Custom Hand Brushed Aluminum paint job

[LH Drive]

With that in mind I say go for the custom job, its your truck, do what you want.

-Rob

Thats what my close friend just told me, he also said if and when I decide to sell the Rover that I not only have to find a person thats interested in Series Rovers but I'd have to find the right person thats interested in Series Rovers with a custom paint job. I'm not sure how many of those are around. This has me thinking about keeping to the original 70's stock colors now

[rwollschlager]

you can still do a custom paint job without going over the top, I dug up some pictures of a friends 88 which he painted silver with a black roof, similar to the scheme you were considering earlier, it looked pretty sharp...
-Rob

[JackIIA]

Thats what my close friend just told me, he also said if and when I decide to sell the Rover that I not only have to find a person thats interested in Series Rovers but I'd have to find the right person thats interested in Series Rovers with a custom paint job. I'm not sure how many of those are around. This has me thinking about keeping to the original 70's stock colors now

Partly true. Most people who know these trucks are going to be more concerned with your frame, bulkhead, engine, transmission, etc. Unless you forsee being able to garner top dollar for it (e.g., a full refurbishment), the paint color won't impact resale that much. Paint it what you like, you're the one who'll be driving it. If you're still worried about it, maybe take the color selection to something that's still true to your 'vision' but alittle more conservative.

[Momo]

The whole "it's your car, do what you want" philosophy is sort of a cop-out in my opinion.

If you had told us you wanted to paint it orange metalflake, install shag green carpet, and roll it on 22s with low profile tires and airbags, I hope people would be honest and tell you that's a really bad idea.

Classic cars are always worth more in original paint colors. With very few exceptions, custom paint jobs should be avoided. If it were an early 80s Bronco or Blazer, it could work, because that's the look they had, along with oversize chrome wheels and tires. But Series Land Rovers are not flashy cars, so flashy paint jobs look really out of place. The best thing you can do is to give it a high quality paint job in a stock color.

[albersj51]

A buddy of mine that builds custom motorcycles and does the paint and graphics himself (he'll be painting mine) keeps trying to convince me to paint mine metallic and do something "original"...he doesnt get the whole classic, keep it original thing. But, I do get his point...its mine, do what I want. I'm looking at series and defender colors. In the lead is Arles Blue (a defender color), which is similar to marine blue, but a little darker with more grey (thanks meatblanket). Is it factory? No. original? Somewhat. Acceptable to the rover community and its enthusiasts? I think so.

[Eric W S]

Partly true. Most people who know these trucks are going to be more concerned with your frame, bulkhead, engine, transmission, etc. Unless you forsee being able to garner top dollar for it (e.g., a full refurbishment), the paint color won't impact resale that much. Paint it what you like, you're the one who'll be driving it. If you're still worried about it, maybe take the color selection to something that's still true to your 'vision' but alittle more conservative.

Not really. It's expensive to properly repaint a series truck. Usually there is a good deal of dis-assembly involved to get it right. Most people do not want to buy a truck to just repaint it.

Most people want the right color - thye have the favorite from the palet. The ones that don't care are new to the LRs.

[Eric W S]

The whole "it's your car, do what you want" philosophy is sort of a cop-out in my opinion.

If you had told us you wanted to paint it orange metalflake, install shag green carpet, and roll it on 22s with low profile tires and airbags, I hope people would be honest and tell you that's a really bad idea.

Classic cars are always worth more in original paint colors. With very few exceptions, custom paint jobs should be avoided. If it were an early 80s Bronco or Blazer, it could work, because that's the look they had, along with oversize chrome wheels and tires. But Series Land Rovers are not flashy cars, so flashy paint jobs look really out of place. The best thing you can do is to give it a high quality paint job in a stock color.

Could not have said it better myself!

[SalemRover]

The whole "it's your car, do what you want" philosophy is sort of a cop-out in my opinion.

If you had told us you wanted to paint it orange metalflake, install shag green carpet, and roll it on 22s with low profile tires and airbags, I hope people would be honest and tell you that's a really bad idea.

Classic cars are always worth more in original paint colors. With very few exceptions, custom paint jobs should be avoided. If it were an early 80s Bronco or Blazer, it could work, because that's the look they had, along with oversize chrome wheels and tires. But Series Land Rovers are not flashy cars, so flashy paint jobs look really out of place. The best thing you can do is to give it a high quality paint job in a stock color.

I respectfully disagree. Your argument is what you state in your first sentence, an opinion. That said I am always amazed at the plethora of incarnations that series land rovers come in. It's great that some people are OCD on their stock restorations, at the same time I love the mods so an elephant can drive it, ice cream truck, etc. It just adds appeal to the marque as they can do and be nearly anything. My analogy is that a rover is like a set of legos. Its great fun to build the object on the box, but half the fun is coming up with the myriad of other things those building blocks are capable of. That is my opinion and opinions are like... well you know the rest.

