I am looking at a GTA for sale, but in the pictures, the paint color looks slightly off. I'm messaged the owner and they said it was the way the Sun was hitting the car, and then pointed at the auction for the gray GTA for sale on Hawk's Third Gen. Is it typical for the color to look off in pictures on these bumpers, or is he trying to pull a fast one? The AutoCheck is clean, but that can be avoided by fixing the car at home.

 

Tell him to send you better pics.

 

The paint is metallic gray, I have read that it is common for metallic paint to appear mismatched on cars when the plastic is painted at the same time as the body. Colder sheet metal with warmer plastic will cause the plastic to appear lighter in color, and vice versa if the sheet metal is warmer than the plastic. The spoiler has a similar appearance, but has the typical 88 spoiler paint issues. Any body repair/body painters care to weigh in?

 

The bottom line is that if you are relying on photos and the seller to disclose everything on 25plus year old car, you are at their mercy. There are many things that need to be checked out in person before you hand over any money. Mismatched paint and signs of accident damage are the most obvious things on a newer car, but on a car this old they could definitely be the least of your problems. There is no substitute for personal inspection on a classic car, just setting yourself up as a sucker otherwise.
Any analysis of the color in photos is useless, could be light reflection, camera quality, display color, etc.

 

 

My red '88 GTA has that same appearance in certain light conditions...the front and rear bumpers look to be a different color red due to age.

Once had a fellow at a car show tell me I needed to take it back to whoever painted it. Told him that would be hard since the plant was gone...

 

Most likely they were replaced of repainted at one time off the car,because they are the same color as the rest of the car

 

 

this the one on ebay in Gainesville?

 

Long as I've had my 92 GTA (15yrs) the front bumper always seemed darker, in pics and in person. The rear bumper was always a perfect match.

I just had the entire car taken apart and repainted. Rear bumper is a perfect match but the nose still looks darker! My factory color is a mica rather than a metallic (even tho GM calls it a metallic). I really can't explain it. Perhaps it has to do with the curves the nose has vs the rear, it's weird.

If you look close at even allot of brand new cars, it's pretty common.