Black 500 red stripe-int to repaint or not

[XS29LA47V21]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,77912.50.html

So I re-read this old post again.  My intent when buying was clearly down the path of "survivor" or near survivor with a repaint for the old holy grail and not restore.  I have got it running with limited efforts on a short initial run (no exhaust to speak of and no radiator connection, short run time) seems to run pretty good for crusty   

So now that some of my car buds local have indicated some similar thoughts of not painting as here on thread dealy has now got me straddling the fence a little.  I do believe the back end of the car reflects original creative repainted areas, but some of the front has clearly been painted (I suspect back in the 1970s in Calif).  It has more dents then ebay photos indicated, apparently from Hurricane Andrew in S. FLA 1992.  For what is worth, I am no less happy with the car .  At best I am looking towards repaint and other limited grooming with NOS or nice original pcs.  I have tried a local miracle dent puller on two modern cars with big dents from tree storm damage and one of my other chargers he spent half a day making it better sorta, but then looked worked.  It seems like two options repaint outside or leave it as is? 

So do you think I should repaint or not. 

[moparstuart]

  if you are for sure its not original paint  , its a no brainer go ahead and fix all the dents and do an outside repaint . Warning these thing seem to snow ball and turn into a full on restoration .   

[pettybird]

Don't they though...


IF all of your trim AND all of your chrome AND all of your seals and gaskets AND all of your glass AND all of your emblems AND your grille AND your lights and lenses are in fantastic shape, then you'll be in cheap.


Putting anything more than used take-off or new parts against fresh paint looks terrible.  It's amazing what you think would be OK now that you'll end up sighing, shaking your head and replacing. 

What started out as a $6000-7000 paint refresh on the B5 car has nearly quadrupled in price, and there are still some little things the car needs.

[mauve66]

i got confused (again, i know i know), the link is for a 4spd car being sold but the pics end up being of an automatic car, and i'm guessing that you actually bought it at the end of the auctioin???

[XS29LA47V21]

    That's unlikely (the resto).  age and some loss of middle age brain cells still computes the math to build others in a lifetime and kids college someday.  However, it is likely you and I meet next week in El Darado and you scope my crusty rare beater, then maybe you will figure I am not "the norm" towards perfect cars which may or may not be real.  Besides negotiations any deeper with the wife this yr for a second car being painted and after buying this car is unlikely.  If the F8 500 sells that would help (mainly with my relationship management and timing).

By the shear number of dents and what I see as some front clip repaint on top earlier layer of black paint leads me towards the idea of an outside paint on my car.   I have seen two other aero cars that I understood had a panel or two repainted but still presented as survivor.  I guess part of the question does include is a survivor all factory paint only with no repainted areas at all?  Avoiding the name throwing here, but for example if a 500 closer to you then me was repainted, I would think that would be sad because it is such a beautiful example of an original and it has a repaint to a full 1/4 as I recall.  Can someone post photos of original paint lines from creative ind work areas, that would be interesting.

[XS29LA47V21]

i got confused (again, i know i know), the link is for a 4spd car being sold but the pics end up being of an automatic car, and i'm guessing that you actually bought it at the end of the auctioin???

Couple of those topics bounce some on black 500s, the one I bought was this one out of FLA, Factory Blk, red int, red stripe, 440 auto and stack of options.  I was appearant low bidder as they say.

[mauve66]

only original once as they say, of course the itch to have it "perfect" is simply overpowering sometimes.............

[C500]

I would keep it as it is. The job will just grow and grow, and as soon as it's painted, you'll worry about every little scratch. As said above, only original once.

BTW, the color combo is superb 

[moparstuart]

  That's unlikely (the resto).  age and some loss of middle age brain cells still computes the math to build others in a lifetime and kids college someday.  However, it is likely you and I meet next week in El Darado and you scope my crusty rare beater, then maybe you will figure I am not "the norm" towards perfect cars which may or may not be real.  Besides negotiations any deeper with the wife this yr for a second car being painted and after buying this car is unlikely.  If the F8 500 sells that would help (mainly with my relationship management and timing).

By the shear number of dents and what I see as some front clip repaint on top earlier layer of black paint leads me towards the idea of an outside paint on my car.   I have seen two other aero cars that I understood had a panel or two repainted but still presented as survivor.  I guess part of the question does include is a survivor all factory paint only with no repainted areas at all?  Avoiding the name throwing here, but for example if a 500 closer to you then me was repainted, I would think that would be sad because it is such a beautiful example of an original and it has a repaint to a full 1/4 as I recall.  Can someone post photos of original paint lines from creative ind work areas, that would be interesting.

i know we talked on the phone will be nice to meet u in person    but really i wanna see the car  

[moparstuart]

I would keep it as it is. The job will just grow and grow, and as soon as it's painted, you'll worry about every little scratch. As said above, only original once.

BTW, the color combo is superb 

wow you would know for sure    about them snow balling   

[C500]

I would keep it as it is. The job will just grow and grow, and as soon as it's painted, you'll worry about every little scratch. As said above, only original once.

BTW, the color combo is superb 

wow you would know for sure    about them snow balling   

aint that the truth! 

[pettybird]

  That's unlikely (the resto).

If you'd said the same thing to us two years ago we would have agreed.  Funny how you don't see how big the snowball becomes before it rolls over you!

[maxwellwedge]

All "clean-ups" turn into snowballs.....they sure do for me anyway. But that's ok 

[XS29LA47V21]

Dunk I still think you need my green one so you can have twins, one real nice, then build mine as a driver, you would confuse people for years.
   

I would forcast I will be driving before I think much about the outside, if at all, but was interested in hearing some thoughts (two open cans is plenty.) 

[moparstuart]

Dunk I still think you need my green one so you can have twins, one real nice, then build mine as a driver, you would confuse people for years.
   

