original paint or change

[michaelgough]

Hi All,
Have an 81 Spider with the same color scheme as the one in the header of this website. Orangish Red ext with Tan interior, except the dash and top portion of door panels are black. The car needs some minor body work and a paint job.

1 - Is the value of the car lowered by changing from the factory paint color?

2 - Is it odd that the dash and tops of door panels black, with all carpet, seats, and other interior panels tan?

I have to make the decision soon, as it also needs a new top immediately, and the color of the top would change if I either change the paint color or change to all black interior/

[rlux4]

I don't think you'd lower the value of your car by painting it a different color. Unless it's only painted on the parts that show. When a car is repainted a different color but the door posts, engine bay and trunk are left original it looks tacky and diminishes the appeal, so probably the selling price. Unless of course you plan to sell your car at Barret-Jackson, then the more original the better.
Your interior color scheme is not unusual, my 82 has the same in fact.
Ron

[RRoller123]

My 80 has the exact same color scheme, the door tops are black, rest is (actually WAS) tan.

[Jimb]

If its resale value that concerns you then just take lots of close-up pics before the repaint as well as during the prep work. My vote would be to respray....but only if you are willing to spend the money to do it properly. Body and paint is no place try to do things cheaply, unless your car is a beater.
Jim

[So Cal Mark]

to do a color change properly, you need to strip the car down to a bare shell. It's a huge task to do it right, and expensive