westija

Question to the experts.

I have a 97 Arena Red Convertible that I purchased from BaT around 6 months ago.
Love the car and it is in great shape.
Clean Carfax and no accidents, but the front bumper and hood have several rock chips on what I think is original paint. I have to repair the driver door strap and got a good quote to repaint the bumper, hood, both fron fenders and blend them with the doors.
If I proceed, am I making it worse in terms of value, by repainting it, instead of keeping the original paint, albeit with several chips?
I intend to keep the car for a long time.

crw

Cabs don't really hold a premium as a collector car, so I wouldn't worry about preserving original paint.

Unless it was for an accident, most buyers don't really give a hoot if part of a car was painted - unless there is a matching problem.

If the paint chips bother you - fix it.

ninjabones

Only legitimate concern from a potential buyer of a non-collectible 993 is what the paint work could have been hiding. Take lots of photos and share with your buyer when the time comes. For me, I’d rather have a (quality) fresh respray than tired tired/ chipped 27-year-old paint.

By-Tor

I have original paint and the hood and bumper have some stone chips but they're not that visible. Personally, I love that my car is in excellent condition but not in a showroom condition.

Wear and tear is cool and I don't have to be hysterical about the paint.

However, red paint seems to be fading quite a bit so it might be tired. You didn't put any pictures but if those bother you go ahead and respray it.

MBR993

I love that mine is all original paint. If you plan to drive it, a few stone chips in the original paint are better than a repaint that will get new stone chips. I also disagree with @crw about collectibility. Recent 993 cab prices are rising (even taking into account Barrett-Jackson craziness):

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ERTIBLE-252204
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ERTIBLE-260451
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...-cabriolet-45/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...-cabriolet-73/

Ponchobroke

If only several (a handful) have a competent detailer fill the chips and do a paint correction on the affected panels or the entire car. Original paint is a thousand times better than any repaint.

INTMD8

I think intending to keep it for a long time means do what makes you happy.

I had the entire nose of my 11k mile F355 resprayed due to rock chips because I prefer it to be nice and I'm not selling it.

fatmike

Yes, you will likely decrease value by repainting and blending panels. But, if you intend to keep the car then why does it matter?

I don't think removing the plastic bumper cover and re-spraying it matters though. That might be a positive.

You are the steward for this car. It's timeless and will be interesting/collectible in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. My question is how the modern water born paint hold up in 10 years? How about 20? By "fixing it' now you will have faded and mis-matched paint in 10 years... or 20 years? (or maybe even in 5 years...)?

Have you looked into Dr. Colorchip? It does a reasonably good job of blending in stone chips so that you don't notice them from 10 feet.

There is nothing wrong with some patina.

/

rlme36

As others have said, first do what will make you happy. if repainting does that, then theres your answer and put some PPF on the nose of the car to limit future chips. I caution you, be sure to get someone familiar with the door check strap fix and vet the procedure. Those that want to weld the bracket on the front side need not apply and by the way, paint supplies have gone through the roof.

996AE

Rat Rod Porsches are the thing

100% tight mechanical, driver no need to paint a non collectible Porsche

Waste of money

FLYT993

you should do what you want to do. whether the "repaint" de-values the car is dependent on IF you sell and WHO you're selling too. it's not an absolute that a repaint de-values the car. if you decide to make sure the shop uses glasurit paint.

westija

Thank you for the comments everyone. There are just too many chips to attempt any touch-up. And while I am fine with some, I am thinking this might be too much for my taste. So I might proceed with the repaint.
Can you elaborate about the Glasurit paint comment?

crw

Looks like a 928S4 in your avatar -always wondered what they ride like?

westija

The 928 was wonderful, but I had to sell it when I moved overseas. The car was very powerful, technologically way ahead of its time, super strong, always felt very solid, stable and comfortable. A great car indeed. But not the easiest to work on, parts were not as available and space in the engine compartment was inexistent. The wiring harness connectors deteriorated and it could produce many electrical gremlins.
I would definitelly have another one, but the 993 is more nimble and more modern. Love both.

Foxman

The bonnet and front bumper are both easily removed, and it’s quite common to refresh the paint. If you want, keep the original bonnet with the patina and get a new bonnet for the refresh. Better still, get an aluminum bonnet and shed some weight!