Original paint or a modern color

N0rt0nelectr@ · Sep 19, 2015

I am working on my 70 750 R which came with a metal flake purple paint job. I plan on selling the bike when I am finished restoring it.
Is there anyway to find out how many of the metal flake purple bikes Norton built?
If you were buying one would you care if the color was original?
I am trying to justify spending the money on a original color if in the long run it doesn't make that much of a difference to the value.

John Ebert
Texas

Torontonian · Sep 19, 2015

Roman fire-flake purple has to be the sexiest paint ever put on a Norton in 1970. You should replicate it but finding that paint might be some work. Hopefully someone here will link you to it. The sidecover decals need to be applied after a fitting on the bike to determine horizontal. In other words they will be applied somewhat askew to achieve horizontal.

jaydee75 · Sep 19, 2015

I personally would rather buy a bike with the original paint on it. Who knows what new paint may be covering up.
Jaydee

Lorenzo · Sep 19, 2015

please, keep it original!
can you show a picture?

rightshiftrick · Sep 19, 2015

I'd be disappointed if I was looking at a restored machine that was not painted the original color. Especially if it had originally been a fireflake model. If I were sticking with my original roadster set-up instead of converting to interstate, my '70 would be back to its original fireflake red.

RSR

Torontonian · Sep 19, 2015

So there you go. Original. Last I checked that paint was available from California. Don't neglect the interior lining of the fuel tank as you don't want that new paint job to bubble up.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Sep 20, 2015

Thank you for your thoughts on the paint.
I have purchased a steel tank from Commando Specialties so that issue has been resolved.
I have been in contact with Precision Motorcycle Painting where I got the quote. He says that he lines up the side cover decals with the bottom and not the top and uses a stencil instead of transfers.

I will start setting money aside for the paintwork.
I need to upgrade to VIP status so I can more easily post pictures. I hate photobucket!

John Ebert
Texas

o0norton0o · Sep 20, 2015

I never was much on "original paint" since my bike was originally canary yellow. I painted it black, including the rear fender, and a lightweight front fiberglass fender. Now that the bike is running nicely and handling well, perhaps I'll give it the repaint it could badly use over the winter if my work schedule is light.

jbbudgor · Sep 20, 2015

John,
If the original finish can be preserved, that's always preferable. If it is too far gone, then going back to the original color is the way to go, especially if thinking of selling. I just sent you a PM.
Brent
www.vintage-vendor.com

YellaPeril · Sep 21, 2015

Another vote for original.

mikegray660 · Sep 21, 2015

Sorry but if your going to sell it, a black and gold paint job will have more potential buyers than other schemes - face it there is no " build sheet with paint codes" for each bike so not sure what original color means unless your keeping the original paint, a repaint is a repaint

cjandme · Sep 22, 2015

mikegray660 said:
........... so not sure what original color means unless your keeping the original paint, a repaint is a repaint

This rings pretty darn true to me, and if I might add that those rich deep fireflake colors on the original fiberglass tanks were the result of the manufacturing process........the colors and metal flake were in the "gel coat"....so It's really difficult to replicate

Original paint or a modern color

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