69-72's. There was a guy in town that had a shop, but bought Corvettes, fixed them up a bit and sold them. When I looked at a car he had for sale, he ran me through what he called the basics of pricing.

He basically said: A lot of people like red cars with black interiors. So, two cars with the same options, one being red with black, and the other being something that few people might choose as their first pick, the second car will be substantially cheaper. The more options you put on the red/black car will make it go up a much higher percentage than the other having the same options. Meaning, if the basics of the car, paint and interior, area really good combination, adding rare options to it will make it go up in value far more than the same options on a less desirable color combination.

My point in all of that was, black seems to be a very desirable color. That said, of course it will have the tendency to bring more money than a less desirable color. As you add options to that car, I would think the black car would bring a much higher price per option as the other car.

We have all see the Vette Magazine price guide, that comes out in the May edition each year. They give a general price on a car with specific set of options. I get that even breaking it down as they have is very difficult, but the one HUGE factor they leave out is the color of the paint and the color of the interior. A really bad color combination could drop the value of a car by a very large percentage.

So, yes, I would say there is a premium on black cars. Almost every color draws some kind of premium compared to a color you just might refuse to own because you dislike it that much.

I think if we all were honest, we all have seen a few Corvettes out there with a color combination that is not very appealing to our taste. That car would have a lower price than another car that is pleasing to the eye.

The nice thing is, we all get to choose.

I will admit I have painted an original red Corvette black because there are so many red ones I just liked looking at a black one better. I am somewhat of a purest, but it is my car and the next owner can put it back to red if he wants. Does it drop the value a bit? ......................I do not care. So, in my opinion, again, yes, black cars bring a premium.

Enjoy the weekend guys

[Joe M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I like black cars but wouldn't pay a penny more for a black car vs a blue car.
Of the millions of people who own corvettes and don't participate in NCRS or even know about it, a non original color has no bearing on price. Someone not intending to entering NCRS judging and purchasing a vette will claim the perfect paint job of a non original color is worth 10k less as a bargaining chip. Move on to the next buyer.

Loved the hugger orange on my 69. Remember a 57 vette from way back when that was a metallic orange or tangerine. amazing how that non original color stands the test of time to and in no way diminishes the car or its value.

[Michael J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I agree that colors inside and out will make a car, and the options too of course. I have always been interested in a '67 Marina Blue with bright blue interior L71. I found this one at a well known dealer, if you are interested in detective work, take a look at the hi-res photos of the engine stamp pad and the tank sticker vs. the as advertised "options" the car has now. Very interesting.

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1967-Chevrolet-Corvette-Sting-Ray/134126/213845

[Grahame M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Thanks Terry,

Words of wisdom

[Mark D.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I agree that colors inside and out will make a car, and the options too of course. I have always been interested in a '67 Marina Blue with bright blue interior L71. I found this one at a well known dealer, if you are interested in detective work, take a look at the hi-res photos of the engine stamp pad and the tank sticker vs. the as advertised "options" the car has now. Very interesting.
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1967-Chevrolet-Corvette-Sting-Ray/134126/213845

The ultra rare V14 Side Exhaust system.

[Michael J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

The ultra rare V14 Side Exhaust system.

It is amazing what sellers will put in ads, and the very "tricky" ways they take pictures. This one takes the cake for the sheer volume of misinformation. They really do think no one (or very, very few) will know better, and it is also a sad situation that they are correct.

[William F.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Colors all personal but I always thought those painted "orange" was what made people think gold neck chain, leisure suit, and platform shoes came standard with C3 Corvettes, especially the ones with rubber ducky front and rears.

[Joe M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Silver was always referred to as an 'old man's color' and the 67 goodwood green was the same color as the Pubic Service utility trucks. White is what you painted a car to hide the body work. What old vette didn't have a layer of some blue metallic paint.

Actually, the 68 and up vettes of any color conjure thoughts of gold chains and leisure suits more so for the 74 and up. Of course gold chains and leisure suits are good memories to many.

Last thing you wanted to see was a 'new vette" give you the 'peace sign' rather than a simple wave.

Black was always cool!

[Chuck M.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

I didn't know if there is a premium for a black car, ultimately a cars worth is what someone is willing to pay for it. However, in my opinion, it is really tough to beat a black car. Yeah it shows Everything but when done right it really is stunning, especially on that mid-year coupe body!
photo.jpg

[Paul J.]

Re: Premium for a factory Black car?

Young men like fast cars, and I can remember as a young man hanging out by the strip arguing about the fastest cars. I won't bother you with the stories of an older kid with a reputation and a fast supercharged Studebaker Hawk and a very fast 69 SS Camero, both with built engines and both black. We knew that in the 50's Ferrari showed us that the fastest cars were red, but in the 70's Dale Earnhardt Sr. showed us that the fastest cars were black.