Hey guys - Here's the deal--my wife is pregnant with our first (due in two weeks), so I am getting ready to sell my 1954 Cadillac. It is stripped to the metal now and all along I thought I would go with satin black. However, as we have been stripping it to the bare metal, the original turqoise-esque color has appeared and it looks pretty cool (door jambs and interior metal trim is still that color). Here's where the question comes in--if I were going to keep it, I would be willing to try the original color because it would certainly be different. However, for the purpose of resale, should I stick with black? Black Cadillacs, red Corvettes, dark green Jaguars--all are widely popular and probably overdone, but it's obvious that the mass public still loves them. I'm attaching a photo showing some traces of the original colors and a front shot of the car for those of you that may be thinking this is a more-famous '59 cadillac, etc. What do you think--is the original color going to limit my market, or do you think people will appreciate the unusual car/color combination? Thanks
Prime it and offer the buyer the option. I hate coming across a car that I'd really like to have, but it has a fresh coat of the wrong color of paint.
I don't think satin black has anything like the uptown look of a gloss black Cadillac. For that reason I don't think it has any edge over the original color. But either way, unless you're an accomplished painter yourself, I imagine that it would cost you a bunch to paint it nicely in a gloss color -- possibly doubling what you have invested in the car. If you're capable of doing it yourself, I imagine that gloss black would have an edge over gloss turquoise -- but not a big one. If you're considering satin or flat for either color, I don't think it makes a difference. You're not going to attract somebody who wants a restored Cad.
Honestly I have always loved the Cadillac mint green heh. Would love a choped one of those with a nice big 500 Cad engine.
With a new baby on the way don't waste money or take a chance that it will sell for more. Most people looking for this kind of car know that some work will have to be done. If you do paint it I would go with the original color. Again, someone looking for this car would probably want the original color, or shoot it with whatever they wanted later. This advice and 5 dollars will buy you a coffe at Starbuck's
WHY paint it??? For what you'll invest, I doubt you'll get a return on it...simply primer it if it bothers you and let the new owner decide... Here's a shot of my bro's '54...they make neat sleds... R-
Mine originally was that turquoise/green shade, but I didn't care for the green tint so I found a paint color in the ppg chip book that only has numbers in it. It fits the car pretty good for suede. then if I decide I could wet sand and clear it if I felt like. Here's my POS. just my .02, keep the change
If you are going to sell the car, leave it alone. The new owner will appreciate looking at the car in its original state, the actual condition of the car is so much easier to see. You have a solid looking car there, so don't hide it under primer or new paint, leave that to the new owner. If you are going to keep the car AND you really want it painted, then that turquise color is very cool and vintage looking. Attached is a pic that I robbed off of e-gay for you to see the end result.....2-tone turquise and white Good luck
Here's a link to the original color chart--it's the darker Biscay Green, not the Shoal Green. (you may have to select 1954 colors to make the chart appear--the link doesn't seem to want to cooperate). https://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/search/searchpic.pl?1954-cadillac-pg01.jpg I appreciate all of the feedback--lots of good points
To a buyer who thinks like me, a fresh coat of primer means a quick scab job to hide something. If the car is solid, sell it as-is. I'd rather buy a car in bare metal or with faded out original paint than anything with fresh primer on it. As for paint colors, if you're going to do it, do a nice job, don't just paint over places that need bodywork. In that case, I'd say it's a toss up between black and the green. Either one of those would look nice, but only if the bodywork is up to par. If you are just looking to turn it, sell it the way it sits.
Hell if ya got to get rid of it don't paint it, let the buyer have his choice, besides you get it painted a color you want it gonna make it hard to sell and you will regret it as the days go by. If ya have to paint it then go a color you don't like or go with Black. But my suggest is to primer it and sell it. Too bad we all have to do things like that, bUt whatcha gonna do. Good luck with the new little rodder. Big Tony