Help- How did you do it?

[Chaplin]

How did you finally decide what color to paint your car??
I have a couple weeks before I have to decide once and for all, and I am having a lot of trouble making up my mind.

I have considered the following:

1. What do I like?
Well, that doesn't help too much because I like a lot of different colors and there are at least 3 that I really like.

2. What is original?
Doesn't help much b/c I'm not so concerned with originality.

3. What will I like for years to come?
See number 1. Plus, how do I know that if I like it now, I will like two years from now?

4. Do I like the color because it is popular at the moment or trendy?
Maybe, but see number 3.

5. Stripes/No stripes?
This is a whole other problem which turns my top 3 color choices into really 6 different options.

What went into your decision making process?

Thanks,

Sleepless in NJ

[wilf leek]

I had it down to 3 colours in the end, like you. Just could not decide.

Put the three colour codes onto a spreadsheet, let the random number generator decide. And guess what, it decided "Guardsman Blue with white stripes"!!! LOL

Honest - true story.

[Dan Stryffeler]

I really wanted a very deep red, almost black-cherry or burgundy. At the time, originality didn't concern me - and - I have a tan interior so I thought red would look good.

Went to the paint shop to have a custom color setup, but was discouraged by the cost and the fact that they could only supply me with a very small paint-chip sample. Given all the curves on the Cobra, it would have been difficult to visualize what the color would have looked like from different angles and sunlight, etc.

They suggested that I look around some new car showrooms... when I see a color that I liked, get the code off of the car door.

Ended up with Dodge Caravan Candy Apple... not a bad compromise. BTW, I don't have a stripe, but have noticed that the cars with stripes and decals get more attention, (WoW! factor), regardless of the engine or quality of the build, if thats what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

- Dan

[NeedAntiVenom]

Dan,

I had the same dilema, wanted a metallic green but just couldn't find one that suits - light flip aither too weak or too strong. After seeing Ikestaa's exceptional "arena red" (Porsche Boxster color) I began looking for burgundy as well and found this one on an Aston Martin DB-7 - I'm waiting now for a sample.

I thought the best place to find the unusual colors was to look at the exotics - they might expend more time researching paint colors. So I looked at Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, and finally Aston Martin for paint colors.

I did heed some advice to use a stock color to ensure a chance at matching it when the need arises.

Jim

[Mr.Fixit]

After owning a red 69 camaro that I needed to leave a sweatshirt on the front seat so I could tell it apart from all the other red 69 camaros at a show / cruise, I decided I wouldn't go for cookie cutter paint schemes ever again. When I was getting ready to paint my chevelle, I immediately ruled out marina blue, red and black cause those are the only colors people paint them it seems. I would stay away from colors that are popular this year, but have no long term appeal. Remember all the pastel colored street rods from not too long ago, talk about ugly. Other than that, it is just whatever you like. Not having stripes looks alot classier in my opinion, but I just hate stripes.

[KobraKarl]

Chaplin,

As you have already figured out , nobody can help you pick YOUR colour. It looks like you have identified all your personal variables ,Well done!

I have been a custom home builder for twenty five years and I have found a way to get my customers past this difficult threshold most every time with a minimum of sleep loss.

colour is a funny thing , lt isnt just colour ,but a representation of personal esthetic , mood , emotion ,childhood memories, subconcious wish fulfillment............as deep as you would want to dig I think . Then mix in concern for tradition, conformity, (the community esthetic)and you get "personal taste"

The trick is; you already know the answer! you have identified three favourites, if i asked you to eliminate one ,you could do it. now you are only choosing between two,if you pick one and feel you made the wrong choice you probably did. if someone put a gun to your head and said : PICK you could do it ,not because of fear ,but because you REALLY DO have a preference.

Most of us marry the "Brunette" some search out the "blonde" and others dont care what anyone thinks cause they "just gotta have a red head"........or like many of us you would really like them all , for their various esthetic pleasantries.
tends to cause problems ,and makes an ugly car.


You know what you must do ...... you really DO like one more than the rest.......just bid the other ladies good bye ,you'll always be able to admire them from afar.......