-Jason

[I Leak Oil]

The whole "it's your car, do what you want" philosophy is sort of a cop-out in my opinion.

Momo, at least you admit it's your opinion but the fact remains that if I wanted to paint one of my trucks pink with purple and yellow flower child daisies, it's my truck and I can damn well do what I please. Not a cop-out but a fact. I'm sure some would tell me it's not a good idea (God I hope you would!) but if that's what I want then so be it. I think Series trucks break the mold a little bit as far as original vs. value. I'd take a lime green and light blue series with a good frame and bulkhead over a pastel green, nice patina, rust infested POS any day of the week. Series trucks were born to become non-factory. Will an original color add a little to the value? To most but not all. If you want resale value buy a Camry...
That's my 2 cents.

[albersj51]

I think part of the difference is perception. To many here, its an old farm truck that should be used and abused...the dents and dings are like battle scars. But some view it as a classic car and want it done to factory spec, with a few upgrades maybe. The NADA value shows this. Do I put a lot of stock in KBB/NADA, not really. However, it is a good data point. Another is the Orvis Rover, or the ebay one where bids were over $30k. We may poke fun at these, but it proves that there is value in these old rigs, if they are done properly. Pink and purple isn't proper!

I do agree, its yours so do as you wish. However, if you do plan on selling it and getting top dollar, then you should consider sticking to fairly standard designs and upgrades. Building to your tastes is great. But, the further from stock you go, the more you alienate it, which makes it that much harder to find the right buyer...just my humble opinion.

[I Leak Oil]

...the further from stock you go, the more you alienate it, which makes it that much harder to find the right buyer...just my humble opinion.

I had the pleasure of seeing Ike's old SI in action at this year's Winter Romp. It's hardly stock and hardly "proper". It outperformed any stock SI and I'm sure it cost the new buyer a pretty penny too.

My guess is that there are far more modified rovers, to any extent, out there than there are factory originals. Just the act of respraying a truck makes in non-original...whether the paint job is expensive or not, it's still not factory.

[albersj51]

I had the pleasure of seeing Ike's old SI in action at this year's Winter Romp. It's hardly stock and hardly "proper". It outperformed any stock SI and I'm sure it cost the new buyer a pretty penny too.

My guess is that there are far more modified rovers, to any extent, out there than there are factory originals. Just the act of respraying a truck makes in non-original...whether the paint job is expensive or not, it's still not factory.

A very good point, and well taken...However, that was built by Ike, a man known for his quality and abilities (hence why I am going to him for many of my NLA parts). Had I built that, a man not known in the Rover community for building custom off-road rigs, I guarantee I wouldnt get people lining up for it. 1. because no one knows me...YET! 2. That lack of awareness means I dont have as many people to market it to. Same goes for Lanny Clark and the Orvis Rover...had I built that, I may have gotten 25% of that price...MAYBE, if I had a four-leaf clover up my rear.

Also, if its highly modified for off-road use, I would argue it is still narrowing the market of potential buyers. For someone looking for that, and doesnt want to do the work themselves, you can sell it at top dollar. However, I believe (dont have any quantitative data to back it up) there is a larger market for those rigs that are closer to factory spec (a repaint would still count if it is a factory color, since I'm talking about spec, not factory original ).

[JackIIA]

The differences in opinion (and that's all they are) should point you to the correct answer. Your own.

And Eric, I'd sure rather take off the fenders, tub, etc., for a repaint then have a turd with poppy red on it.

[I Leak Oil]

A very good point, and well taken...However, that was built by Ike, a man known for his quality and abilities (hence why I am going to him for many of my NLA parts). Had I built that, a man not known in the Rover community for building custom off-road rigs, I guarantee I wouldnt get people lining up for it. 1. because no one knows me...YET! 2. That lack of awareness means I dont have as many people to market it to. Same goes for Lanny Clark and the Orvis Rover...had I built that, I may have gotten 25% of that price...MAYBE, if I had a four-leaf clover up my rear.

None of that negates the fact that a non factory spec., non "proper" rover can fetch both attention and a pretty penny. In fact I would bet for every "Lanny Clark Orvis Rover" with all it's properness there are many more modified, non factory, blasphemous rover conversions that are just as sought after by those who are "in the know". Not all true enthusiasts are stuck on Bronze Green and 10 spline axles.

[I Leak Oil]

Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder what pool of real potential buyers was larger. The pool for a $100K "proper" factory spec series truck Built by Lanny Clark or the pool for a modified, non "proper" cool old SI that Ike built. Take the names out of the equation and I'd bet the pool for the SI is bigger.....