To paint or patina?

[Johnnyb]

My 71 has factory paint which is in reasonable shape considering its age. While doing a full mechanical update over the past 3 years I never considered putting new paint on it. In fact, I was rather opposed to it given that I'm going to take it out to drag it through bushes and over rocks.
I recently had my old pickup truck painted in Mexico and they did a great job for a remarkably reasonable price and it got me thinking.
I'm still going to take it out in the bushes and over rocks but wouldn't it look nice with fresh paint!? Moreover, insurance looks upon it as a unpainted / poorly painted vehicle as opposed to with any real value in spite of the 100% new mechanicals bumper to bumper.
Also I'm not looking for a concourse paint job; just some aesthetic repairs where it's kissed a few rocks and the factory swing away tire holder wore through the body metal. Plus some antenna holes and other no longer used "accessories" which have left their mark.
So the question is, paint it or leave it patina?

THX,
JB

 

[BronCowie]

My vote is for Patina all the way!!!

 

[1969]

Patina for sure!

Not sure how much they charge in Mexico for paint… but with the new painted Chinese bodies for 15k if I was going to do something about my body it would be that route as I also plan to drag my Bronco through the brush and rocks.

 

[Shimmy]

my vote is patina. the previous owner of mine painted over the original candy red and i wish it was still original. my current paint is far from concourse... more like a 20ft paint job.

 

[surfer-b]

if it has the original paint no way I would change it, I think OE paint looks better

 

[Johnnyb]

It would be $2K, paint inside and out original Ford color. Metal work on driver door, fill body holes. Original color was 2 - Prairie Yellow, but if I do paint I might shift to G - Chrome Yellow.
He did good work on my pickup.

 

[Qumanchew]

$2k is cheap for sure, but I would keep it original if it were me.

 

[57baja]

My 71 has factory paint which is in reasonable shape considering its age. While doing a full mechanical update over the past 3 years I never considered putting new paint on it. In fact, I was rather opposed to it given that I'm going to take it out to drag it through bushes and over rocks.
I recently had my old pickup truck painted in Mexico and they did a great job for a remarkably reasonable price and it got me thinking.
I'm still going to take it out in the bushes and over rocks but wouldn't it look nice with fresh paint!? Moreover, insurance looks upon it as a unpainted / poorly painted vehicle as opposed to with any real value in spite of the 100% new mechanicals bumper to bumper.
Also I'm not looking for a concourse paint job; just some aesthetic repairs where it's kissed a few rocks and the factory swing away tire holder wore through the body metal. Plus some antenna holes and other no longer used "accessories" which have left their mark.
So the question is, paint it or leave it patina?

THX,
JB

I would leave it and roll with the petina look. I wish i wouldn't have ruined mine and kept the petina look. The older i get the more of factory appearance i like vs new paint jobs.

 

[sanndmann3]

absolutely patina for the win! only original paint once... can always repaint later...

 

[bfoldy]

Definitely keep the original paint!!


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[BigB]

Well from here and the photo you posted, it looks pretty good as is. I would leave it alone and just enjoy it even though I'm not a huge fan of yellow. I have a chromatic yellow 78 F250, some days I like it and some I wish it was a different color.

I personally wouldn't change 1 yellow for another and I also don't feel that yellow is high on the list of colors for resale. But in the end she is yours and if you have $2k burning a hole in it, go for it. Just don't paint it yellow

 

[Yeller]

Patina! I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but a perfect painted classic is boring and sterile. Patina tells a story, and if you scratch it that story continues to grow.

 

[phred]

Keep the original paint.

 

[EPB72]

Patina! I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but a perfect painted classic is boring and sterile. Patina tells a story, and if you scratch it that story continues to grow.

AGREE,, plus the patina will hide the new scratches better , Manzanita will tear up that freash paint /clear coat pretty quik..

 

[JeepGuy]

Taking one of these Broncos down to Mexico and leaving it there for paint Terrifies me. How did you find that specific shop and what kind of assurances did they give you on the security of your truck? Or did you insure it across the border for the trip?

My vote is Patina if you are actually going to use it. From the picture it still looks great. I am right there with you on the mechanical before cosmetic approach. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with mine.

 

[Johnnyb]

Thanks for all the replies. I like the patina, but I have trouble getting a valuation near what I have in it. My insurance company values it around $30K and I couldn't come close to replacing it for that.
My biggest though regarding paint is that $2K would make the "value" jump to $50K or better. For insurance the only things that matter: V8 plus (they don't care what V8), manual transmission minus, patina and small body damage huge minus.

-JB

 

[JeepGuy]

Thanks for all the replies. I like the patina, but I have trouble getting a valuation near what I have in it. My insurance company values it around $30K and I couldn't come close to replacing it for that.
My biggest though regarding paint is that $2K would make the "value" jump to $50K or better. For insurance the only things that matter: V8 plus (they don't care what V8), manual transmission minus, patina and small body damage huge minus.

-JB

Can you break out a buffer and polish it? Or if the paint is still in decent shape, maybe a very light sand then clear over what you have?

 

[Johnnyb]

Taking one of these Broncos down to Mexico and leaving it there for paint Terrifies me. How did you find that specific shop and what kind of assurances did they give you on the security of your truck? Or did you insure it across the border for the trip?

My vote is Patina if you are actually going to use it. From the picture it still looks great. I am right there with you on the mechanical before cosmetic approach. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with mine.

We're in Rocky Point all the time and there's actually a nice white EB that lives around the corner from us.
The shop is secure. I just had my 03 tundra done there and was impressed with the results. Not only that he did it in less than a week, try getting that from an American Auto body shop!
After extensive calling I have found insurance through Baja Bound that would cover the vehicle for "replacement value" but that leads right back to my previous post about agreeing with an insurance company on replacement value.

Thanks,
JB

 

[Johnnyb]

Can you break out a buffer and polish it? Or if the paint is still in decent shape, maybe a very light sand then clear over what you have?

I think the paint might just disappear if I polished it . I have considered asking him to pound out the driver's door, fix some holes and a few wrinkles and try to patina match some of the repairs that I did with a rattle can. Then maybe clear coat. The driver's rear quarter was in bad shape after an axle split off at the wheel bearing while on the highway. I beat on it, but it's rough.

 

[ep67bro]

The paint is only original once! Keep it the way it is!

Crazy the insurance wont value it higher. Maybe be easier to look at a different insurance company!