So Why Are Repaints So Bad If Some Scratches Can't Be Fixed?

I am not expert but I believe changing the color is a lot different then doing what you are talking about.
Just enjoy your car and paint it if you want to....
I've got 80,000 miles on my 550 and could care less shooting for 100k miles.
If you're anywhere near Los Angeles you can go to Premier Motorsport
1310-762-9900 see DAVE.
good luck whatever you decide.

 

Two reasons. First is that paint work usually points to abuse or damage. Second is that the chance exists that the paint work was or will be done poorly and if the painters not carful may not match.

 

Dan my 2 cents. I agree with both comments above. It’s your car make it how you want it so You can enjoy it.
Document it’s current condition pre paint work with pictures and possibly some written assessments by the dealer or an appraisal. Most important, find someone that can do the job right. Don’t count on the dealer entirely, research their painter (possibly it’s an outside shop) and be sure they are good. If your car is done correctly it should be worth more than one that is in a compromised condition.
Bill
FL

 

I had the whole front end of my 355 resprayed to fix rock chips and a few small scratches. Like you I wanted it perfect.

Document before/after with photos and have the best shop do the work and I don't think anyone would complain.

That being said I'm not selling my car so resale is not a concern for me.

 

the factory paint jobs are nothing to brag about. mine had a run in the paint.

that said, most people are sticklers for original paint... is that a result of the belief that there must have been accident damage ? i dunno. document and take pics

i do know that taken to the right shop, the only clue would be that it was too nice

 

Henry- Affirmative, factory paint was not great quality. A show quality paint job with 2 part paint and clearcoat will be expensive, but worth it.

 

My 98 355 has single stage front clip and base clear the rest (as it should be). The car has never been hit. 99.9% positive it's a port repair as many are. Without rubbing component on a cloth, it's impossible to see.

The key is finding a shop with attention to detail. Almost every driven modern Ferrari will see at a minimum front bumper resprays. Don't sweat it.

 

Dave- Affirmative, both my front and rear bumpers need repainting.

 

It matches perfectly as far as I can tell. (pic attached is from body shop right after it was painted) And that was also with no blending as it's single stage. They just did multiple spray outs on test panels adjusting the color and checking in the sunlight until it matched.

What color? I wouldn't try it on a metallic without blending.


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is that the one i saw in MI ?

 

Probably not. My 98 is black and under my ownership it's never been to MI.

 

IMO many buyers poo-poo paint work for perceived reasons. 1. paintwork usually and unfairly implies damage 2. concern about short or long term color match/fade 3. issues down the road in resale related tot he perception of #1 & #2.

A very high percentage of these and similar cars have had paintwork in the past from PO's and dealers both used and right off the boat by the original dealer. The ironic part is that many owners who would have an issue about resprayed bumpers or panels probably have one in their garage and are too inept to know it.

A couple years ago I was at a high end dealer in SW FLA. They came right out and told me that they routinely respray portions of cars they take in on trade to make them perfect. And if a person has $100k, $200k....etc to spend on a pure luxury why not get one thats perfect or perceived as perfect because they can.

 

Ferrari paint work before the mid 2000s was horrible. As I was explained by an appraiser from Bonhams, they had two original paint Testarossas sitting side by side. Upon inspection it was noted that the finish lines on each one was completely different from the other with no rhyme reason or consistency. Unless the repaint work is horrible, its a challenge to really tell if the paint is original or not because of a lack of consistency from Ferrari.
Frankly didn't care that my Ferraris may have had resprayed panels because the paint finishes and match was excellent.

 

Really good paint shops have little problem matching color these days given the spectroscopy instruments available. Measure the existing paint, mix new paint until color balance measures the same....lather, rinse, repeat. Spray, dry, and bake in a truly clean booth and all should be well.

Get references from other car guys in your areas as to who the good shops might be. Then go look at the shops. Cleanliness is key.

 

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What year was the car? Can you be sure that the runs are not from a dealer or port re-spray? I find it hard to believe that anything in the past 20 years has left the factory with a run in the paint.

 

it was an 03... wasnt a dealer paint but may have been a port

is was very slight crease of the base color under the clear coat visible with a flashlight

from my research, the 550/575s are painted partially by hand and part machine. on some colors, you can see the "blend" on the rear hips as a result.

i've often joked to people worried about partial paintwork that the only real issue is that your body shop does a better job than the factory

 

I don’t really understand the current mania about original paint. I looked at an old 911 at an auction this year with paint polished through to bare metal on its front wings, and the auction guys were saying this was a great selling point - all original! Quarter of a million car.

I had one of my Ferraris repainted on purchase. Like yours it had a couple of scratches in various places, nothing major, 25 year old car, once a daily driver. The dealer was also one of the most respected restorers in the UK. They did a fantastic job. I’d do it again.

But as people say make sure it’s done by a great place. Things like door rubbers and rear glass cracked on preparation; they need to replace everything properly.

I’d certainly do it again but it wasn’t cheap! And it didn’t look too new after being done, if you know what I mean.

 

I think it's a load of bilge myself. So long as the quality is good, it shows you care about your car. I would much sooner buy an immaculate car than a scruffy one, but a few minor battle scars wouldn't bother me either.

So many of today's classic Ferraris that win prizes at concours events or command record prices at auction have been resprayed and even colour changed, so why shouldn't the same apply to tomorrow's classics?

 

Get the car repainted by a Ferrari specialist. Don’t worry about resale. It’s your car and you want to be proud every time you look at it. Personally and mostly because of my OCD I can’t live with a car that’s not perfect. Get it done professionally and by an expert. You won’t be sorry.

 

Just remember: 90% of vintage Ferrari's worth a bazzilion dollars are fully restored with non original paint. If you want to drive your car, it will see wear and tear. To keep it looking pristine will require paint. It's no big deal if done properly.

 

Exactly. You would replace the brakes if they were shot, wouldn't you? Why not the paint.

 

Too many people are worried about resale value and keeping the car pristine for the next owner. Do what you want and be happy. If the car wasn’t crashed, resprays are meaningless. Every multi million dollar vintage Ferrari has been sprayed.