Should I stay original

[69bronzeT5]

I say T5.

[Back N Black]

Go black, brown is for the grocery getters. 

[The70RT]

If you are doing a rotissorie resto I would go original because I'm sure all the old paint is gonna be removed. The only bad on that is if someone else or you by chance want to go back it would be a bitch to restrip the whole car again. But who really knows how many owners are to have our cars in the 20, 50 or 100 years to come, so do what you want buddy.

[y3chargerrt]

Go original since its a real matching number 4 speed R/T.

[BROCK]

I'm a rodder.  I like making things better or maybe just more to my taste.

Numbers matching?  Lotsa people keepin that going.

4 speed?  More desirable.

But is it rare?  Do you feel obligated to the world to make sure it is 100%
factory correct on account of it's rarity? 

I'd rather do a triple black but had to answer yes to a few of those questions. 
So, I got a 72 that is too common not to do my way!!!!!  Best of both worlds

[Dodge Don]

If it's numbers matching then I'd say go original. 

[FLG]

Im going to chime in here again and say

ITS ONLY PAINT!!

Do what ya please, just cover the paint code on the fender tag so those crazy guys at car shows dont yell at ya 

[mikesbbody]

id go with the black paint if it were mine 

[resq302]

Since our el camino is triple black, I guess I can chime in regarding the maintenance of a black car.  First, it seems that all black painted cars have a factory optional "dust magnet" as they seem to attract the slightest bit of dust to the car.  Hence, making the car look dirty all the time, same goes for that pollen crap in the spring.  Secondly, if you have any, even the slightest, imperfection in the body or paint, it will stick out like a sore thumb.  Our el camino has a couple of blems and it seems like there is a big neon sign pointing out where they are.  Black paint will also show any swirls, fine scratches, etc should anyone brush up against it at a show or lean on the car when it is dusty, expect the paint to show it off.  On the upside, an excellent black paint job shows the results too as it looks fantastic with a little bit of chrome trim such as wheel well moldings, window trim, etc.  White painted cars are just as bad with showing off the dirt, however, the white paint hides a lot of imperfections and scratches.

My silver and gre F150 pick up on the other hand can go about 3 months without washing it and it still looks pretty good.  I am still amazed that every time when I wash it, the water in the bucket is actually as dirty as it is since the truck never really looked anywhere close to that filthy.

[Ghoste]

Unless you plan to show the car in concour's style judging or you are trying to restore with the intention to mazimize it's resale value then paint it any color you want.  Yes, some colors will hurt value and some will help.  Personally, I like the copper and right now, it seems to be a color that is somewhat in vogue from a resell value point of view but really, just paint it what you like and enjoy the car more.

[Old Moparz]

Color choice can be a difficult thing since it's something you have to live with for a long time. Yeah, you can always change it later, but it's not like you can just peel a sticker off if you get tired of it. As far as hurting the value, I agree that it's possible, but more so if it's a color choice that is considered undesirable. I have a 1971 Barracuda that still has it's original color on it called Tawny Gold. It's a rare color, but it's pretty damn ugly & probably why it's rare. If anything, a color change on this car would increase the value. If I ever get to the body & paint, it'll definitely get a color change to one "I" like, even Panther Pink, & I wouldn't care if anyone else liked it.

I like triple black, but I also like contrasting color combinations, especially on the 68 to 70 Chargers. A few others pointed out the upkeep & comfort of all black, & I agree that it should be part of the decision making. I had a triple black, Cadillac station wagon, but it had A/C so the summers weren't unbearable. The dust, dirt, & imperfections did become a headache, but I lived with it. Copper with a tan top wouldn't be my choice, I'd go with a black top instead. The saddle interior is my favorite interior color & would be nice, but since you already have black, it makes sense to use it. Changing the seat covers isn't the end of the world, but the dash pads, upper door pads, headliner, & all the plastic trim will be expensive.

Based on choosing a combination without money or practicality as part of the decision, my choices would be....

Copper with a black top & black interior.

or...

Black, & lose the vinyl top all together with a saddle interior.   

[1969chargerrtse]

1969chargerrtse:
Other than the perfect color combination I mentioned earlier, see above reply, I mentioned to Andy your color without vinyl top.. I love the look of your Charger in your avatar....

Troy

Thanks for the all the replies so far guy's. Oh yeah, you too Troy for all the good that stellar advise was...lol  . I will continue to read whatever is posted as I'm still up in the air on wich way to go. I do also like your car 1969chargerrtse and if you have more pics or a link to some, let me know. I would like to see more of it.

Well thanks very much for the compliments.  I don't have any real nice pictures.  They were all taken with a cheap digital camera that never ever shows the bright Orange color well.  But here are a few.  Don't mean to hog the thread, but you asked.  By the way, before I owned a Charger I wrote out what my dream car would be, and it was a 4spd T5 charger.    But like any smart car nut, owning a 69 charger in any color is O.K.
Lets not forget my link of a Mopar in action ( Stock like new ).            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jba_lYkzRU


                                                                     

[Dans 68]

...But like any smart car nut, owning a 69 charger in any color is O.K.

...while owning a '68 Charger in any color is perfect....

Dan

[Joshua]

I'm painting my next car PINK.......

[41husk]

I bet an original panther pink Charger would be worth some money!

[Old Moparz]

I bet an original panther pink Charger would be worth some money!

