[lincoln9]

I just purchased a restoration project 76' L-48 The main problem with the car is the paint is peeling but I'm wondering about keeping it original or changing the exterior and interior colors. The problem with color is that it is Burgundy ugly on this one. The car is tagged for 69L dark brown and the interior 692 dark brown. I have limited options for color changes because the t-tops are the tinted bronze color and not much would go with them. Any ideas? Would the value be increased by going with nice colors or going with original browns?

[BarryK]

The color that is on the car now looks like what they called Mahogany used in 76 and maybe 75.
It was a hot seller when dressed up with some painted on striping.
A Friend of mine bought a new one in 76 that color and we painted silver strips and the L-82 on the hood with 735 Mercedes silver and did some other striping around the fender vents and quarters.
That was one of the best looking vettes I have ever seen and like you I was not crazy about the color when he first got the car.

The original color Brown and that year would not be worth the effort to change back to that color.
To make money on that year and combo you will need a Fancy paint job of whatever color you chose and a little beefing of the engine.

[lincoln9]

Here is a brown vette not mine just a picture of an 80' with bronze tops that I found. Does anybody like the color?

[lincoln9]

Here is the interior.

[lincoln9]

paint is peeling bad on d door and hood. It looks like it was stripped done to the glass but the used only high build primer no etch or epoxy.

[BarryK]

The one great thing about a vette, is you can replace the whole interior for $1,000 to 1500. and at the same time pick the color you want.
Dash parts and steering column and T-Top items can be paint to match with ease.

The vette I'm doing has the Deluxe interior and the leather option and with less than 40,000 miles it just showed normal wear. From carpet to new door panels, leather seat covers and new foam for seats I have about $1400 invested. To me as cheap as that is and considering the other interior was very good, it will be brand new and not look dyed or painted up.

With that you can match the interior to any color you want.
Like "Resale Red" or "Womens Blue" for fast resale!

[lincoln9]

The only thing holding me back is the bronze t-tops can't be painted and are pricey to replace. Which colors would look good with those tops? I know the interior parts are cheap which is why I'm restoring a vette for my first project. Also I'm not dealing with any rust on the body just frame. What would be the best way to strip this car aircraft paint stripper? Would that soak in to the glass and cause problems. Or just da sand with 80 or 100?

[lincoln9]

Check out the stereo I'm installing in my friends car in electrical forum. I have to go back and work on it now just stopped to eat and trying to get my mind off the vette and get the stereo done.

[lincoln9]

This vette has matching #'s not sure if that is a value factor on this year of vette but it has every option a corvette had at the time including chrome rack on back and deluxe interior, power windows a/c. The only thing that would have made it better is L-82 engine 210 vs L-48 180 not good either way. Should I just keep it original as this is going to be up for sale the day it's finished. I bought it just to put my brand new shop to work. My goal is to restore much higher value cars like 58' 63' 66' 67' vette or early mopars and gm's ect...

[lincoln9]

Nobody has a good idea for colors? I want to order interior parts on Monday it would be helpful if I had my mind set on a certain color.

[shine]

once ya go black.... ya never go back

[dt196]

Lincoln,
Usually to get top dollar out of a Vette, you keep it original. That being said, if you want to change exterior color, put a black interior in it. That would be code 19V vinyl or 192 leather. A black interior goes with any exterior color.

To strip the paint I would suggest sanding with a DA. I start with 40 grit to remove the clear and some color. Next sand the color off with 80 grit. Finally sand the primer off with 120 grit. This will leave you with a good surface to do your body work and epoxy prime.
I haven't used paint stripper on Vettes for over 20 years, just too many negatives. It's a hazardous waste, will cause the seam lines to shrink later (ask me how I know), not recommended by GM, extremely messy, etc.
Dan

[roger1]

You can use Captain Lee's Auto Spray Strip on a Corvette of that vintage.
It removes the paint but not the primer. So, it doesn't damage the fiberglass since it never touches it.

The primer can then be sanded off which is much easier than sanding off paint.

I used Captain Lee's on a '69 recently that had original paint and it works good. But, it is still a gooey, messy job. I would do it again however.

[37ford4dr]

nothing beats a black vette,
i'm running a high performance 4 bolt main 350, 750 speed demon, 700r4, and steeroids (rack and pinion), after market trailing arms, poly bushings plus too much more to mention...a numbers matching 76 will never be worth more or as much fun as a tastefully modded 76, or in my case a 77....

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[roger1]

Agree 100%. Black looks great on these years of Vettes.

Goes with the brown interior great too.