Changing paint colour on stock beetle?

[Pricivius]

I would be grateful for any opinions...

I love my car, but I hate the colour. Sadly, it is the original colour. If I could swap it, I would but as we all know, that's unlikely to be an option!

Would anyone consider changing the colour of their split/zwitter? I don't mean painting it lime green or barbie pink, but to a correct colour for the model and year, albeit not correct for their actual car.

I appreciate it won't win concourse in the "wrong" colour but that doesn't hugely bother me.

I'm genuinely torn. I don't want to sell it, but it will never be my dream car in its current shade.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts...

[usariemen]

Hell, why not?
It´s not the Sistine Chapel that you repaint at your own taste.
If the car was build some hours later it might have gotten the color you like. So just put it on.
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Master of my domain!

[AlanInMass54]

[Pricivius]

Thanks for everyone's help so far...

It's pastel green.

[usariemen]

Change it if you want.
But what is wrong with pastell green?
I´m usually not a big friend of greens but that one I like a lot.
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Master of my domain!

[Pricivius]

I've never liked green, I'm afraid. My gran was hugely superstitious and green always meant bad luck to her...

I'm much more comfortable with monochrome - my whole house is white, black and greys...!

[Robert Chambers]

I think if it is a numbers matching body engine etc., it should be restored to the original color because it retains the value. I think that holds true especially if you are doing a concourse restoration. If it is not an all original car, then I would paint it a model year correct color. Just my opinion!
My current project, a '53 Zwitter, was originally Pearl Gray but, I am going to paint it Jupiter Gray. It was a basket case when I bought it. I am also building an old speed 36 dual carb motor for it. In any case good luck with yours!
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'63 OG 117 Herbie Replica
'56 Euro Oval Deluxe
'52 Standard Zwitter
'63 OG 117

[66 dormi]

If the interior paint is in excellent condition I would leave it the original colour it really part of its history somebody kept it clean and age caught up to the exterior really something to consider when purchasing a classic car

[aa390392]

[eurodub]

my split is L90 sand. not really my favorite color comparing to black or burgundy red or even green but i would never change its color. birth certificate states L90, stayed like that its whole time, although repainted white at some point.

if you want another color then start searching for one
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1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1974 T2 Westfalia Campmobile
1976 MK1 Golf

[tisius]

paint is.... well..... just paint.
If you really really really can't like your car because it's not your fav color and you become worried that you might higly likely be ending up at the shrink, then do something about it (and with that I mean respray the car before you try anything else).
Unless it's that once in a lifetime super original paint untouched never resprayed patina rich superb looking factory paint job that still shows its stock factory quality shine after all these years.
And...unless your fav color happens to be bright pink.
Oh, and (almost any) paint is better than original rust.
_________________
drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much!

[Pricivius]

Thanks everyone for your comments and voting.

To clarify, my zwitter was restored in 1990ish so we are not looking at original paint, but it is the original colour. As for the rest, it is matching numbers, but with a few incorrect bits. However, I am very far from an expert so I'm not really sure how wrong it is! For example:

- it has smooth semaphores so wrong, but this can be rectified.

- the upholstery is wrong, but again can be rectified.

- I *think* the running boards are wrong...

- should it have a small entrance to the fuel tank as it has a large entrance?

Other than that, I don't know what else might be wrong...

Thanks again.

[79SuperVert]

If it's not original paint then definitely I would repaint it an original color. I would only hesitate if it was still the original paint and in decent condition.
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Central Jersey VW Society

Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt.

[Bruce]

IMO, the only reason to paint it the original colour that you hate is for future resale value.
Since the colour doesn't permanently harm the car, paint it any colour you like. It can always be put back by a future owner, just like you can always put in the correct semaphores now.
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[splitjunkie]

Keep in mind that in order to respray and have it look good you will have to remove all of the glass and rubber, chrome and lights.
If you are respraying the inside then the door panels will have to come off as well everything on the dash and parts of the headliner around the door will need to be pulled back so it won't get painted. If you don't want any of the original paint to show anywhere then you will have to pull the engine, gas tank, disconnect and remove parts of the wiring harness and probably the fenders.

If you are just going to respray the outside then just the windows, lights, chrome and trim will need to be removed.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[sgmalt46]

i love pastel green . but then again i like green . if you hate it change it but use a color used that year that you like. i hate cars re-painted a non correct color myself. and the whole green is unlucky is crap ! my fist car (chevy) was green and i have lived a blessed life !
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55 deluxe 23 window bus
64 crew cab
55 rag top beetle
66 beetle
71 square back (sold) ! good luck with it Henry!
46 beetle 552nd royal army service corps CCG

[AlanInMass54]

What if the original paint had all been blasted off years ago, the original paint color was unappealing and the birth certificate didn't list the paint code?

[ZwitterND]

My personal preference is to restore back to original. I get great satifaction at looking at the finished product knowing that is how it was on the lot when new. Stranger yet, I purchased several period correct accessories I was going to put on my zwitter and now...I can't, it just doesn't feel right. After years of finding the coorect parts with correct markings etc., putting something other than that which would have been on the car just doesn't feel right. It's an obsession. Maybe I need to check into the Henry Ford clinic. Plus, Nancy Lorntson lives close by, whom is always eager and willing to point out an "incorrectness".
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Bill

[Pricivius]

[silvertonguedevil]

I had an all-original, untouched '57 sunroof car that needed to be restored but I didn't like the original color. I sold it. I have kicked myself in the ass on that deal SO many times! At the end of the day, it's your car and my advice to you is to do what you want to do with it. Even if that's painting it Barbie Pink.
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-Greg