Colour Change

[Grundy john]

Hello. I have just bought a brown Stag. Not the most popular colour what are general views on changing the colour. Or is it best to keep it original.

[dasadrew]

moved from Technical Section as it is not a "...guide to doing various jobs on the Stag..."

[Bandit1200]

Whether it's russet brown or maple brown it's 1970s colour so my view is keep it.

[Andy S]

Hi John,

Changing the colour should add a few hundred pounds to the value.

Now checkout the recent thread on the cost of a full respray.

Andy S

[SaphireSpud]

Congratulations on buying a great car!
It's your car so you should have any colour you want, especially if you intend keeping it for some time.
However, I would recommend keeping it in it's original colour. It's of it's time, i.e. "in period".
Good luck and I hope you enjoy driving it for many years.
Regards, John.

[Ritchie6]

The main thing about doing a colour change is the vast amount of work required to do it properly, for example removing the engine to facilitate spraying the engine bay. If it was a restoration project which warranted a total strip down then that would be more realistic. I suppose it depends on whether you actually like the colour and can you live with it.

Richard

[Neil in Deal]

Again, so many choices!
If you like the colour, then sure, keep it the same. My car is Tahiti Blue, which was the colour I really liked, and I was lucky enough to find one that had been re-sprayed to a good standard.
I personally thought I could never buy either a Java Green or Topaz Stag until I saw both "in the flesh" last year.The green one especially was stunning - admittedly it had just been beautifully resprayed.
As others say, the cost of a colour change isn't just the re-spray, it's stripping out/re-fitting parts in the engine bay. Depends how much an individual wants their car to be a certain colour, and how deep their pockets are !
There have been a few "non-standard" coloured cars up for sale recently, light metallic blue, metallic red, metallic gold. Sure, "not of the period" colour-wise, but the owners obviously wanted those particular colours. Again, personal choices, and as individuals, we all like different things.
Ah, decisions, decisions....based on individual choice.....and bank balances !!
All the best,

Neil.

[Goldstar]

I’ve just bought a Russet stag and I love the colour. Mrs Goldstar is not so keen but it is in brilliant condition so I have looked at wrapping it. No cheap but about 1/3 of the price of a good respray and, done properly with decent wrap, is reversible to preserve the originality if you sell. Win/win?

[barkerwilliams]

I bought a Java Green Stag and the colour did not really appeal, but it grew on me and I am just spending rather a lot on having it resprayed in Java Green of course. After all it is what the car was originally. I have notice a rather nice Lamborghini Aventador in a rather nice green, and I believe Porsche do a green so the colour is on the way back amongst discerning car buyers.

Similarly there are Porsche in a mid-brown and I recall a very nice brown Rolls, so these low-volume colours do make a car rather exclusive, (and easier to find in the car park).

You didn't buy a Stag for it's 0-60 times or the incredible fuel economy, or the quality surround sound radio, you bought a classic that is what it is - or more correctly is what it was. A stunning 1970's period piece.

But each to their own, have it painted silver and blend in with every Eurobox every made, your car your money, your choice.

Alan

[trunt]

I bought a MG 8 years ago in white and wasn’t overly keen on the colour. But when I painted it I stayed with it as it was original. Since then white has become a very popular colour over here and it’s very much in again! Plus it grew on me.

Browns day may come!

terry

[garyf]

You have to stick with brown imo
my Sprint was gorgeous in russet

[Tdm]

I had a1970 MK3 Triumph Spitfire in that colour and liked it.
Also bear in mind that if you ever in future want to Import it into another Country (such as Spain), the colour has to match what it says on the Log Book.

[Rubce]

I had a1970 MK3 Triumph Spitfire in that colour and liked it.
Also bear in mind that if you ever in future want to Import it into another Country (such as Spain), the colour has to match what it says on the Log Book.

That's not a problem, just get the logbook updated by the DVLA at the time of the respray. The DVLA don't charge for that service.

Bruce

[Tdm]

That's not a problem, just get the logbook updated by the DVLA at the time of the respray. The DVLA don't charge for that service.
Bruce

I was told it had to be the "original" log book, wouldn't a re-issued one say so?
When Graham (Staggard) had his car resprayed in Tenerife he had to stick with Blue, although it is a different blue to his original French Blue, and is now a very nice metallic blue.

[DJT]

I guess it depends on whether the import officials want to see the current log book, V5, or the original build details from a Heritage Certificate.

As for the OP question about colour change, it depends on how much you want to spend. To do it properly will costa plenty. An external blow-over will be much cheaper, but devalue the car considerably.

Many years ago one of our local members had a Maple Stag in superb, original, condition. It really stood out among the other cars and received many favourable comments. He subsequently sold it and the new owner had an accident in France where someone crashed into him. The car was recovered and he agreed with the insurers that it should be repaired, including a complete engine-out respray to ensure colour match. He then negotiated a colour change to Signal red. Now it just blends in with all the other red sports cars at the shows...