Unpainted classic sale

We were discussing this. A friend has several classic sports cars to sell but wants to paint them first. All the body is stripped to metal and they are rust free. I thought he should offer them as is so the buyer sees that nothing is hidden under a coat of paint and could choose his own color. Mechanically the cars are very good. He thinks unpainted would remove too much value from the sale price ... maybe half the value of a $50k car. I think he would do it if only $10k was the penalty. I know that I would like to see the car naked.

Cheers Ron

$10K will buy you a pretty nice paint job. I'd also rather see the car naked, and be able to pick the pro who sprays the car....but thats just me!

I would think it is a much greater hassle for your friend to deal with painting the cars. He should try posting them for sale "naked" and see if anyone bites.

Even if he thinks he wants to sell them painted, being able to show the buyer what the body is like before paint would be a huge bonus IMHO.

Maybe post them for a painted price and have them painted in the color the buyer wants after they inspect it bare and put down a deposit? Of course there could be complications if the buyer backs out after it is painted.

I won't buy anything with a fresh paint job.

I did (well, with almost fresh paint) but that's our plastic car so I doubt they were hiding rust that way...

I don't mind new paint if done right but I'd want to see some photographic evidence of what the car looked like before it was painted.

Unless it is an unpainted barn find rare Bugatti, I am leaning that most potential buyers will want a completed car with paint or will consider it as unfinished and worth half as much. I will recommend full pictorial coverage now before the paint goes on. Thank you Ron

I'm in the camp that prefers unpainted. In fact, I'd rather have a little patina on a 40-50 year old car. Patina gives an old car character and I'll pay more for that. What I really hate is when some cretin paints over classic BRG with hideous fire truck red.

Selling to the general public he'd be much better off with a completed car. Selling to a hardcore enthusiast like one of us, I'd say we'd all prefer unpainted. But we're not likely to pay full retail either.

rconlon wrote: Unless it is an unpainted barn find rare Bugatti, I am leaning that most potential buyers will want a completed car with paint or will consider it as unfinished and worth half as much. I will recommend full pictorial coverage now before the paint goes on. Thank you Ron

Agreed. It'll sell faster painted, but good pre-paint documentation would help limit fears of a quick cover-up.