Hi,
I know exactly how you feel and the soul-searching that you are going through! A restoration is full of all sorts of decisions, and while you may be a fierce advocate of originality, you also have to live with the end product. I don't know about you, but whatever I undertake, Minor-related project or not, I tend to think long-term.
I have, after having had the car sitting in my barn pretty much stripped to a shell, just started to restore a 1960 Traveller. An amazing vehicle in many respects, as it has a genuine 54K on the clock and still retains its original wood which is in amazing condition! One or two black stains in the wheelarch sections from those damned wing bolt socket things, but otherwise incredibly good! Excellent interior too!
It had been Frilford Grey, which is, in my opinion, pretty dull and unimaginative! When the previous owner had been duped into selling it ( a couple of plausible guys wanting to love and cherish it, who promptly sold off the number plate and gave it a quick "blow over" in Almond Green to help sell it on), it then found its way on to me. That was about 1991!!!
Now I've retired and finally have a wee bit of cash to get the welding work and respray done ( bare metal and pretty much last nut and bolt rebuild!), I was faced with the same dilemma as yourself.
The colours that were appropriate for the date of registration and the darker red interior were; Frilford Grey or Black . Pearl grey was also used with the red seats, but not on Travellers. However, if I pretended it was a couple of months older, Old English White became an option, and that's what I settled on! I have to confess, though, that when Ray Newell's book arrived, there was an affa' bonnie Frilford Grey Traveller shown in it, and I was almost swayed!!
I don't now regret my decision, and have included a couple of pictures ( if they've uploaded!?) of "The Beastie" as she was languishing in my barn a couple of months ago, and the same but with her new clothes on!
Remember! You'll be the one driving her, and had the colours you fancy been available when she was built, then her first owner may well have preferred her in that colour!
Must admit, though, that I don't really fancy bmcecosse's suggestion!!![frame]
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