EDIT UPDATE

MY SON BUFFED IT OUT AND IT LOOKS GREAT! WE WILL SOON SEE HOW BUYERS RECEIVE THIS ORIGINAL F150! THANKS ALL!

I have a 118,800 Mi., 1984 F150 302/AT standard cab, AC, 2WD, short-bed. Rust free, unmolested Ca. vehicle in nice mechanical condition.

It's "Deluxe Two Tone" dark metallic brown/ tan center paint is tired. 3 SMALL dents (8 hour job for a body-man). Paint and body is not cheap, here in cali.

Interior is a light brown/tan color.

Should I 1 buff it out and let buyer decide on paint?

2 Repaint in OE (no longer popular) colors ?

3 Repaint in a nice two tone blue/white or red/white combo?

Opinions for resale profit, please. (I will try and add a POLL)

Thanks.

 

Buff the paint..I would much rather see original paint and body panels that a shiny new paint job hiding GOD knows what..

 

If you knew what a potential buyer wanted in the way of paint color and quality then I would say go for it. But, you don't. So don't do something that's fairly expensive, like dent removal or painting, that might not be what a buyer wants.

As an example, I'm on the lookout for a Bronco similar in shape to your truck. It will be used off-road so I don't want an expensive paint job on it. But, I want a rust-free vehicle with a decent paint job. If yours was a Bronco and you painted it I wouldn't be interested. First, there would be no way to know if it was rusty and you painted over it. Second, I don't want to take a shiny new paint job into the woods.

 

Shiny paint increases curb appeal and helps sell. Unfortunately you rarely will get your money back if maximum profit is the goal. Shine up what you got and price accordingly.

 

Thanks so far. I should have mentioned, I would be talking a low budget, "Dealer Deluxe" decent paint job. Perhaps $2000.

 

$2000 is a very significant portion of what you will get for the truck. About half, I'd bet. You won't get your money back, and you'll drive off some potential buyers that want to be able to tell what is under the paint.

 

I thought of a fifth option. Since I have limited, so-so auto paint experience and want to learn.

The hood and roof, have the worst paint. Sun damaged hood and roof, with surface, fuzzy rust on the roof. I could sand, seal and prime them and apply OE color, our selves. Hows that sound?

Thanks again.

 

You are not going to get your money back ...

Here's the deal, if the paint is sun baked, it's most likely starting to alligator as it's called and to do a paint job that will not be crap requires striping!

Not cheap!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

Amen! And, people will not know what is under it. You obviously don't want to take our advice. But, our collective advice is to buff it out and sell it.

 

Buff it and sell it, not worth the time, money or hassle. Let the new owner spend the money and get on with your life easier lol.

 

Amen!

Any other choice is a losing proposition ...

If you want to improve the sell ability, have a GOOD QUALITY professional interior detailing done and exterior paint buff job!
Every nook, cranny, crack and crevice of the interior perfectly clean and not scratched up in the process.

But it's not going to raise the value much ... Just the ability to sell!

Never try to hide issues with paint and polish, many folks can see right through them.

I also do not recommend pressure washing the engine, engine bay or underside either ... They are considered a mask and folks like me ALWAYS reach in places that can't easily be cleaned to unmask a mask.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

How about a photo of the truck????

 

Hope these post.

 

Try again.

 

How do I load more than 1 at a time?