QuestionI have a 1939 packard with its original paint job in packard blue. Iwould like to paint this vehicle black, but i do not wish to devalue it. Is there anyway I could piant over the original paint job, to preserve the original paint underneath? Thanks Stephen
AnswerI don't see how it can be done.
First, if the original paint is in good condition, then you WILL devalue the car some, at least to those that value originality and correctness.
Second, if the original paint is good, and you paint over it, you will pretty much ruin the original paint because getting the new paint off will be next to impossible without damaging the paint underneath, not to mention a HUGE amount of time required to sand off the new paint carefully.
Third, A color change means to do it right you need to do the door jambs, under the hood, the trunk etc, etc. the only real way to get the original color back is to re-paint again, now you have three layers of paint, never good, or you have to strip everything off and start over.
Having said all that, if what you want is a black Packard, then the car is yours, go for it. Just don't expect to retain the original paint for future use.
There are very few instances were a color change will improve the value of a car, but I have seen people just super happy with their car by making it exactly what they want. These people plan on keeping the car forever and don't care about value.
My best advice is if you are worried about value, then you probably plan on selling it in the near future. I would then say keep it original if the paint is decent. Especially older classics like Packards can retain good value with an old but original paint/interior even if worn. if it looks decent and the car is safe and servicable, leaving it alone is a better choice for future value than spending the money on a restoration that you may not get back when you sell it.
I hope this helps.
Don
