Should I stay original

[68RT4ME]

Since I value the opinion of the members here I wanted to ask a question. My '69 R/T will be ready for paint in about a month (that's body shop code for more like 2-3 months...lol). It's a T5 Copper car, Numbers Matching 440 4spd and is suppose to have a Tan top and saddle interior. I got it with an entirely new Black interior in boxes and the seats are already recovered in black. Everyone including me loves a Black Charger so my question is, should I have it painted in original T5 Copper or do it up in triple black? This is a rotisserie job so it's a one time deal for me.

Will going with the non original color hurt it's value? Part of me knows it does hurt it but part of me feels that if it does, it wouldn't be hurt all that much. The main thing is I have no intent to sell but one should never say never as anything can happen. As you can tell, I'm conflicted here  . BTW, the wife is for Copper...lol

[THE COLONEL]

I like the originality of it personally, but remember, it is just a paint job and interior.  It can all be changed back....years down the road when you have the money again.  I think to a "TRUE" collector, it would be worth more original, but to us, we love them no matter what!!

[moparstuart]

 I love black , but i say put it back all original because that is a great color combo also .   

[Blown70]

Because of the Numbers matching, if you truely want to do it once,  Do the original.  Will be a nice combo. when done.

Keep in mind I usually tell people to modify there car!!

Tom

[41husk]

I feel color is not a permanent change, you can paint it any way you want! Unless you are going to a concourse judged show, who will ever know?  I went with QQ1 blue because that was the original color and I did grow on me.  After it was painted I decided to put the R/T tail stripe on it, because I liked it.  It is not an R/T clone (no emblems)  I just liked the stripe.   If someone else is the owner and they don't like the stripe they can always remove it.   

[68charger383]

You know you want it triple black.......if you build it, they will come.

If your question is how will this effect value if you ever have to sell it?  I think nicely done triple black car will have the same value as the original color combo, if not more since I think more buyers will want it.

If your question is do you need to keep it original since it is all NOM etc. it's your car....make it your own.

In the alternative, a T5 car with changes like a black interior and top would be nice as well.

[hemi68charger]

Since I value the opinion of the members here I wanted to ask a question. My '69 R/T will be ready for paint in about a month (that's body shop code for more like 2-3 months...lol). It's a T5 Copper car, Numbers Matching 440 4spd and is suppose to have a Tan top and saddle interior. I got it with an entirely new Black interior in boxes and the seats are already recovered in black. Everyone including me loves a Black Charger so my question is, should I have it painted in original T5 Copper or do it up in triple black? This is a rotisserie job so it's a one time deal for me.

Will going with the non original color hurt it's value? Part of me knows it does hurt it but part of me feels that if it does, it wouldn't be hurt all that much. The main thing is I have no intent to sell but one should never say never as anything can happen. As you can tell, I'm conflicted here  . BTW, the wife is for Copper...lol

Paint it Plum Crazy, Green interior with a Mod Top... But, keep the 4-speed by all means...........  Wheels? let me thing on that one............ 

Troy

[1969chargerrtse]

Since I value the opinion of the members here I wanted to ask a question. My '69 R/T will be ready for paint in about a month (that's body shop code for more like 2-3 months...lol). It's a T5 Copper car, Numbers Matching 440 4spd and is suppose to have a Tan top and saddle interior. I got it with an entirely new Black interior in boxes and the seats are already recovered in black. Everyone including me loves a Black Charger so my question is, should I have it painted in original T5 Copper or do it up in triple black? This is a rotisserie job so it's a one time deal for me.

Will going with the non original color hurt it's value? Part of me knows it does hurt it but part of me feels that if it does, it wouldn't be hurt all that much. The main thing is I have no intent to sell but one should never say never as anything can happen. As you can tell, I'm conflicted here  . BTW, the wife is for Copper...lol

Not every one is a Black or triple black Charger fan.  It's one of the last colors I would pick, but to each it's own because the body style is so classy and powerful any color works fine.  This one is a common question and the choice is yours.  I would love to have a real R/T 4 speed car.  If both those color choices were sitting side by side, and the black one was not original correct anyway, I'd be buying the copper car.  Only one it matters to is you.  You like Black, paint it black.  My car is a rare original Y2 yellow car painted Hugger orange.  My opinion is I would get the same amount for it as being Orange as original yellow, so I guess It really doesn't matter? 

[hemi68charger]

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

[Joshua]

I'm all for NOT keeping a car original just for the sake of resale value.......but I'd probably paint it copper (with a gold pearl overcoat) before black(if that was my only choice), but leave the vinyl top off, black interior, black stripe......

[Skyview69]

Go for the original.  You can send me the fresh covered black seats you have and I will send you my torn seats.  That way you won't have to ruin the new black seats. 

[68RT4ME]

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.

[resq302]

Here are my  on the issue.....  I prefer the cars the way they were originally built, however, my charger was left the factory with F8 green paint.  When I purchased the car, it had R4 red paint which was a factory optional color.  Since it did not need any body work and the paint was in excellent shape, I left it.  Now if it needed a resto or repaint, I probably would have painted it back to the original color or possibly made another GL clone.

