Changing color on a 1967 XKE

[GDavidson]

I just bought a 1967 XKE series 1 Roadster that needs restored. The current color is white. If I changed the exterior color to another Jaguar color such as red, how much value would be lost. I plan on a "drivable" restoration, not concours.

 

[PhilW]

Almost all red cars are worth 5% to 10% more, no matter what the original color was. Paint it the color you like. Then let the next guy paint it the color he likes in 25 years when the paint gets tired.

I have an early number, outside bonnet latch car that i'll be painting BRG (I don't care for the bronze). Why put all that time and money into a car and you don't like the color?

 

[GB1]

Welcome to both of you I tend to agree, I have almost always changed the colors of my cars, but with other original colors.

 

[GDavidson]

Thanks, This is my first foray into British cars, part of the suspension has already been painted red.

 

[Exotexs]

if I may add the dissenting opinion; If I was looking for any old car, be it a Jaguar or a Studebaker, one consideration is: does it have the original color? (not neccesarily the original PAINT). If it doesn't have the original color, it is plain to see everywhere it wasn't repainted, everywhere the new color didn't cover the original. Anybody can repaint a car, the trick is how well it is done. We've all heard the question: "does it have Matching Numbers?", in my opinion, the same applies to the color. And surely some people couldn't care less, but some people do care, especially with E types. So it's a tossup and its your car, but if you're going to be selling, original color is a consideration. And Jaguar suspensions are never red, they are black.

 

[Bob_Muzio]

I'm for painting it the color that makes you happy unless it has provenance that demands the original color. I would also think that if one paints an e-type everything is removed during painting and one wouldn't be able to detect the original color.
By "suspension" do we mean the frame tubes? If so they are painted the same color as the body.
Bob

 

[GDavidson]

Thanks again, the frame rails have been painted red. I think I will leave it white as just the front part has been changed and I can paint it white again. Don't think I want the hastle of finding every nook and cranny to change the color. Besides, red is an expensive paint!

 

[Exotexs]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, This is my first foray into British cars, part of the suspension has already been painted red.

[/ QUOTE ]

Since he said "suspension", I thought he meant the rear cage and the front member. Ex

 

[Exotexs]

[ QUOTE ]
I think I will leave it white as just the front part has been changed and I can paint it white again. Don't think I want the hastle of finding every nook and cranny to change the color.

[/ QUOTE ]

White makes any E type look distinctive and bold. The Dave Clark V (soft-rock group of the 1960's), had five White E types in 1966-67 which they used in a video and an album cover. (I have both). The irony is: everybody has a Red one which was probably White or Green when new!
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[kennypinkerton]

I hate red myself... Because so many cars are.

 

[Basil]

[ QUOTE ]
Welcome to both of you I tend to agree, I have almost always changed the colors of my cars, but with other original colors.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, if you do change, do so within correct colors for that year and series (and keep the interior correct for whatever color you choose). For example, my Series One was originally silver blue with a light grey interior. I loved the color, but hated the grey interior. I researched and found that the only other interior color that would have been correct for a 67 Roadster in Silver blue was Navy Blue (dark blue). I kept the color silver blue, but changed to a dark blue interior which in my opinion looked much better but was still correct for the period.

Basil

 

[Exotexs]

overall, I agree with the premise about painting it the color you like, my only caveat is that changing the original color requires so much effort if you want to do it right, as in absolute dissassembly, and even then, you can't get to all the nooks and crannies that the factory could get to when the car was but a shell. Repainting the original color doesn't take so much effort or dissassembly, and then you can concentrate on a beautiful finish. For example, I would paint it the original white color, but I would add a Pearl or Morphing effect to the paint, as in those custom paint jobs, though I know the purists will throw stones at me.

But I don't care, I am guilty of modernizing my own 1965 S type with XJ-6 electric door mirrors and switch, Van Den Plas XJ-6 front and rear Headrests, XJ-6 Center Stop Lamp, modern XJ-6 stereo and speakers, (the car had a 1965 AM Radio for heaven's sake), and I added an Emergency Flasher kit. But if you noticed, everything I added to the car came from another Jaguar. And I'm still at it, next comes an Air Conditioner kit from Mr Jaguar.com, and a Getrag 4-speed automatic out of an XJ-40, but money doesn't grow so fast. The reason I did all that is because I love to get in the car and drive it long distances, 800 miles one-way, then back...it's a driving car. But traffic conditions today require safety and comfort accesories. A friend told me: if you want so many XJ-6 accessories in your S type, why don't you get an XJ-6 ? I told him: "But I already have an XJ-6".
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[bmurphy7369]

I find that when shopping for a classic British vehicle, I tend to do the research on the VIN, original color, options, and the rest. I usually find that I tend toward buying the vehicle that has the factory specs, colors that I would have chosen if I had purchased the car new (or possibly convince myself that I do this, when in reality I am an impulse buyer for LBC's, the most likely rationale in truth..) Anyway, do what makes you happy, the car is for your pleasure while you own it, leave it to the true purists to undo the changes you've made later on. I was lucky on the XJ6C in that my first choice was Silver Metallic/Red Interior, but I can live with the current Old English/Biscuit just as well. Let the forum know how the decision unfolds, great topic by the way!
Best Regards,
Brian /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif