80's fuji del rey
 

i have an 80's fuji del rey that i am thinking about painting. would that be really stupid? it has the old gold fuji sticker on it but i peeled off the clear protector sticker and the sticker is all dirty. it's getting all scratched up because i ride it all the time and it stays in my dorm room against my room mate's closet door and he's a bastard. i don't know if there's fuji enthusiasts who would pay ridiculous amounts of money for the bike as it is...i saw the same bike on craigslist in seattle for over $300. i was kind of thinking maybe that guy was just an *******.
i want to paint it because it's my only bike, i don't really like the color, and i don't have money for a new bike. and the frame is as light as i think a bike would ever need to be. it's 1769 steel.
this picture is from the craigslist ad when i bought it, it's more scratched now and a fixed gear.
what do you think?
thanks a lot.

That $300 price is rather ambitious. Similar Fuji Del Rey bikes sell on ebay for $95 to $130 or so plus shipping. The tubing specialists around here likely wouldn't have an issue with you messing with it.

I also have a Fuji Del Rey that I purchased very recently for $75. It has a few nicks and the paint job is a flat yellowish color, not my favorite, but the bike is descent. I went to the hobby store and puchased small jars of primer and enamel. Went over the paint with 0000 steel wool and touched up the chips and scratches. I'll put on a coat of wax in a few months. Looks really presentable now.

Paint away. It's not a collectors bike.

Not to fret, though. That quad-butted Valite frame will serve you well as a rider.

thank you sir. yes, it is great to ride. i'm happy to have gotten such a good bike for 80 bucks.

I have a '83 Del Rey that I purchased new for $300. So, yes, $300 used in '06 is a joke.

Damn good bike though, I put about 50,000 miles on mine. Still have it too, although it's now semi-retired.

As others have said it is no collectors bike...it's a rider.

i have a del rey, im thinking about painting it and making it a fixed or SS