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CSS996 Considering a color change...
Mega Guru
Central PA
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OK, so my Ruby already has had some crappy paint work. It is hard to see, except in direct sunlight. My paint guy said there are three shades of paint in the GM catalog that are called "Maple" something. And it looks like the factory color was one of the darker shades, and the repairs were made in one of the lighter shades.

It bothers me to see it. Now, the back of my car will be repainted because of my fender bender, and it seems like a good time to just have the whole care painted. That got me thinking...

I really like the Ruby color, but since I have the opportunity to change it, I might as well at least think about it.

So What do you think of these? And bear in mind that my interior is the Ruby color, so whatever color I choose (probably the original ruby color) it has to go with the ruby interior. I'm not gonna rip all that out.

Anyway, here are some things I'm considering.

That dark blue metallic color from the early C4 (which I could not re-create very well)

Resized Image

The Silver/Gray two tone that I love on the early C4:

Resized Image

And one of the slightly brighter Ruby reds:

Resized Image

This is the original color. A little darker red:

Resized Image

I guess doing a color change on a Ruby is probably some kind of sacrilege. But if the car is worth nothing now, then how much harm could I do?

So... Thoughts? Ideas? I'll probably stay with the original color, or maybe go just a shade brighter, but I figured I'd play with the idea a little.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:12
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Sweet90 Re: Considering a color change...
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Edmonton, Alberta
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IMHO Chris, I would never change the colour of a Ruby.
Just my 2 cents

Jim
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:26
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Jeffvette Re: Considering a color change...
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Not on CF
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I will say color changes are hard. Especially if you are a picky person. You need to remove some of the interior, the weatherstrip, moldings..... door handles other bits and pieces to have it done right. You can do most of that yourself and reduce the costs some, but reinstalling new WS will be expensive.

Take a look at the LeMans blue on the C5/C6. Gorgeous color as well.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:30
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pianoguy Re: Considering a color change...
Guru Emeritus
Apple Valley, MN
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My vote would be to stick with the original color - I think it's very distinctive. But only your vote counts ;-)
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:41
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jdtireman Re: Considering a color change...
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Winnipeg
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Other than my Yellow 93, my favorite stock color for the C4s would be the Quasar Blue.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:49
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BrianCunningham Re: Considering a color change...
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Quote:

Sweet90 wrote:
IMHO Chris, I would never change the colour of a Ruby.
Just my 2 cents

Jim


I agree

That and Copperheads are the most sought after.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 16:52
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
Mega Guru
Central PA
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Yellow is my favorite too, but it would look terrible with a ruby interior. I'll probably stay original. But it's fun to think about.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 17:03
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jdtireman Re: Considering a color change...
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Winnipeg
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You could go with the black rose metalic and keep the ruby int. That would work.
Posted on: 2009/3/27 17:06
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Epimax Re: Considering a color change...
Elite Guru
Wilmington, NC
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Quote:

Sweet90 wrote:
IMHO Chris, I would never change the colour of a Ruby.
Just my 2 cents

Jim


Same Here-I'd keep it the same--
Posted on: 2009/3/27 17:35
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Matatk Re: Considering a color change...
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How about ruby body with a gray stripe. Or a two tone with top/bottom gray/ruby?

Matthew
Posted on: 2009/3/27 23:49
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
Mega Guru
Central PA
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I dunno... In my head, Ruby is too sophisticated to put any stripes on. One of the reasons I wouldn't mind a change. If I could find some silver hash marks, I wouldn't mind putting those on there though.

If I did blue, then a silver skunk stripe with a red outline would be really cool. Like the one special edition C5. I think Vetteblondie did a stripe like that. Looks great.

I think I'll stay with the original color. I don't want to worry about taking the interior apart, and painting door sills and shit like that.

I like the Ruby color just fine. Hopefully I can swing the full repaint. It will be nice to have it looking tip-top.

I got my check from the insurance company today. $1,350. That is minus my $500 deductible already. I estimated in my head that I did $2,000 worth of damage, so I was pretty darn close.

I hope that's right. And if it costs more, I hope my body shop can work that out with the insurance folks without a hitch.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 0:02
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cuisinartvette Re: Considering a color change...
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Paint it whatever you want, its going to be a long time before C4s are looked at as desirable cars, if ever.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 0:24
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
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Central PA
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Yup. Too damn many of them. Especially the rare ones.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 0:28
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crash Re: Considering a color change...
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WRIGHT CITY MO 63390
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as one ruby owner to another. keep the original paint. you will kick yourself in the ass later if you change it now.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 0:32
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skirlin Re: Considering a color change...
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Caledonia Michigan
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I am not against a color change. My 92 is white, not bad but not that exciting either. The ruby is nice. Maybe a repaint in the original color but have the painter add some pearl into the clear coat for an extra pop in the sunlight. Or maybe bright silver with a ruby Grand Sport stripe.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 1:42
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
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Central PA
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Neat idea on the clear coat. I'll ask about that.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 1:52
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BillH Re: Considering a color change...
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You could go Ultimate Ruby, do a ruby base and mix pearl in the clear coat.
I've done this a few times. The effect is awesome.

If I repaint my Black Rose, Im going to do it this way.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 1:54
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convas Re: Considering a color change...
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Quote:


The Silver/Gray two tone that I love on the early C4:

Resized Image



I don't normally like the two tones but this looks nice.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 11:47
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Midnight85 Re: Considering a color change...
Guru
Streator, IL.
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I changed my '85 from metallic gray which was badly faded to black. I had to remove the front & rear bumper covers, the rear glass, doors and everything in/on them, rockers, taillights, headlight assemblies off & taken apart, front driving lights, moldings, weatherstrip and probably many other small items. All this just so NO ONE can tell the car was ever anything but black. I'd stay with the original color if I had it to do over,
Posted on: 2009/3/28 14:35
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BillH Re: Considering a color change...
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Quote:

CSS996 wrote:
Neat idea on the clear coat. I'll ask about that.


Some painters, the guys that never do custom stuff, haven't heard of it but it's simple to do because you can get the pearls in powder form. Just mix a little in the clear.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 14:44
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Randyj75 Re: Considering a color change...
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MD
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I have never liked the ruby color, I think silver would be very cool, but would stay away from the two tone. But like Midnight says, changing the color of a car is a lot of work. My first Corvette was a '65 coupe I changed from black to Ontario Orange. I had to basicly remove all of the interior, it was a PITA, I would never do it again.
Just go w/ a custom ruby color, and/or do a silver stripe.

Randy
Posted on: 2009/3/28 14:46
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VtVette Re: Considering a color change...
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Las Vegas, NV
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Quote:

BillH wrote:
Quote:

CSS996 wrote:
Neat idea on the clear coat. I'll ask about that.


Some painters, the guys that never do custom stuff, haven't heard of it but it's simple to do because you can get the pearls in powder form. Just mix a little in the clear.


It seems to be getting more and more common. I think the major paint suppliers are realizing there is real money in custom colors. Especially in this economy with more and more people keeping their cars, working on and customizing them, as opposed to buying new. Our PPG rep gave me a book of custom colors, tints, and pearls/metallics. It's nice that a painter can stick to the system they are used to and do some custom work as well.

I've color changed several C4s where you cannot tell the color was changed. The C4 is actually easy (as far as color changes go) because they are all black under the hood. But, the hatch, doors, trim, etc does have to come off to do it right. It's still a lot of work but not nearly as much work as some cars I've done where the engine compartment has to be stripped completely. That's the biggest benefit of a color change on a C4.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 16:06
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bogus Re: Considering a color change...
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San Pedro, CA
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I would stick with the OEM colour... at least on this car.

The labour required is heavy to do it right, and as it is, you will still want to remove the bumper covers and such.

Any manual work YOU can do will save you triple at the other end. Seriously. On a $3k paint estimate, one shop told me I would save $1k by doing the bumper cover and interior R&R myself. I am all for that.
Posted on: 2009/3/28 17:49
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BillH Re: Considering a color change...
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Quote:

VtVette wrote:
Our PPG rep gave me a book of custom colors, tints, and pearls/metallics. It's nice that a painter can stick to the system they are used to and do some custom work as well.


I've used PPG on the racecars for a long time. It's extremely chip resistant, almost as good as Emron.

The custom stuff PPG has out now is amazing, Sherwin-William's glass particle stuff is too.
And what's also nice is that vendors, like the kolor shop forum vendor here, are bottling House of Kolor pearls in small bottles that don't break your wallet.

The last open wheel car I did was C5 yellow. I mixed red pearl in the clear. The effect in the sun was awesome.
Posted on: 2009/3/29 13:07
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81c3 Re: Considering a color change...
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Colorado
143 Posts
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Dont know about a color change, but thats a niiiice house your car is sitting in front of. Whahdya do, wreck your ride?
Posted on: 2009/4/2 3:51
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
Mega Guru
Central PA
3644 Posts
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Just a bit. I'll call ya tamale.
Posted on: 2009/4/2 4:03
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85L98-84L83 Re: Considering a color change...
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You should rock the original ruby hard. If you like the color of the earlier vettes just buy another vette, it is cheaper to buy another vette than it is to change the color of yours. I have two vettes, its not weid to have more than one vette, hit ebay people are hurting right now, score another vette cheap.
Posted on: 2009/4/9 1:57
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Flashman Re: Considering a color change...
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Tampa Bay, Florida
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Quote:

convas wrote:
Quote:


The Silver/Gray two tone that I love on the early C4:

Resized Image



I don't normally like the two tones but this looks nice.



How about two tone. Do the bottom in black or a color that would look good with the ruby on top. Then you wont have to do the door jambs and throw off interior colors too. Or black on the hood cowl.



Joe Flash
Posted on: 2009/5/1 13:24
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CSS996 Re: Considering a color change...
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Central PA
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Whatever I decide is going to have to wait a bit. My repair funds are being used to purchase another car for the wife.

I'll have the cash in about a month to do a full repaint, but I'm wondering if it might be smarter just to leave it.

As it sits with the minor damage, I could sell it to someone who wants to get into a ruby really cheap. I'm not sure I would get an extra $3,000 for it if I put the money into fixing it.

I've got some thinking to do. I'd like to sell it in better condition than I found it, but selling it at that much of a loss isn't practical.

I don't know what to do. I'm kinda hoping I can keep the Ruby and still get a C5Z. But not likely.
Posted on: 2009/5/1 13:36
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DaleD Re: Considering a color change...
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Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
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Too much trouble and cost to change the color. Especially since the orignal color isn't bad.

But, if you really wanted a change, that two tone does look pretty sharp, and would go nicely with the ruby interior.
Posted on: 2009/5/1 15:13
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