Karl

[mr0077]

Chaplin, with a simple variation on Karl's approach...that works on almost any "tough" decision:
pick two of the three colors, flip a nickle, heads you go with one, tails the other. If you're pleased with the outcome, it is the one you preferred, but if you're disappointed, with the outcome, you really didn't want the "winner" anyway, so eliminate it, then do the same thing with the third one...lotsa luck, but it'll be a kick, no matter the color!

[Flyin_Freddie]

...I tend to be more of a 'traditionalist' and like the original colors more than some others...candy colors and multi-hued color changing paints just don't turn my crank like the original colors do. I knew I wanted a Guardsman Blue car with Wimbledon White strips before I even went to the dealer in Charlotte to look at them. There were several very nice color combinations, no doubt, but my head was made up before I even saw them .

But, having said that, it all boils down to what YOU like. I've since decided that I like many more colors than my Guardsman Blue/White stripes. Now, I ask myself "What WORKS on the car?" Blue and White works, as does Red and White... even Yellow and White makes a stong statement. Would I want to own a Yellow and White Cobra replica? Well, maybe....depends on what features the car does or doesn't have. I guess what I'm saying is that 'color' is relative to me and not the most important thing to consider....it's just paint. I don't care WHAT color the car may be if it's got the wrong engine/tranny combination, or it's got some other 'defect' in my mind's eye. I know what I'm looking for, but sometimes just can't describe it until I see it...does that make any sense.

The most memorable Cobra replica - certainly the most striking color combination - was at DVSF.2 last year. Can't remember whose car is was, but it was a fellow Superformance owner, and he had the car for only a few weeks. It was Titanium with Silver stripes....sorta of a 'dark silver - light silver' combination. In fact, I had to look twice to see the stripes....! It was subtle, yet totally unique from any other car there...and there were some NICE cars there. It had polished PSE (I think) 17" wheels, silver ceramic coated side pipes...and with the two 'shades' (if you will) of silver on the car, it was stunning! Wish I could remember whose it was...it really stuck in my mind.

So...hell, I don't know if I helped or just made things more muddy for you, Chaplain! You'll know the right color when you see it...trust me!!!

[Tom Wells]

Well Chaplin,

I must confess. I'm a bit colorblind Not a lot, mind you, but about the same as maybe 25% of the male population. I see colors fine, but they probably don't look the same to me as they do to 'most everyone else.

Like you, I'm not a traditionalist either, exactly. Well, maybe selectively

So when the builder pointed to my 2000 Expedition and said "that's a nice color" (it is Ford Laser Red) I said "fine".

Then I put a white stripe on it because it IS an "in your face" kind of car - definitely NOT a sleeper.

And I chose tan upholstery because I like the color better and they are much cooler to sit on in the summertime. I later found color photos of red originals with tan interiors if that makes any difference To me it looks elegant against the red. It also looks wonderful to me in a dark green car.

So there you have my decision process

The painter somehow made the Laser Red a "bit deeper" according to my wife. Maybe it was the clearcoat? I don't know. I do know that most folks who see it like it!

If there is a message here, it's probably the same great one you see time after time on this board - suit yourself!

Regards,

Tom

[excelguru]

Stripes? Who needs stripes?

I chose not to do stripes just so my car would stand out from the crowd a bit. Went through the same problem as you when deciding the color (there are only a million choices, after all).

Finally chose red, but then... which red??? I mean there's only about 200 shades of red. Eventually settled on the "Bright Red" used for all the F-150 flareside trucks as shown below (paint code E-4):





Keith

[CJ428CJ]

Like most people, I waffled back and forth between a number of colors and the stripes/no stripes dilema. All I can say is go with your first impression. That's almost always right. And whatever you do, don't rely upon a little paint chip in a paint store somewhere. If at all possible, see the color painted on a car, on a bright day and in the sun. If you can't do that, you at least need to spray some test samples. Some people choose a color based on those white cards that are about 4 by 8 inches. I wouldn't even use one of those. Paint a big sheet of glass or plexiglass or something and then view it from the opposite side. That'll give you a pretty good idea of what the color will look like after it's been clear coated and polished.

[BT SNAKE]

Chappy,
Maybe your not asking the right questions here Bub..
Do you like your cobra to be conservative and not to obvious or do you like it to standout in a crowd yelling here I am! ??
How about a color that conveys sophistication or one that says I'm baaad !
Do you want a hot color or something cool.
There is also the earthy looks too which can get boring .

Personally I prefer Just a little above conservative.

