awe c'mon whooligan!
The colour is indicative of tastes of the time/era which is well worth preserving.
Better than the crappy boring silvers and metallic greys and dark drab colours most new cars are these days when every car looks the bl##dy same.
 
Based on the new info from Bernie.... I will revise my vote.
If it is 90% original paint with a few touch-ups then I would just leave it as it is and do a big detail all over and all under.
 
But periodically every 2 years or so spray all of the sills, door cavities, all of the pillars and everything else with good quality fish oil. And keep it out of the rain. If there are stone chips keep an eye on rust going underneath the paint. Phosphoric acid can help keep that in check but try on a hidden area first just to make sure the acid does not affect the paint.
 
...also then Bernie gets time to enjoy a few beers and the Capri, rather than the pain of the resto.
 

PeterM
awe c'mon whooligan!
The colour is indicative of tastes of the time/era which is well worth preserving.
Better than the crappy boring silvers and metallic greys and dark drab colours most new cars are these days when every car looks the bl##dy same.

Thank you Peter - I too am completely bored with the endless stream of silver and grey metallic coloured cars that so many people drive these days.  I'm going to be rockin' a bright orange paint job just like the car left the factory with in the late 70s baby, and lovin' it!

Hi Guys and thanks again,
I'm surprised with you whooligan, but I respect your opinion. I would have thought you would appreciate the car's colour and originality for what it is, since you're a Capri Mk1 owner, and the fact that it was one of the Official Ford Aust colours; unseen in any Capri meetings or car shows I've ever seen or heard of from other Car Lovers.   
Like PeterM and Fighter, I've been sick to death of the mundane streaks of silver, white in so many shades streaming along our roads ad-nauseum, that when I clapped my eyes on this Capri several months ago, my spirits were excited, as I knew how rare this colour was in XA Falcons as well as Capris, but the "retro colour" took me back to when I was a kid. I even feel 20-30 years younger when I drive it !  No Air, no P/steer, no ABS, no VSC, no EFI, no HEI, no rear discs, no CPU...........hell ! ....it's better than my first car which I still have after 46 years !...........a 57 Holden FE with less power and no f/discs !
But then to find out how rare this unique car is, made me realise that if Ford had officially painted it Yellow with Fluro Green Dots all over (remember Flower-Power&Hippies ?), I would still love it 100%  (even though Yellow and Fluro Green is DEF not my bent I might add!)............
I think I'll go with the consensus of keeping it out of the rain (as I do with my other dozen collectables), maintaining the whole car inside and out, and kill any spots of rust which is only <5% of the whole car, and finally
spray Satin Clear to "HOLD" what's there...........my black 37 Oldsmobile Straight 8 is miles worse and beyond "Satin Clear" so it will get paint before any of my dozen "babies"......in 2 minds whether to keep it black, or choose Burgundy or Light Cream. Black would be keeping it original.
Thanks to each and every one of you re the "VOTE" !
Kind regards
Bernie

Great news Beevee. Keep it Wild Plum I say. We've got member in the QLD club with a Wild Plum V6 and it's a great car.

cheers yellowfiregt!.............I recall hearing of the QLD Wild Plum now that you mention it.
 
"APB" to Melbournites: SWAP-MEET TOMORROW AT KCCC DOG CLUB , WESTERNPORT HWY, SKYE (sth of Dandenong)

"and finally spray Satin Clear to "HOLD" what's there"
 
Hi Bernie,
Have a good chat with a few switched on painters before you decide on this.
 
I think the idea of coating the car with any type of clear will be anti productive for two reasons.
 
1. The paint will no longer "be as from Ford". A good eye will definitely pick the clear.
 
2. The original paint will have all sorts of wonderful silicon and chemicals which have penetrated the paint (yes paint is porous) over the 40 years. The clear might look good for a few months/years but I am sure it will break down and crack and quickly detract from what you already have, as the chemicals move around in, and between the paint layers. New paint and old paint move around at different rates. Don't forget the new paint must "bite" into the old paint so it can hang on otherwise it will peel. The new paint may have solvents in it that MAY/MAY NOT react over time with the old paint. No one can really know for sure. 
Can talk more on this if you wish, just trying to keep it a simple non technical reply.
 
Personally I think it best to just make sure the vehicle has a good quality NON abrasive polish on it regularly and try an keep it out of the sun and the weather as much as possible.
 
Don't forget maintaining and/or restoring a car "as original as from factory" theme means it should not be improved in any way, and any improvements could be seen as detracting from the theme.
 
Also don't forget to enjoy it all. We are all getting older!
 
 
 

Hi PeterM,
you must have ESP !................I was mulling over my own words and thought EXACTLY 100% all you have just said........it takes an expert and a VGC paintjob to start with, to final coat a car with clear and last past 5 years!
Totally agree with you..........even my mate said not to even touch the 37 Oldsmobile Straight 8, which has over 50% of its paint severely perforated/flaking.......so we just coat it with WD40!.......so as to prevent the 77 y/o steel from rusting. With a dozen collectables, you and him are right: Do what's only absolutely necessary without compromising originality, and ENJOY them for what and how they are.
After all..... ALL OF US, are only "caretakers" for the next owner.......... be it our Family or a stranger, who will (hopefully) appreciate our attempt to preserve them for posterity.
I will leave it as it is, and polish it, and Fish-oil it, and remove rust and lead-fill where possible, and ENJOY "Miss Wild Plum"!........As a VACC Qualified Mechanic & ex-VicRoads Certified Inspector, all my cars are kept Roadworthy, if nothing else!
Thanks Peter
 

I agree totally with what you are saying.
 
But obviously there are differing views and that is what makes life fun.
 
Think of the Burnt Orange 2 door Mk2 RS2000's. Rare colour when new because it was not popular at the time. I recall in 1980 thinking they looked "gaudy". So now, because of the rarity of the colour collectors fall over themselves to buy one IF one becomes available for sale, irrespective of condition.
 
Same with the Midnight Blue RS2000's. Not a popular colour when new, so they are relatively rare today. I am restoring one at the moment. I do not like the colour at all, however I am compelled to restore to that exact colour due to the rareness and collectability and perceived value of the completed vehicle to a high end collector, should I ever choose to sell it.
 
You are correct in saying it is a personal choice of the owner to make the decision.
 

Hey Peter, orange has always been cool!

Hey Flighter!
 
Yes I agree. When I am at shows the Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts in orange or yellow always steal my heart.