Not really, it'd have to be a '70.   

[68RT4ME]

Well, again thank you to all who have posted. I have read all the posts and given this allot of thought and I am going to go with the T5 Copper. Since I have a complete Black interior, I'm going to use it as well. Too expensive to switch it over to saddle. Now as for the top. It's suppose to be Tan but since the interior is Black, it makes more sence to me to use a matching Black top but the wife disagrees with me there. My thoughts are since the stripe is suppose to be Black, It would look odd to have a Tan top though it's whats called for. I'll have to work on her with that. She is the reason I have the car in the first place as some of you know from my story back in November so I find it only fair to let her have input of what we end up doing. In the end though, I'm sure she will go along with what I want.

The engine and trans are all done and waiting for the car to be completed for install so, allot of progress has been made since it went in in January. I've taken a boat load of pics and need to find the time to post them in Cody's thread but I will get to it. I know these cars are rare in and of themselves. I'm not sure how many are 440 4spds though but, I tend to lean toward stock/original cars and so I can't and won't complain about the color. It's not that I don't like it, it's that I like other colors more. This one is mine though and I love it all the same and will be totally proud to sport around in it when it's done.

Thanks Guys...

[Dans 68]

...I'm not sure how many are 440 4spds though....

3,605 were made.    Either way you go with the paint and vinyl, it will be stunning. 

Dan

[Old Moparz]

Now as for the top. It's suppose to be Tan but since the interior is Black, it makes more sence to me to use a matching Black top but the wife disagrees with me there. My thoughts are since the stripe is suppose to be Black, It would look odd to have a Tan top though it's whats called for. I'll have to work on her with that. She is the reason I have the car in the first place as some of you know from my story back in November so I find it only fair to let her have input of what we end up doing. In the end though, I'm sure she will go along with what I want.

Here's an idea if you paint the entire car before the vinyl top goes on. I know some people install the top first, but I wouldn't, & would rather have the entire car sealed with paint. Why not try out both colors on the roof before you choose one so you can see which you & your wife prefer? You can use a tape that doesn't have strong adhesive, then cover & mask off the roof with colored paper. If you can't get the colored paper of the right shade, you can spray paint it, then take photos to see the contrast. Seeing your own car in person will make a huge difference. Think about how crappy the 3" by 3" flooring samples are when you want to see the whole room in one color.   

I did a similar thing with my Satellite convertible years ago when it needed a new roof. The original roof was white, but it was impossible to keep it clean & I didn't want white anymore. When I needed the roof it was late fall, but chose to wait until spring to do it. I covered the entire roof with duct tape to seal out the cold & the water for the winter. (You have to remember that this was a $450 daily driver back in 1984.....lol) I bought 2 cans of flat black spray paint & sprayed the entire roof so the duct tape looked like convertible fabric. I liked the black color on the blue car, & in the spring I had a new black roof installed. It cost me $12 to do that back then.

[FLG]

Why not just go to the photoshop thread and have DS make 2 cars up for ya? Im sure he will appreciate that this is going to be done to the car and not just some thing that "might" happen.

[y3chargerrt]

I would go with the black top since the interior and strip will also be black.

[472 R/T SE]

If you're painting it the original color might as well put the original color interior in too. 

Surely you can sell that black to someone to recoup the costs.  After all it's black, prolly what over half of the cars out there go with.

It's already gonna be unique being painted the original color & 4 gear, just as well do it all right.

It's fun spending other people's money. 

[68RT4ME]

Why not just go to the photoshop thread and have DS make 2 cars up for ya? I'm sure he will appreciate that this is going to be done to the car and not just some thing that "might" happen.

That's a good idea. I may give that a try.

If you're painting it the original color might as well put the original color interior in too. 

Surely you can sell that black to someone to recoup the costs.  After all it's black, prolly what over half of the cars out there go with.

It's already gonna be unique being painted the original color & 4 gear, just as well do it all right.

It's fun spending other people's money.

I've also thought about doing that but, It will be quite a job to gather all the pieces and there would still be allot of expense to go along with doing it. I have all the pieces I need for black so it would be easier to just go with that and I like it in black.

[69 OUR/TEA]

68RT4ME,
         Good choice with keeping the T5,I'll add one more vote for orig.  My all time fav's are trip black and T5,since your car is T5,and is rare,I would leave it.It seems you feel about your car as I do with my 69 R/T in B5,B7 int,white top,white stripe.It's nice,but I much rather have had X9 or T5.Contemplated numerous times on changing it to 3x9,but when the time came for paint,could'nt do it,B5 it stayed.Like Troy said,he saw 12-13 black chargers and none of them were real x9's.I have no problem with someone changing the color to one that they would much rather have,but for me I like to have it as they were built.
        Even better that I left it alone,earlier this year,a real 3x9 69 RT/SE,from Cali,loaded with options surfaced near me,did not hesitate,went and got it!Good luck with your car,love to start seeing pics of the progress!!!!

[1969chargerrtse]

If you're painting it the original color might as well put the original color interior in too. 

Surely you can sell that black to someone to recoup the costs.  After all it's black, prolly what over half of the cars out there go with.

It's already gonna be unique being painted the original color & 4 gear, just as well do it all right.

It's fun spending other people's money. 

  Go for the whole thing.  It's neat to say this is exactly the way it was in 69.