What is a paint job worth?

[HHGT]

I am slowly restoring a rare 61,000 mile 1963 Split Window Corvette - one of 52 made. Part of the reason I purchaset it, is because it is a Black on Black car. The drivetrain and suspension were gone through completely and it drives incredibly well.

I recently took the car to a great shop in SoCal to paint it for me. He mostly works on exotics and late foreign cars and he agreed to work on my vette. My question is as follows:

Is the following estimates realistic in today's market?

Glass, chrome & stainless removal plus walnut shelling $2,000
Show quality paint $13,000

He tells me that to go through all the fiberglass seems, strip, paint, color-sand and finish the car will be equivalent to a $25K plus show quality paint job. I don't doubt that he will deliver - just surprised that's what a good paint job costs. What say you?

 

[MAD IN NC]

Depends who does the work.. A friend is finishiing his 65 restoration. Called a Corvette shop. Without even looking $12-15k.

I've found a better guy locally. Works out of his house. 30 yr's experience. His work has been on the cover of 4-5 hot rod mags. Working my 69 Mach 1 now. Drinks Miller Lite (I converted him from Ice House). Total cost for the Mach1 with all new fenders, rear quarters, door skins, painted Silver/ Blk ~ 50% of your Vette. That's a deal! :thumbsup

Good Luck! Shop around. Look at the work they do...... and be patient, it take a long time for good work..... :bored

 

[Kingman]

If you go through Chip Foose and his team - $50K

Lanzini (excellent quality) just 5 shops down the street from Chip - $25K

There is another shop just across the street from Chip's that specializes in Vette's. I don't know what they would charge...but you can always ask.

Net Net - what are you looking for?
Pebble Beach winner?
Cruiser?
Bloomington Gold winner?
NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Winner?

You may also want to check out - http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?job=ShowSuppliers&uid=6107

The sky's the limit as to what someone will charge you....and what you are willing to pay.

I guess you gotta look at how much you want that $3.00 trophy. :bs

See ya tomorrow.

 

[S592R]

Thats a good quote on paint work for that level of job. :thumbsup

I am assuming that he is also going to recondition the composite when he's doing the work. If that is the case then he is very, very competitive.

Good luck.

S

 

[DanQ]

What is your goal for the paint job? If you want it to be show quality that seems like the going rate. If you want it to be like the factory did it it seems like overkill. I'm sure most of the price is the labor for the prep work.

I wonder if you wouldn't get a "factory" quality job at maaco for alot less?

How many minutes did the factory spend on paint and polish originally? Maaco probably spends more time than the factory did..

 

[Kayvan]

Sounds right. Just paid $25K on my '68 mercedes SL 250 SL

 

[KJRGT]

For show quality that sounds in the range. As said before, it really depends on what kind of prep labor is required....that and block sanding on your black beauty is where all the labor is.

 

[Neilda]

Sounds right. Just paid $25K on my '68 mercedes SL 250 SL

That sounds nice... any chance of you posting a picture of that car?

Thanks

N

$25k sounds a lot - but there's a fair bit of work he's quoted to do which makes me think the price is having someone do a five star job.

 

[B O N Y]

Kingman, great reply..

 

[MK2_GT]

HHGT, the price seems reasonable.

 

[todd]

you left out a lot of info.
What shape is the body in?
how far are they going to pull apart the body?
what type of paint and being a black car will they remove all the orange peel ?
Cost on materials is @ $2000.-$2500. for primer, paint, sandpaper,reducer, hardner , tape, paper, etc.
The rest is labor.
Do make sure you see some of their work and talk to some customers to find out how timely they get the cars done.