I would forcast I will be driving before I think much about the outside, if at all, but was interested in hearing some thoughts (two open cans is plenty.) 

no really you need a red one to have the trifecta   

[C500]

Dunk I still think you need my green one so you can have twins, one real nice, then build mine as a driver, you would confuse people for years.
   

I would forcast I will be driving before I think much about the outside, if at all, but was interested in hearing some thoughts (two open cans is plenty.) 

I would happily have two, one step at a time though 

Red would also be nice, very christmassy pair. I would just need the white Hemi 500 off ebay for a nice little set 

[RallyeMike]

Maybe I'm just jaded, but I don't get much of a thrill when it comes to restored cars anymore like I do when I get to look at an original. We exchanged notes on this when you first told me your plans and I had picked up my 69 500. I think its exceptionally interesting as-is. When restored, its just another restored car (although with very cool options and color).

I still vote to have a decent shop massage dents, yes - they will still be noticeable, but they will be better. Then carefully clean it, and drive it without a care in the world.

Additionally, I think the best strategy from an investment standpoint is to NOT restore it.

[Patronus]

Don't they though...


IF all of your trim AND all of your chrome AND all of your seals and gaskets AND all of your glass AND all of your emblems AND your grille AND your lights and lenses are in fantastic shape, then you'll be in cheap.


Putting anything more than used take-off or new parts against fresh paint looks terrible.  It's amazing what you think would be OK now that you'll end up sighing, shaking your head and replacing. 

What started out as a $6000-7000 paint refresh on the B5 car has nearly quadrupled in price, and there are still some little things the car needs.

I couldn't have said it any better. Once you start painting, nothing on the outside of that car, nothing, will be acceptable but new.

[tan top]

like  whats been mentioned above !!  its going to snowball   , unrestored cars are awesome !!  only original once & all that     ,  if that car was mine i would have a difficult time deciding what to do !! but  , like  i just mentioned only original once   ,    prolly going to get flamed now , think if you have the spare cash & X amount  time  , i would restore it  ,  it wont stop at a  exterior paint job !! no offence !   it will look like a hlpeg ( sort of  )  car  every thing else will look junk with just fresh paint  sorry to say
 document the car take  thousands of pictures of every thing &  video    , then  restore it    could do a paint job & interior  but !! your still running original wiring  , etc etc brakes !! baljoints /bushings etcetc   , either way its going to snow ball    
 give it a nut & bolt resto if  & when  time & funds   allow  

[gtx6970]

If it looks good overall in real laife likes it does in the picture.
leave it, drive it , enjoy it

[XS29LA47V21]

Maybe I'm just jaded, but I don't get much of a thrill when it comes to restored cars anymore like I do when I get to look at an original. We exchanged notes on this when you first told me your plans and I had picked up my 69 500. I think its exceptionally interesting as-is. When restored, its just another restored car (although with very cool options and color).

I still vote to have a decent shop massage dents, yes - they will still be noticeable, but they will be better. Then carefully clean it, and drive it without a care in the world.

Additionally, I think the best strategy from an investment standpoint is to NOT restore it. (sure, if the white Hemi 500 on the market the last several years is nice and obtainable, I am Shirley not cutting this one up to resto)

Thanks all, you are right and I agree.  It is a difficult and near impossible line to draw down the path of improving an original car and Pandora's box, Mike.. yes we might be jaded on this topic, I seen tons of very nice cars over the years, that is partly why I bought this car and gathered that triple black RTSE above as beater, the RTSE maybe rougher then most like, but you do not see crusty cars much anymore, especially rare ones and you cannot argue or wonder how much is what it is.  For what it is worth, I am still on the path of my purchase on this one and unlikely to change much anytime soon other than making it reliably drive first.  I do have two other cans opened/snowballs and have no intention of a third.  To clarify some details of the car and No offence to seller, the ebay photos showed some stuff and a shiny buffed out original car, the additional photos provided by the seller prior to end of auction/purchase showed a rougher car then ebay photos (indicated to me anyway) or at least better details to help me buy the car.  The local dent guy here I would put up to guys nationally on new cars, just a miracle worker, but not so much on the old thick metal.  Does someone out there specialize on the old thicker metal dent repairs? 


Xmas that is a great idea too, very festive and family oriented.  I am in that stack also who really likes that white hemi 500, it would look great with my black and white thing....... 

Could someone post some original paint Daytona or 500 pics if they have some, I would love to see some.

[nascarxx29]

Could someone post some original paint Daytona or 500 pics if they have some, I would love to see some

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,75939.msg852588/topicseen.html#msg852588

[FJ5WING]

  . Warning these thing seem to snow ball and turn into a full on restoration .   

Ask me how I know!
What started as a motor rebuild....


as exploaded into the "full boogie"!

[XS29LA47V21]

Could someone post some original paint Daytona or 500 pics if they have some, I would love to see some

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,75939.msg852588/topicseen.html#msg852588

Thanks, ooh dats cool reading dar....send me more if you know some off hand.  I am interested in knowing where Creative Ind. painted areas ended typically, I suspect full roof and somewhere behind the door or below the sail panel-mid 1/4.  Clearly so few original paint exist or known, that is sad to me, my B5 RT is factory orig paint & I have enough cans opens, thanks for the support, I will stay the coarse of no paint (for at least the foreseeable future).

[69_500]

Of all of the 500's I have seen I can count on both my hands the ones that are still wearing their original paint. My vote goes for leaving the car the way it is now and enjoying it. Get it road worthy but leave the exterior alone. I would rather look at the car the way it is than once it is restored but I think I'm an odd ball.

I've probably seen about 150 500's over the years and I can only think of 9 that were still in their original paint when I saw them. Well that I know were still in their original paint. Others there are a few questions about.