WolfRyder

Bought a bike from a distance/photos/descrip and it just arrived today. It's pretty nice but upon closer inspection I noticed a number of spots had been touched-up on frame. Paint is not perfect match but not bad. Otherwise paint is overall bright no rust, dents good decals.

I's a 58cm 75 Bob Jackson w/ 1st generation black Dura Ace and is too small for me. I was planning on using the components on a build that fits me and selling the frame anyway , but wondering about how much do touch ups detract from value of frame?

I will try to get some pics up soon,

Thanks

fietsbob

Auction final selling price is the final vote, on Value. .

bulldog1935

My 77 Raleigh has touch-ups everywhere. They're not as nice as new, but they're better than bare spots.
When I had it on a turbotrainer, my daughter (the wrestler)used to climb on it
That's ok, she gold-tipped the lugs for me.

miamijim

A few touch ups here and there on an old frame has no impact on value.

Barrettscv 

I also agree that carefully applied touch-up paint is not the death of value. It's preferable to exposed steel and the corrosion unless the bike is a 60 year-old wall hanger.

A perfect color match and professionally blended paint applied to carefully prepped substrate should have negligible impact on value. A obvious color mismatch carelessly applied could cut the value by a serious amount if it's an iconic bike, sought after by more critical collectors.

Bikerider007

Most touch up paint t can be removed. I would say little to none,. If it's not a good match I would remove or try and blend so it doesn't look cheesy.

Andy_K 

I think it depends on the buyer and the seller.

For me as a buyer touch-up paint would have to be pretty bad to detract from the value because I just don't notice things like that until I get the frame home and start going over it carefully.

For me as a seller it would probably have a pretty significant impact on the value because I hate the idea of giving even the appearance of dishonesty so I would specifically draw attention to the flaws in my ad. This kind of disclosure seems to scare away buyers and drive prices down (which, if I may rant, is ridiculous because nearly all vintage items have flaws and I would much rather know what they are before I buy, but such is life).

Objectively, a bike with a lot of touch-ups is obviously worth less than a bike with flawless original paint. In my mind, a bike with a lot of well done touch-ups has slightly more value than the same bike would with chips in the paint that required touch-ups but didn't have any corrosion, while a bike with poorly done touch-ups would be worth slightly less. But at a first approximation I would value all three of these bikes at about the same level (assuming the bad touch-ups weren't irreversibly bad).

WolfRyder

I think they were owner done some time ago. Yeah can't even seem to dig up my camera at the moment. I like the bike just wasn't expecting touch ups and it's more than a few. Frame is still going to have decent value I think.

davester

You should probably post this in the C&V appraisals forum since this is about value, not C&V.

WolfRyder

Well actually I am going to post some photos soon and was hoping to get some input about the previous owners touch-up job and what course of action I should take. Just got the bike yesterday but am leaning towards attempting to undo his touch-ups.

So I think the C&V forum makes the most sense now, even though my thread heading and copy has the word "value" in it.

I understand what you mean though and don't mind moving it starting new thread and/or getting wording right thanks

crank_addict

None of my biz nor a mod, but rather think its an appropriate subject here. The OP has a C&V class frame and not asking for an appraisal.

Anyways, to the question. I much prefer original finish and even some acceptable having badly chipped or marring. Does it affect value? Most certainly can, but.....

There's some that just can't be left as is and also if repainted would ruin value. You have to weigh out the choice and compromise. Case in point is a rare Zunow acquired incredibly cheap but with surface corrosion warts, just looked terrible.

Keeping the original art and paint is also a big part of its value and the story of the maker. Fortunately, the inside tubes are flawless but no way could I let the exterior corrosion win and it just looked as if not cared for.

This particular project is for later on but I did remove the surface corrosion and applied touch-up primer. Its going to be a heck of time matching paint but fun with an air-brush, blending and lots of fine sanding. It'll never be perfect or for the purist of collectors. Yet absolute ideal for one to experience as the maker intended plus a little more affordable in this condition. Documenting and photos are for the benefit to whoever might be the next owner and with full disclosure. Better than letting things rot further and hanging on a wall.

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