VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1971-1979 '78 Corvette Re-paint or Not

5 yrs. ago I purchased a '78 Corvette Indy Pace Car with 11,000 mi. If you all know GM the quality was poor in the 70's. The car is perfect condition in relation to "Off the Show room" standards and was awarded the Survivor status in 2000 in Blumington.

When I bring the car to shows however, the original paint quality of GM sticks out and gets severe criticism. We all know that there are critics at these shows and everyone is an "expert". Most often the critics probably couln't afford the air cleaner let alone the car. Yet, these critical individuals like to point out every flaw and sit there with their arms crossed shaking their heads.

I am to the point now that I don't bring this car to the shows because I am tired of defending GM's poor quality and stating that this is a "Survivor car"

My question to the readers of this article is: Should I repaint the car and bring it up to todays paint quality standards?

The question here is, are you happy with your car the way it is ? If you are then there is no reason to change the color or anything else ! My answer to all these critics is.
Is your corvette pace car in better condition than this one ?

The fact is that the car is only original once. Once it is repaired or reconditioned then some of the history is lost. The poor paint can be used to educate the unwashed or uninformed. Some just will never understand and should be ignored.

Since the car is all original, leave it the way it is.

I purchased a 1977 Monte Carlo Landau Coupe brand new in 1977. When I sold the car years later it only had 911 miles on it. The vehicle was painted an orange metallic at the factory, however, around the bottom of the body, from the rocker panels up about six or seven inches, the primer was showing through the paint! This was typical of the poor quality of paint jobs from GM back then. However, that is how the car came new and, as I said, the car was all original.

Your Corvette is typical as to how GM made cars back then. Yep, leave it alone!

Dear 1778, I agree with Chipper. It's only original once. When you say, "Car Shows" you mean local shows where their is mostly subjective judging? It depends on what type of show you decide to attend, I guess. The NCRS and our club, the VCCA recognize original cars and have a separate system of certifying them and have separate awards for these type of cars. Our club calls it HPOCF Class. (Historic Preservation of Chevrolet Features.) NCRS has the "Bowtie" award. Bloomington Gold has such a class and on the Sunday of the event there is the Survivor Car Show especially designed just for original cars and commercial vehicles on the grounds of Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. http://www.survivorcollectorcar.com/ Cheer up and be proud that you are fortunate enough to have an original!

agree with the above thoughts--leave it alone.mike