I agree with Paul, my 80 is a low mileage car, just turned 20 this week. The paint is from the old St. louis plant looks great but has runs, dry spots, light see through spots and a frickin finger print where the painter put his finger in a drip spot on a front fender. It is the way they controled quality back then and I'll never change it. It is getting some eggshell cracks in areas also.

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

Brian, if you click on the members, then members cars and type in funit, then click on the vin and a photo should come up.

Hey Tommy, I'll let you paint it for me if you'll give it back to me.

Dan
Do you know the history of the car?  LOL 
Wonderful to have owned it from the beginning. 

I'm with most guys in that it is yours and it depends on what you want to use it for.  Mine is going to be a daily driver.   Keeping the 82CE colors but will paint the faders on (have a shop that has done 3 of them and does a good job).   But,  I'm most likely going to add more metal flake to the paint to give it more sparkle.  I did that to a British racing green I had painted and it made a big difference.  

Again it comes down to what you want.  I have kept all of the original stuff I'm not going to use just in case the next guy wants to restore it.  That will be a long time off.

I would agree with Paul also, and your last statement pretty much sums it up in my opinion, "It's only original once". My Silver Ann, as far as I can tell, is original paint. It takes a nice picture but it's thin and dull looking in areas. And I'm not afraid to drive it. The Pace car I had painted only cause a previous owner had the hood and tops of the fenders redone and they did a poor job. Low mileage car, I wish they left it alone.
It's your car but I think an original owner, original paint car has a lot more value and not just in money that other cars. I also think period correct mods, done in good taste for the time, such as the black stripe you did back in '70 don't really detract from the originality unless you plan on having it judged.
I love mint looking new paint as much as anyone but at a show I'll spend more time looking over the survivors that have managed to beat out the hands of time. 

Ok...I wish my car had original paint..the guy who painted it did a worse job than GM! You got a big block original car...if it's an LS6 I wouldn't touch it!! The value of the car is higher in some circles with it being as original as it is...but it is your car and do with it as you please...they only did that color 2 years and I know there aren't many out there let alone in factory paint...I would love to see it some day as it sounds awesome!! The other car you got sounds great too!! Welcome to the site!!

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

As many others have said you have to make it your car and only you can make the decision. I painted my car a custom color but then mine was not even close to the original color. If the cracks in the body are bad then you may not have a choice but if they are not real bad I agree with others I would keep the original paint on it.

Rodney


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Thanks for all the replies and kind words. Yesterday I went in the garage and waxed the old girl. And you know what for 42 years old the paint looks pretty damn good. I think I'll just leave it alone and enjoy it.

But you could still give me that C2

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Tommy

I Have to agree.

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

I can't add much except to say that is a truly awesome looking Corvette.

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It has been over a year since I started. I had to quit the project so the car just sat in the garage. I was able to get started again in May 2012. As of July 27 2012 I have done the fiberglass repairs and applied Slick Sand High Build Primer.




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