I have never seen a Cobra this color but I know it would be a total success. Try this out in you color memory...1970 Mustang Compitition gold with deep black stripes. Black Chrome roll bar and black chrome bumperettes. If you could black chrome the windshield frame I would do that too.
Comp gold is really in the orange family. Some called it grabber orange. But anything close to that scale would work. Now this combo will definetly draw a crowd.
So there ya go. a whole new way of thinking about color choices. This should keep you occupied a few more days..

Hersh

[Edley Rondinone]

Go to car shows and look at the cars'paint jobs. SOMETHING is bound to get your attention. Also, check out the Spring Fling this summer in Ohio, to see HUNDREDS of Cobras, in probably any color/combination you can imagine! There is some color, deep down in your memory, that you, at one time, swore you would paint a car one day. That car is your Cobra, and the time is nigh!! (Gawd, now I am a philosopher. Somebody shoot me!! LOL !!)

[Mohuska]

Well deja vu....I spent the last 3 months looking at every color ranging from "catpuke" to "holycra*"....in the end I went first to House of Kolor Paint at http://hokpaint.com and looked at all the possibilities and then had my paint guy shoot 6 different colors on 3 different bases to get the complete range...WOW!!!.....I got some great choices and narrowed it to one....It is in the shop now and will get base coated tomorrow and first coat next week....Then stripes (yes I DO like stripes)...... oops...forgot to mention that the paint guy made nice color chips and painted different color stripes on them (well at least different choices).......

Anyways...take you time....look at showroom colors, color chips, COBRA galleries and talk to expert painters.......See your colors applied on chips (preferably good sized ones) in the bright sun and shade to see how they change......

Too much you say.......well at the $10K that I am paying for my paint job....(even half that)....take your time choosing...then you'll wait 8-12 weeks for a good job ....my 2c...

Mike

[Turk]

BT,
I don't know exactly what "competetion" gold looks like, but I took this picture of a Gold and black car couple of years ago.
I don't know if it is even close to what you are describing..

TURK

[RICK LAKE]

Chaplin Hi Mike Paint it the color of your Wifes eyes. Paint the stripe the color of your kids hair. Now you have the whole family with you when you go for a drive. Rick Lake

[Chaplin]

Thanks guys for your help. I have tried the flip the coin thing and I have been disappointed a few times, depending on which color came up the winner. Maybe it would be better if I were color blind.

Mohuska- thanks for the link I'll check it out.

Edley- The problem is too many catch my eye.

Hersh- I know exactly the color you are talking about. It is nice color and would look good. However, I think that falls into another category of colors that I have in my mind which is "Things that would good on someone else's car , but I would not want to own." There are a lot of those; colors which look great, but I think I would get tired of after a while. I do think I want to be a little understated- want some elegance with the brawn- which may eliminate stripes.

Keith- Is anyone prouder of their red car with no stripes than you? You are shameless when it comes to looking for opportunities to post pics of that beauty It does look great.

Rick Lake- Coincidently your suggestion for paint scheme is my leading contender: Dark Green (wife's eyes) with no stripes (no kids yet).

Wilf- How does that random number generator work?

Turk, thanks again for your help.

[PatBuckley]

RICK LAKE-

Let's see a blonde car with coal black and lime green stripes....

I think I'll leave the family at home.

Pat

[BT SNAKE]

Turk, that's one outstanding gold cobra but not quite the color I had in mind. Look at the finishline banner. It has a small cobra picture that is more closely to what I had in mind.

Chappy,
Not sayn' you should paint it that color, just seein' what catagory you fall in. I think I do have a suggestion though. Visualize this.... A deep blue green with gold stripes...a very sophisticated looking combo if I do say so myself. I must have liked it because that's the color of my Cobra.
Check my photo gallery for a look.

Well, either way I know that you will still be in a quandry for some time yet. It ain't easy when you like so many different colors. You do seem to be a bit conservative so I would stay in that range..

Hersh

[Jon Miller]

Here is what I did once I got it down to two color choices.......

In a highly un-scientific survey of passers by I found that men prefer the blue, and women like the red. All of the neighborhood kids want me to paint it the way it is now, red and blue with a stripe down the middle.

I think it will end up red just because I can spray it myself. I've never done a metallic and I don't want to experiment on the cobra.

-Jon