Personally, I think the factory colors that it came with would look really good.  But, in the end, it is your personal preference.  Like others have said, if you are planning on doing a concours type car resto, do it correct the first time and then you will have no regrets about having to do it over if you change your mind.

[Troy]

That's a tough one. I'm a firm believer that rare cars should be returned to stock. Ok, close to stock - I like real tires... I also like unique cars. How often do you see a T5 car with a tan top and interior? People would definitely know it's yours! On the other hand, it's "brown" (to most people) and I'm not a fan of earth tone cars. I went to the Nats a few years ago and the first 12-13 Chargers I saw were black (none originally). They do look incredible in that color so you can't go wrong. I hope you like to clean though! A 4-speed car won't have A/C either so if you live anywhere sunny it won't be real comfortable in triple black. As for resale value, I'll bet you'll have more in it than you'll ever get back so I wouldn't even let that sway my decision. Make what you want and enjoy the car. Let other people worry about what they want to buy. If you really do worry about having to sell it some day, non-original colors on rare cars tend to hurt the value (not so much on common cars).

Troy

[CRZ NYT]

I was talking to an appraiser once, and he told me that as long as you use a factory colour for that year it should not really impact the price of the car.
By the way I would choose copper, love the colour and much easier to take care of, dust and what not.
Cheers Don

[FLG]

I say you paint it whatever color you want. Figure, as long as it can be un-done it will never truly hurt the value of the car. You can modify the car all you want, as long as it can be un-done the only person you might hurt if you want to sell it, is yourself. But in the end everything can be un-done and the true value of the car is the same. But from all the posts on here, never buy and restore a car with hopes of selling it because you will never get your money back. I mean unless its a super rare ride and you got it for dirt, and did most of the resto yourself...well then ya you can recover some.

Bottom line.

Do what you want 

[RD]

copper, tan top.. <---- my vote

[PocketThunder]

T5 Bronze vs Black?   

I have been pondering this question for my own car for 5 years now and the decision is to keep it bronze.   

[Chad L. Magee]

How often do you see a T5 car with a tan top and interior?

I have one (69 WHS) in that color combo.  My vote is to keep it T5.......

[68RT4ME]

Thanks again all. I really have no intent to sell but we all to some extent like to know that our cars have a value to them and as I said, one never knows what may come. Part of me likes the Copper color and I haven't ruled it out as yet but as someone said, It's brown to most people and I'm not a real fan of Brown. Back in the 80's, I bought my first Charger from Troy. It was Bright Yellow with a black top. I loved the car and was happy to buy it that is until everywhere I went, it was recognized as Troy's car. That got old really quick. Anyway, I did love that color combo and most who know the car back then aren't around anymore so, maybe that's an option.

I do have some concerns about being just another black Charger if there is such a thing but, they sure look good and NASTY. I guess most of you are right though. I need to go with what I want and let the others worry about making it their own if I ever do decide to part with it.

[41husk]

Thanks again all. I really have no intent to sell but we all to some extent like to know that our cars have a value to them and as I said, one never knows what may come. Part of me likes the Copper color and I haven't ruled it out as yet but as someone said, It's brown to most people and I'm not a real fan of Brown. Back in the 80's, I bought my first Charger from Troy. It was Bright Yellow with a black top. I loved the car and was happy to buy it that is until everywhere I went, it was recognized as Troy's car. That got old really quick. Anyway, I did love that color combo and most who know the car back then aren't around anymore so, maybe that's an option.

I do have some concerns about being just another black Charger if there is such a thing but, they sure look good and NASTY. I guess most of you are right though. I need to go with what I want and let the others worry about making it their own if I ever do decide to part with it.

But it wasn't troy's car anymore!!!! I wouldn't have let that bother me.  A friend of mine down the street has a 72 Satelite painted the same sublime as my 73 wannabee.  I always get people saying "I know that car, you live on Johnson Road"  Thats weremy friend lives,  For god sakes ones a plymouth and ones a Dodge.  His even says Plymouth on the quarters

[moparchris]

This is just my opinion, but.... Most of us never have a car "forever".  That's a nice sentiment but usually not realistic.  You will probably sell this car someday, whether that is 5 months from now or 25 years from now.  The original colors are almost universally excepted as quite attractive, so I really would paint it the original colors.  It will be stunning when done, and yea, paint can always be changed but those words are a lot easier to say than the work is to do.  If this is truely a rotisserie job it will be another rotisserie job do undo your black paint job.  Do you really want to pay for two of those paint jobs?  When you sell it don't you think the next owner will factor in that cost when they are negotiating with you?  If they are buying the car because it's rare and numbers match etc....  They will be thinking of returning it to copper if you paint it black.  You'll still end up paying for this color change twice.
Again this is just my    Either way congratulations on owning such a bitchin car.

[41husk]

I would guess if someone ownes a car for 25 years or more there will be more than one repaint.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Go original, there are plenty of triple black cars out there, and it will be a pain to keep clean.  Your factory color combo will look great.   

[Dans 68]

Bottom line...do whatever you want. Paint can be changed. All you need to figure out is would you rather drive a BLACK charger or a COPPER charger? No "what ifs" about selling it...makes no matter. Have fun with it. Just drive it a lot.

Dan