Paint Color

[vwjunkie1974]

I am sure this topic has been brought up about a million times in the past. I am in the process of restoring a 74 bus, but I am not that keen of the original color (Ceylon Beige). Is there any one out there who has this color on their bus and it looks good. Mine is (will be past tense within the week) kind of sun faded and looks really yellowish, as my wife puts it, "like baby poop yellow".

I would like to maintain some form of originality to the bus, so my questions are these. How offensive is it the bus world to change the color of the bus? Would you buy a bus that is not the original color after you checked the "M" codes?

When it comes to picking colors, I am in a black and white world...

_________________
1971 Type 1
1971 Type 3
1974 Bay Sunroof
1977 Bay Champagne I

[ncstagger]

Its yours so you can do whatever you want but you asked for opinions so...

I would leave the OG paint or, if its in really bad shape, paint it back the same color it came. Second option if you really hate that color is to paint it another factory 74 color (be sure and do a complete paint job if you go this route). You can look here to see the other colors that 74's came in:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/74colors/10.jpg

Of course then you have the issue of interior colors for doors/seats, etc to deal with. Whichever way you go it should all at least match up, in my opinion. Like if you switched your exterior to bright orange/pastel white you would want to go with black for the seats, like that.

I would personally frown on painting it anything other than a 74 bus factory color and yes, there are peeps that would be disappointed in seeing an M code that revealed the existing color was not "correct".
_________________
71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White

Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162

"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking

[curtis4085]

X2

Stay stock!
_________________
Special Thanks to:
Headflow Masters - Vista, CA
www.headflowmasters.com

[XXX/Rx/RnR]

Hey man, You know it gets about a thousand degrees out here in the summer. I would consider a lighter shad, at least on top than darker to refleck the sun. It would make a big diff on the interior temps when parked in the direct sunlight. Ya wanta look cool or be cool? My two cents.
_________________
78' westy, 2.4 195hp ecotec, audi turbo a/t, a\c, 2 1/2" lift spindles, index rear, 930 cv's & axles, 225x65x17 BFGs ## 77' hardtop 2.0 T-4 duel 44 weber's, 225x50x17s ## 74' baha bug

[69rulz]

[vwjunkie1974]

Thanks for these post so far. All good points.

Does anyone have this color (Ceylon Beige) on their bus? I would like to see a freshly painted bus with this color.
_________________
1971 Type 1
1971 Type 3
1974 Bay Sunroof
1977 Bay Champagne I

[notchboy]

Dude, I agree. That mute - neutral brown that VW put on all buses is a little lacking to me as well.

As far as keeping it 100% as it was when new? Nah not so much and Im a keep it 100% stock kind of guy. With exceptions

Look over the colors VW offered when this bus was new.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1973colors.php
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/74colors.php

1974 is full of bright, cheery, oh my God look at that color - colors Why pigeon hole yourself into that office guy, dont mess with anyone, mind your ps & Qs if that isnt you. Unless it is?

Choosing a secondary color from the family that may or may not of come as stock is a great compromise IMHO.
_________________

[larryducas]

at the risk of starting a war, my bus was painted red already, and had much bondo underneath, so original sierra yellow was not an option.

to repaint that color, yuk, I hated that color, so M code did not match to start with.

Soooo, I painted it coral (55 chevy color) and original pastel white on top.

just cuz I liked it and my wife picked the color.

I've seen many non original colors and thats part of the fun!

sorry if I offend anyone.

_________________
71 deluxe, 1968 type 1 engine rebuilt, 009 distributor, pertronix module, Empi 38 EPC / DGES carb

[Pinetops]

Paint it another color that was available that same year. If you change color, you will need to paint it inside and out. Neptune blue with a white roof would be cool.

[vwjunkie1974]

My interior is all Pastel White with the lower exterior Ceylon Beige. So re-painting the interior is no so much of an issue. Though I will be re-painting the interior due to having the floor being media blasted.

I really like this thread so far! Let's keep it going!
_________________
1971 Type 1
1971 Type 3
1974 Bay Sunroof
1977 Bay Champagne I

[Pinetops]

[Kirk]

Keeping or selling it? Keeping, paint it any damn color you like. Selling, paint it things that go well with stuf, neutral, average colors. I would venture to say some crazy painted bus wouldnt sell for shit. Black looks horrible on these buses IMO.
_________________
MAKE FORUMS GREAT AGAIN

Bear
Fasty
Super

[Skoolieman]

I let my wife pick the color of our bus. I wanted to stay with the offwhite color but she liked orange and as long as she got a say everyone was happy
_________________
'69 Westfalia Camper~Cassidy
1600dp with H30/31 carb 009 distributor and alternator conversion

[sneakyjack]

Paint it what you like
or go "original"
another 74 color is Bali Yellow - like mine.
Just sayin.
_________________
Nothin left to do....
www.idolmakerfilms.com

[SGKent]

What color you paint it is best answered by what you want to do with it. If you plan on restoring it to like original and someday trying to sell it as a fully restored bus, my best guess based on auctions, is that the original color will be best. Let the next owner decide if they want to customize it. That said, if you went out and customized the whole bus - interior, upholstery, accessories - the whole thing to something like Foose would design, maybe that might sell well too. But you have to be the one to decide that. Most important is that you are happy with it. And for resell that the next owner is proud to be seen in it and trusts it. Take lots of photos so you can put together a binder with all the photos of before and after. That way you can show the next guy you have nothing to hide under the paint.

One last word. I don't know how good your paint is or isn't and what the body is fully like. But if the dings are minimal and the original paint capable of being buffed out with no rust I would go that route. There are guys who specialize in paintless removal of door dings and shopping cart rash. I use one all the time on my cars - that is why they look showroom. If the body is excellent but the top faded and the nose needs a touch up - maybe paint only the top and nose to match. In the end you have to be the one who is happy.
_________________
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[jhicken]

X3, keep the beige...

-jeffrey

_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[vwjunkie1974]

What shade of beige is that?
_________________
1971 Type 1
1971 Type 3
1974 Bay Sunroof
1977 Bay Champagne I

[WI sportmobile]

[jhicken]

It's probably L345 Light Grey

-jeffrey
_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[vwjunkie1974]

WI Sportsmobile, if that is Ceylon I am down with that. As you can see that is alot different than what is on my bus.

I do have another question. Why is it that VW painted Westys all one color interior and exterior other than roof and on transporters they didnt? Anyone know why?
_________________
1971 Type 1
1971 Type 3
1974 Bay Sunroof
1977 Bay Champagne I