Well it's really up to you I just wanted you to know how rare it is.I'm surprised Ty let it go.As he originally had the one I have and I had to make a sweet deal before he let it go.Then he found that one and was really over the moon.I had to lasso him (like a cowboy) to bring him back to earth.If it has the original engine it should start with 11173 or 11174,where as the green one should be 11073 or 11074.So I guess if it has the red engine number it should really be red.If your going to paint a cowl you really have to get it clean.Then there is a special primer for plastic.Same as the paint they use on plastic bumpers.I guess the only good thing about cars with plastic bumpers is they had to come up with the paint that works.Which certainly helps us with painting things on mowers,but like I said it is up to you,but I have only ever seen 3 of the red VC-Mustang and the third one was wrecked and sent to scrap.I was too slow to save it.