To Paint or Not to Paint?

[bent65]

I am about to paint my car and cannot decide whether or not to paint the inside. Its a red 1988 sierra and the inside is a bit chipped up and a few scrathes and the usual. I have the interior out of it and most of it has cleaned up reasonably well with prepsol and polish. My worry is that I want the car to be well presented on one hand but cant help thinking I will be erasing some of its history on the other, if I repaint inside. Has anyone else wrestled with this and what decisions did they come up with. I am sitting on the fence at the moment as the cars that are restored inside and out look mint but the unrestored/original cars have their history retained and while not as pretty retain that character.

Any input would be appreciated. Ben.

[Frank Binding]

Paint it Ben

Regards
Frank

[werestheflares]

if it looks good now wait till you've done a smick job on the outside and you'll realy see how shitty the inside is.

i found out the hard way to.
its harder to mask up the outside when you've sprayed her all up nice and sexy, overspray will find its way into any thing it can.

[Bender]

Paint it. Make it nice. People want to see nice cars inside and out.

I didn't know what to do with mine. I started thinking keep the heritage but 60+ self taper holes holding the car together, tie wire, all the things for a quick track fix. Some call it history but it was ugly and not what I would like the car to represent. Do what you want you own it.:cool:

[werestheflares]

in the 2007 muscle car masters DVD theres the rebuilt and restored XY-GT that so famously rolled on the armco rail cuting it in half through to the floor pan.

Do you recon they would of kept it in its historical condition or evan brocks A7 never looked as good as it does to day and rest asured they not any cheaper to buy in there new condition.

i race VH commodre cup car here in Darwin and i love it but evey 18mths ive got to respray it as its covered in stone chips rubber marks mini dints and general race rubbing,and i wouldnt have it any other way the joy i get from spectators telling me how good it looks is all i need to keep me interested.

[Admin]

I have to agree with everyone else - paint it.

Onve you've done the outside it won't look that good and it is a real pain to do it later.

[Chris Bowden]

Biggest regret we have is re-painting the Moffat 1973 ATCC winner. Sure, the paint was falling off her...but you only get original ONCE. Depends on the car I suppose? What Sierra is it? We have a couple of red ones too. CB.

[werestheflares]

i still recon a tatty looking car is still only a tatty looking car no matter how rare or fast it is.
having said that have you seen the money people are getting for Rat Rods now days...........unpainted shit for more money then a shmickly painted one of the same modle.

it would be a hard choice on a truley rare car like chris's as to the purist it is the car that run'n'won but unless you've got a controled enviroment to store the car its only ever going to fade and detiriorate even more.

:cool:

[bent65]

Biggest regret we have is re-painting the Moffat 1973 ATCC winner. Sure, the paint was falling off her...but you only get original ONCE. Depends on the car I suppose? What Sierra is it? We have a couple of red ones too. CB.

Hi CB The paint is quite respectable if not a bit chipped up. the car was stored in a dry shed with not much light for nearly 20 yrs. The problem being that fresh red on the outside will make the inside look tatty no matter how well I clean it. I guess it comes down to presentation over originality and I cant decide. Its the ex-OXO / Caltex car. Not quite the same as your "red ones" but won AMSCAR '88 and was only beaten by 2 "red" cars for the ATCC. Geez i hope that means the red ones are fast!!

I appreciate everyones input but I still cant decide. Especially now I realise the gravity of the Graded CofD. I am starting to think I might be best to keep it original inside to set it apart from whatever 'cars' start being presented?

This is from a quiet observer of the category for years. When I see a car that is original, battle scarred inside and shows the signs of use, the car on its own instantly answers any question of, is this 'the actual car'.

This 'actual car' authenticity is the whole appeal of this great category from an observers point of view. It is usually amongst the first things mentioned in commentary and always discussed in awe amonst us punters.
Sorry for the rant.
Too Harsh?

Please comment on your thoughts.

[Chris Bowden]

Great to hear it's about! Did you buy her recently?

Not too harsh at all, probably because I agree 100%. Have you let an expert with a random orbital have a crack at bringing up the paint? Please do before you proceed, you would be amazed at how well red responds. Our DJR # 4 is a bit shabby, but I think it looks fantastic!! If I was a panel beater like Frank, I would HAVE too keep the car 110%, due to pride of proffession. Other than that, I think the more used they look, they more loved they look, but there is a fine line there between patina and neglect. Cheers, Chris.

[bent65]

I bought her a few years ago but havent been able to get to it and have it up and running again. I have had a mate (painter) buff the car. The roof and the back half has come up a treat except for some scratches from being buried under shed debris for 20 years. The front guards and flares are a bit nasty from a hasty TAFE repair and not quite correct paint match from Bthrst 88. The bonnet has about a 10in. dia paint fry up from a small engine fire. I really couldnt present the car without painting the outside and the bay. All the internal sheet metal is in quite good condition and I am hoping the cage/inside will all buff up. The outside is definitely neglect but the inside is pretty much how it last raced.
Will any of the DJR sierras be heading South of the border anytime soon MCM's?
Cheers Ben.