Colour change questions

[caduceus]

As a few of you on this forum already know, I'm on the hunt for a Chimaera. So far I've not found the right one, so I'm looking to broaden my search to cars that might tick all the righ boxes, apart from the exterior colour.

- Is a colour change (that is one of the data entries on a HPi) really a big negative, when it comes to sell time?

- Is there a painter out there that would paint my car if I'd done all the prep and primer, and thus not as an expensive proposition to consider?

Cheers

[Julesprivate]

A colour change wouldn't bother me - but I know there are some potential owners put off by that sort of thing.

I have a good friend who runs a spray business, he's painted several of my cars in the past including my Scimitar (fibreglass) and is superb. He's flexible about the prep you/he does.

If you want his details let me know but his business is in Gloucestershire so if you're not local that might be an issue.

he's just completed a repair/respray on a lovely Cerbera and did his usual fantastic job.

[caduceus]

Thanks for the rec Jules. Will mail you if its the way I'll decide to go. Just wanted to put the feelers out.
Not many replies so far, so hard to gauge opinion.

With the recent news that TVRs will never be made again (Chim, Griff, Cerb at least), I would have thought the rules/feelings about buying a second hand TVR would change. As they are only going to become rarer... But I guess its too early days for that kind of sway.

I just don't want to spend money on a Chimaera, only to find I can't sell it on 'x' years later because someone gets spooked by a lick of paint. I lost thousands on the Cerbera. Not going down that road again.

[debaron]

Have you considered wrapping it?
I know initially it might seem a bit 'chavvy' but think about it - wrap is very hard wearing, more resistant to stone chips, very forgiving and comes in lots of colors. Also when you come to sell its just a case of pulling it off - no worries on the HPi. Also, if you're the kind of guy that would have a go at doing paintwork prep you're probably up to putting the wrap on yourself (it's pretty easy by all accounts - a heat gun and a squidger are all you need - saving yourself a packet on the labour.
There was a cerbera that got wrapped in matte black so it's definitely do able.

[Julesprivate]

debaron said:

Have you considered wrapping it?
I know initially it might seem a bit 'chavvy' but think about it - wrap is very hard wearing, more resistant to stone chips, very forgiving and comes in lots of colors. Also when you come to sell its just a case of pulling it off - no worries on the HPi. Also, if you're the kind of guy that would have a go at doing paintwork prep you're probably up to putting the wrap on yourself (it's pretty easy by all accounts - a heat gun and a squidger are all you need - saving yourself a packet on the labour.
There was a cerbera that got wrapped in matte black so it's definitely do able.

That is an excellent idea... Not sure about the DIY option, I did one of my motorcycles previously and have vowed never again but they do wrap in a miriad of colours.

I priced it up for my S earlier in the season and someone quoted me £2.5k for that...which seemed excessive...

[caduceus]

debaron said:

Have you considered wrapping it?
Also when you come to sell its just a case of pulling it off - no worries on the HPi.

And you're then left with a difficult sell because of the nasty colour you originally masked with the wrap

I appreciate the suggestion though, thanks.

[mb450]

Julesprivate said:

If you want his details let me know but his business is in Gloucestershire so if you're not local that might be an issue.

I'd be interested in his details - I'm in Gloucestershire with a 450 Chim that needs some TLC and a Merc CL 55 AMG Kompressor that needs full respray.

[chris1972]

Have you thought of getting the exterior colour you want and then getting the interior recoloured and new carpets?

It would probably work out cheaper than a respray and isn't recorded on the V5.

[caduceus]

chris1972 said:

Have you thought of getting the exterior colour you want and then getting the interior recoloured and new carpets?

It would probably work out cheaper than a respray and isn't recorded on the V5.

Already looked into that Chris. Unbelievably its just as expensive. Even more so at places like a well known trim company mentioned on PH. I'm no good with a sewing machine, so can't have a go myself

[chris1972]

caduceus said:

Already looked into that Chris. Unbelievably its just as expensive. Even more so at places like a well known trim company mentioned on PH. I'm no good with a sewing machine, so can't have a go myself

Okay! You could just get the best mechanical/ body colour combo you want and then sort the interior at a later date? My interior is a dull blue and grey colour and looks at little washed out, however, I can live with it until I one day I have the budget to change. I may colour mine. Leave the grey as grey and make the blue into black. I think a darker interior will work well with my silver Chim.