Not sure I can bring myself to do it...

[WestCoastSVX]

For years I've had plans to eventually have my Claret fixed all up and then repainted a custom color, something along the lines of a darker silver, gunmetal, slate, etc.

Yesterday I came out of the store and caught my car at just the right angle and the sun was hitting it just right and it just looked beautiful (from 50 feet away where none of the dents or blemishes show).

Claret seems to never get much love around here (except for Mike) and I think it even might be one of the most custom painted SVX colors. But there must be a reason it also seems to be one of the most common 92 SVX colors out there, although maybe we shouldn't judge car buyers' taste back then?

When a Claret is all waxed up and in the right light, I love it. Other times, I keep thinking how cool a more neutral color might be, not to mention custom to the SVX. Of course color change = more money, especially since next week I'm getting 1/5 of the car restored and repainted Claret courtesy of insurance.

Decisions, decisions....

[SilverSpear]

Changing colors is next to impossible, you need time and $$$ for that. You should dismantle the entire car, remove everything, engine, interior, fenders, trunk, rear glass, bumpers.... but hell, you will be driving a new looking SVX

Check out your budget for such a decision...

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by SilverSpear

Changing colors is next to impossible, you need time and $$$ for that. You should dismantle the entire car, remove everything, engine, interior, fenders, trunk, rear glass, bumpers.... but hell, you will be driving a new looking SVX

Check out your budget for such a decision...

Ha, you sound like the lady at the autobody shop!

Good advice though. Like I told her, IF I did go that route, it would be the same time I strip my interior and take a lot of things apart that I plan to do anyway.

There's been a few color changes on the Network that get plenty of kudos that didn't go near to the extreme of removing the glass and such. But I know what you are saying.

[Mike621]

Go Claret.

[Mike621]

Support for my case.

[SilverSpear]

Originally Posted by MacGyver

Ha, you sound like the lady at the autobody shop!

Good advice though. Like I told her, IF I did go that route, it would be the same time I strip my interior and take a lot of things apart that I plan to do anyway.

There's been a few color changes on the Network that get plenty of kudos that didn't go near to the extreme of removing the glass and such. But I know what you are saying.

The reason I told you rear glass is because below it you can still see some color. And upon color change, something bad (I dunno how they are gonna spray it there ) is gonna happen where the case of paint over primary over paint will not be done properly. The result will be humidity and... rust

Lol, hope you got the idea

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by Mike621

Go Claret.

I was waiting for that!

Only took ya 29 minutes too!

Your car does look great though, a good ambassador for Clarets everywhere!

Maybe we do need a west coast version...

[mysvxrocks]

Troy..... GO CLARET!


That is still my choice of color. That and Bordeaux Pearl. First love sticks with you I guess, lol.


However, Ill go against what Mike did, I would say keep your spoiler

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by Mike621

Support for my case.

Mike, did you go with the original Claret Pearl color code when you did yours?

If so, how different was it from what was on the car after 15 years?

I'm debating just telling the shop to spray the new rear bumper and quarter panel they are repairing to the factory code, rather than matching the rest of the car. With the thought that the rest would be completed soon.

But "soon" is an unknown, so I don't want something TOO obviously mismatched. Not sure they'd really go for that idea anyway, as this is an insurance deal.

[BoxerFanatic]

The only color change I have considered for a theoretical color change...

Would be black to blue. I would start with a black car, and paint the body a dark blue.

Actually somewhat similar to Claret, but rather than maroon/purple, it would be a blue tone. Something like the '10 Shelby GT500 press car is painted, but no stripes. Either that, or a Jaguar special color, Kyanite Blue, from their new XF-R sport sedan.


or


I would leave the roof, trunk, and spoiler black. I would also leave the door jams black, as well as the engine bay sides and such.

On a method like that, I might even have most of the parts, hood, front fenders, front and rear bumper covers, the back side of the trunk lid around the tail light bar, and the side skirts and doors painted OFF the car, to help avoid bleed or overspray onto the black chassis.

The only bad part is, that the black car that would be a good basis... seem to all have tan interiors. Possibly the bronze-tinted glass, as well... but I am unsure.

I would prefer gray interior, and blue tinted glass would probably look more consistent, which the Laguna blue cars already have... so there is the dilemma of just getting a Laguna blue, painting the roof and trunk tri-coat black, like the pearlies, clarets, and silvers are, and calling it good...

Ideally, I would love to do the darker blue over black paintjob, and re-upholster/re-dye the interior with black/charcoal vinyl, and the dark blue alcantara faux-suede from the 2007/2008 Legacy GT Spec B, along with it's 6MT drivetrain swap. Also with a dark gunmetal gray finish on the dash plastic pieces, and a later Subaru 3-spoke steering wheel.

With some nice silver wheels, like BBS CO...


I think it would look hawt.

The thing is, changing between to other distinct colors means you can't really do it right while leaving door jams and other hard to reach parts of the car painted the original color, while the outside is the new color. It might work for black, but otherwise, it would not work so well.

[tiv0]

man, everytime I see Mike's claret it just makes me feel better about having a claret myself; even though mine is the two tone (black on claret)

claret is a color that stands out in itself, especially since the svx is already such a unique car. I've never been a fan of "purple", even though claret isn't exactly purple, but that color on the SVX is perfectly fitting.

sorry, im not offering much help. I guess what im trying to say is stay claret!
and im not saying this from a biased point of view either...

[Green1995SVX]

Mike's car looks like Dr. Pepper.

Edit: And, it's beautiful! (Almost as beautiful as mine.)

[BoxerFanatic]

I have to say, if any car looks fantastic with gold wheels, it is a Claret/Bordeaux color, with tan interior and bronze tinted glass... And Mike's with the Prodrives is the object lesson on how to do that look correctly.

Dr. Pepper is a good analogy. A little more red than root beer.

[Mike621]

I need to take it for a drive this weekend. I need to take better photos of it with the new wheels anyway...

Claret is a gorgeous color. A few generous coats of Glazurit clear really bring out the metallic.

Oh, and I like Dr. Pepper, so I guess it works out!

Edit: Troy, I found that fresh Claret looks rich and full unlike the faded purple mine had almost regressed to entirely.

My car before:



After:

[Mike621]

Oh and DJ, my car was never equipped with a spoiler...

Man... I'm glad my car doesn't look like this anymore: