What is the trend: repaint or just clean and buff.?

Greenfrog · Nov 22, 2016

I personally have cleaned, restored, repainted two antique CASE tractor, two Cub Cadets and some implements . I was faced with the question that I should have just cleaned up, restore and repair, buff the metal and "leave as is". This supposedly retains the "integrity" of the tractor. That is, show the "battle scars of years of use".
I can see two schools of thought here. Some say this keeps the value up for resale.
What is the trend? Or is there a trend?

showcrop · Nov 22, 2016

From what I have seen here I would call it case by case. If it is truly nice original and not just well preserved thirty year old paint, 95% of the responders here will vote for leaving it. At least that was the consensus some 4-5 months ago.

Stephen Newell · Nov 23, 2016

I should have left mine as it was. Several years ago I totally restored mine and it looked good but have never had the time to even wash it since.

jr1983 · Nov 23, 2016

I understand why people think these things but unless it's nearly mint paint sells. Go to an auction. That'll be all the proof you need.

wjytexas · Nov 23, 2016

Good original paint on straight sheet metal looks great. I bought a NAA in June that was straight but it had been repainted wrong. Soooooooo. The 48 N has not been repainted and I plan to leave it in work clothes.

rrlund · Nov 23, 2016

Nice originals are getting pretty rare.

D beatty · Nov 23, 2016

When I get a tractor that somebody has already started to mess with paint or has started to rust I repaint. I store mine inside but not a heated building and in our area they tend to sweat a lot and paint stops the rust.

Mike M · Nov 23, 2016

Well trends change. Right now the auto world is trending to leaving them untouched originals and even built up ones are left as rat rods. Some are going so far as to make new parts looked ratted out. Tractor world is might slowly be trending that way. Seems like some original paint tractors are gaining some value over the "restored" ones.

dr sportster · Nov 23, 2016

My military training tells me that when I see rust spots I must spot paint them.

D beatty · Nov 23, 2016

I don't like spot jobs it looks to cobbled up to me. Their are very few 60 and 70 year old tractor with any original paint left on them.I have a farmall B that's been in family since new and has been repainted 2 times and has never set out in the weather when not in use. The last time it was painted about 25 years ago and is starting to loke a little rough.

RandyB(MI) · Nov 23, 2016

don't know if it is a "trend" or not but if it is a nice straight , 75% or more original paint / original decals tractor then by all means leave it alone. Or if it is "grandpa,s" tractor and you want to keep it looking like when you first rode on it...leave it alone. Everything else you are better off with at least cosmetic restore. I'm dealing on a 100% original/one owner/sold locally JD 630 right now that even still has the original patent decal (very legible). Decals faded almost white but I wouldn't touch it cosmetically at all. They call them "survivers". Being "presentable" is key word here I guess. No "trend" just personal preference.

gab · Nov 23, 2016

I don't remember seeing what I'd call a nice straight original 50s something tractor. My two Farmalls had plenty of dents and rust and I'd rather not have them if I had to look at rust and dents.

showcrop · Nov 23, 2016

(quoted from post at 06:27:07 11/23/16) I understand why people think these things but unless it's nearly mint paint sells. Go to an auction. That'll be all the proof you need.

Many old tractors get painted for keeping not selling.

dr sportster · Nov 23, 2016

The ones you painted look pretty nice for sure .

Ragnarok · Nov 23, 2016

Take antique firearms or any firearm for that matter....a refinished/re-blued gun is worth approximately 50% of book value...even though it may look like brand-new.

That said tractors ain't guns and a good paint job adds value. Maybe if the tractor was something really rare I could possibly see a paint job hurting collector value. Of course a bad paint job is a bad paint job and probably hurts value.

If the paint was coming off your pickup..the average owner would get it painted(or trade it off). Pride of ownership may play a huge part in painting a tractor...just a tool to the owner..maybe rust don't matter?

Keith Molden · Nov 24, 2016

If it moves - salute it. If it don't -paint it used to be the saying in the Army LOL

Mark-Ia · Nov 24, 2016

Seems the original unrestored are bringing more money right now. They're only original once. I've got a couple with original paint that I will never paint.

Destroked 450 · Nov 24, 2016

(quoted from post at 12:46:33 11/23/16) I don't remember seeing what I'd call a nice straight original 50s something tractor. My two Farmalls had plenty of dents and rust and I'd rather not have them if I had to look at rust and dents.

Nice looking Farmall's

Well a 62 model is as close as I could get, it's got two small pecks in the grill and a dent in the right side of the hood that you can't see but can feel when you rub your hand down the side.
Paints getting a little rough but I'm going to leave it as a unrestored original barn find for a while longer.
I did replace the exhaust elbow to straighten up the exhaust pipe.

What is the trend: repaint or just clean and buff.?

Greenfrog

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showcrop

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Stephen Newell

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jr1983

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wjytexas

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rrlund

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D beatty

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Mike M

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dr sportster

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D beatty

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RandyB(MI)

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gab

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showcrop

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dr sportster

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Ragnarok

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Keith Molden

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Mark-Ia

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Destroked 450

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