Time for hard decisions (Original Color or Back and Gold??????????)

[d_hache]

Hello everyone, I know these questions might not be the best questions to ask on forums since everyone has their own idea's and opinions.   
But I thought ........what the hell....... might as well get the opinion of my fellow Firebird Trans Am lovers
The body work will begging shortly on my 1980 Trans Am.  The car was repainted to the original Francisco red color 25 years ago.
Bellow you can see how the car looked before took it apart. 
Don't be fooled with the shiny paint .......there was allot of patching done to it.





This is the way the car looks right now.








Now the hard question.  Do I leave it the original color or go for the black and gold?
I love this original Francisco Red I think that it looks really sharp.
But since I was a kid i have always dreamed of having a back and gold Trans Am.
I don't have to tell you that the SE cars are very expensive and a bit out of my range.
So now I am thinking of turning this car into a clone SE car.  Should I go for it? 
Keep in mine my TA was a solid car but its not low miles by any means and i also pulled out the original 301 for this newly re-built 400. 

[roadking77]

I would go black and gold. There are those that say that combination is over  done but if thats the car you really wanted you wont be truly happy until you have one. Red is a good colour as well but....
Whenever I am faced with a decision I will make a pros and cons list. If they end up pretty close then go with your gut feeling.
A colour change wont make any difference on the value of the car unless you paint it something ridiculous. In fact black may increase the re sale value.
I knew next to nothing (other than I loved trans ams) when I bought my 77. It was previously painted black with se striping. I assumed it was the 'real deal' and that was the car I wanted. Only after I dug deeper and started the learning process did I know that it was a black car but no stripes. I put the stripes on after the resto because that is the car I thought I was buying and the car I WANTED.  I have no regrets doing so.

[d_hache]

Thanks for your input roadking77! I am thinking the way you are as well.
I am not really looking at value of the car right now since its not a low miles car, and it already not original.
As well I will be driving this car allot....... I want to enjoy it and take it to all the shows.
And i agree with you that i thing it might actually increase the value if i was to sell it one day since the SE cars are so expensive.
Anyway ...will keep thinking about it and will let you guys know what I decide.
Thanks again

[b_hill_86]

I agree with roadking on the points he made. It’s your car. Realistically, no matter what you want to do, if you’re o my worries about whether or not you’d enjoy it, do it. My car was originally silver but needed paint and some bodywork. I knew I didn’t want to repaint silver cause I just don’t care for how it looks on 77/78s (it’s grown on me a little) and I couldn’t decide what other color I wanted to do so I settled on black but used charcoal/red decals that would’ve been in a silver car. Other than the pain of keeping a black car clean and looking good without scratching it, I have no regrets.

[76 - 455 - 4]

I agree, go with what you want(ed).
Black with gold will always be popular.
Good choice!

[Savage Larry]

I vote for Red!

[Jack]

I like the red but its not my car, do what you like without opinions or influences of others...

[d_hache]

I like the red as well, that's why its so hard to make up my mind
But i have always dreamed of the black and gold!
Will see will not make a decision today but will need to make up my mind soon.
Thanks everyone for your comments.

[ryeguy2006a]

It sounds to me like you should paint your car Black and Gold. I'd agree with Roadking because since your car is no longer numbers matching the original color isn't as meaningful. And in fact the Black and Gold will likely make the car more valuable.

Let's face it, no one really builds these cars with the intention of selling, but knowing how your modifications affect the sale down the road is a smart choice. Life is unpredictable.

I'll be honest that I'm keeping my eyes out for a deal on a 77/78 T/A myself. 

[ryeguy2006a]

Oh and if you want to think outside of Red or Black, I loved the dark gray paint that we used on my old Trans Am. I miss that car...

[T/A Addict]

I personally think the black and gold are wayyyy overdone but absolutely do what would bring you the greatest pleasure whichever color it is.

[Gene-73]

My 2 cents. I LOVE the look of a black and gold T/A.

That said, I bought my first black car last year (C7 Corvette) and I'll never buy a black car again. They are way too much effort to keep clean and looking nice. They show every imperfection so you have to be extra careful when washing to avoid scratching the paint, plus they only stay clean for about 30 seconds after washing.

I live in Cali-unicornia where it doesn't rain for 9 months out of the year so it's very dusty here and the car gets dirty just parked in the garage.

[scarebird]

How about red and gold?

I agree - Black/Gold is played out.

Sorry Ryan, IMO dark gray does these cars no favors - mutes the lines and curves.

[aussieta]

my take is
it's your car, paint it how you want it
i went through this same dilemma, took nearly 20 years before i made a decision
i always wanted a martinique blue trans am
bought a black trans am with the intention of painting it blue
then found it was numbers matching Y84
, finally decided as i have no intention of selling it, paint it blue
when i'm dead someone else can restore it to black and gold
see my avatar

[ryeguy2006a]

No offense taken Scarebird.

Aussieta, that is another fantastic suggestion. That is a gorgeous color on Trans Am's

[5th T/A]

I personally prefer red, just because there are so many black and gold TA’s. I think it’s a mistake to decide based on what the next potential owner would like, build it for what you want. These cars are a labor of love, not a financial investment.

[TATurbo]

I'd vote for red.
But, if you want to be able to rightfully accept all the Bandit comments, then Black and Gold.   
I'm thinking of getting a plate that says 'NOTABNDT' for my car.
Honestly though...If you've wanted a Black and Gold SE you should go with your heart and make yourself an SE.  I doubt you'd regret it.  If you go red, you'll still want an Black & Gold SE.  You'll end up with another project car!

[d_hache]

Thanks everyone for the great comments about the red and the black and gold.
I think all of your comments made sense and was what I expected.
Some like the red and some like the black and gold and its all about preference.

But most of you commented '' do it the want you want it''
I also liked the comments about re-sale value, you never know what will happen in the future so if you can paint the color that you love and add value to the car its not a bad ting.
I also understand that black cars are hard to keep, but i know all about that i had another balk fox body mustang for 20 years  

I was 8 years old when Smokey and the Bandit came out.  Ever since then I have wanted a black and gold Trans Am.  I am going to be 50 years old this year and i cannot think of a better gift for myself.

I think my decision is made we are going black and gold!

Thanks everyone again for the great comments.

[Maxthe222]

Red, sell that car and buy a real Y84 or a real black T/A, that car is too nice to repaint. Easy to find Y84 T/A for a reasonable price that will cost less than repainting the car.

[roadking77]

YEA! Black and Gold wins 

Seriously though, I dont think you will be happy with it unless its what you have your heart set on.

[76 - 455 - 4]

Another thought nobody mentioned is to just pick up a second one! A black/gold sitting next to the Red would be even more awesome!
Then when the Silver one comes along, all you will need is a three car garage!

[76 - 455 - 4]

case in point:

[Seven]

If time, project cost and value when completed are considerations at all, I would assemble and sell the red car and buy a real Y82 or zY84.

[roadking77]

Looks nice 76'

[Meshuga T/A]

Enough with the fake bandits.

[firebirdforrest]

Dang!

what you going to do with those Red and Black Recaros now?

[Wallington]

Do it whatever colour you want, opinions are too expensive to have if it's someone elses you are paying for.

[sensei451]

When you say gold, are you considering the gold y88?

https://wheels.ae/car-culture/my-wheels/article/4095/elie-kallab-s-1978-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-y88-gold-special-edition

I have a black SE but always felt that this was incredibly cool setup. And much rarer.