To paint or not to paint

[Servicetune]

My view is that either a complete and proper paint job should be done or none at all.
What sort of difference in value would the two options give this Cub?

[k hutchins]

I guess the question l'd ask myself is, do l want a working tractor or a show tractor?
I personally believe fresh pretty paint jobs make them look pretty, but if your plan is to use it as a working tractor there is nothing wrong with the patina that it has achieved over it's life time.
If you're just interested in reselling it or using it for show and tell, then by all means paint it.

Just my opinion FWIW

[inairam]

I would clean it very well and use some auto compound on it to remove the oxide layer on the paint and then see what you have. I personally would not paint that tractor if it was mine. You even have what looks like a dealer sticker on it so probably original paint

[Stanton]

Agree with others above. Get the tyres fixed/replaced that need it, any repairs done and get it up and running.

Main question only you can answer: Do I want to sell this fairly quickly after a re-paint, or am I keeping it?

I say that because new paint on a tractor will quickly chip and start to show signs of "imperfection" when in use. Consider it is a rarer Cub (being French) and it does appear to be original paint--which it only has once.

Think if it were mine, I'd do as inairam suggested and use the rubbing compound on it first. It may shine it up to a point that you really like it. I know I do.

You can always paint it later...

[DickB]

You ask:
"What sort of difference in value would the two options give this Cub?"

and so,
Please ask yourself what is this tractor for and thus what "value" do you write about because if your idea of value is to enhance resale income from it, that is different from the value of a working tractor on a farm. Others have much to say about resale and original paint, my interest is the value of a sturdy working tractor and for that I'd think this tractor would be well off with old paint removal by sanding,followed by 2 coats of "heavy rust" Rusoleum primer, 2 coats of IH Ironclad if you can get these paints. For a working tractor around here, brush application would do the job nicely if you have half a deft hand. That will protect underlying metal for some time, and from a few yards or meters away it would look just fine.

[Eugene]

My view is that either a complete and proper paint job should be done or none at all.
What sort of difference in value would the two options give this Cub?

If you are fixing up, painting, the tractor to sell at a profit, almost always a money losing proposition.

My thought, your choice, what ever pleases you.

[Waif]

A bad paint job is worse (in my opinion) than poor original paint. It takes a lot to repaint and do it so well the integrity remains over every inch.

Value is in the eye of the buyer. Some want stock work cloths , others want a nice new paint job.

Not unlike old coins. There are folks who want the patina earned over time unmolested.

What do you value in a Cubs paint? What is your market preference if you were to sell it?
Prep labor alone will add considerably to price point. If recovering labor costs is desired.
Paint quality and application follow and add to costs.

No shame in honest work cloths. And no shame in a fancy suit. I want to know the Cubs "heart" more than how it's cosmetics look.
But stock tractors with rust reasonably under control catch my eye.
What good a pretty tractor with a bad heart?

[Gary S.]

When dad bought ours in 1960 it already had a dealer quicky "paint" job,it looked like it must have always sat outside. I got so tired of looking at where you could see the old paint that was never feathered,just painted over. I had over the years learned to paint so it was just my time and material cost. Didn't want to do a full paint so I just did things that were easy to remove. Anything that gets damaged I'll just repaint
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[Servicetune]

Thanks guys. I value all your opinions and think my own view is to keep it as honest as it is and all working. Some new parts will be required particularly the battery box and I think that I will not try to make the new blend in with the original but let them add to the history story of this tractor.

[inairam]

A bad paint job is worse (in my opinion) than poor original paint.

I have a couple to tractors with major parts pepto bismol pink from poor quality "red" paint poorly applied.

[BigBill]

We try to pressure wash, squeaky clean, prepare the old paint surface so the new paint will stick to the old finish. Preparation is the key to a great long lasting paint job. Paint it with success.

[BigBill]

A bad paint job is worse (in my opinion) than poor original paint.

I have a couple to tractors with major parts pepto bismol pink from poor quality "red" paint poorly applied.

I ran into the pink colored red when painting over the orginal cub red paint with the tractor supply tractor paint. I forget the name brand, I contacted them, they couldn't figure it out.

[CapeCodCubs]

Give it a good cleaning and wipe it down with WD40...it will look sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[outdoors4evr]

This isn't tractor related, but definitely on the paint side. Watch the last 1/4 of this guy wheeling out an old chevy truck. Its amazing how nice the original paint cleans up. The paint on your cub should behave similarly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrj9xF8wAdg

[ricky racer]

You really need to ask yourself, "would I like it better painted or not". It's your tractor make it like you want it. I chose to paint mine and I'm glad I did. I use my Cub nearly every day and I'm not afraid to use it because it's painted. I know that driving my painted Cub gives me a sense of pride and the fact that I know I'll never sell it and that knowing that I rebuilt everything on the tractor making sure everything was in good working order I'm confident that anytime I go out, it's going to start and run perfectly. It's one of the few things I own that I don't have to fuss with to get it working to use. I guess what I'm saying is, paint doesn't mean you take a working Cub and make it a trailer queen. I'm glad I painted mine. Every time I look at it, I have a sense of pride. If you are going to flip the tractor, don't paint it. Just fix everything so that it works as it should and move it on down the road.