What should it cost to repaint my car?

I posted this in the BS section awhile ago without much response, so I'll try again here in the Body section. I realize that you can spend almost as little or as much as you want to paint a car, so I'm just looking for averages for a quality basic paint job. The paint on my '72 is actually pretty decent, but I recently had some minor damage to the paint on the right front fender and a door ding in the left rear quarter. Hagerty wrote two seperate claims for the damage, and to fix it properly I will need nearly half of the car painted. I'm considering paying the difference out my pocket to just paint the whole car, but I want to know what this should realistically cost. I want a thorough job with all the jambs painted, front and rear glass removed, etc. Assuming no rust is found (there are no bubbles or signs of it beneath the 13-year old paint job now), I just want the car smoothed out and block sanded so it will be a little straighter. It's not bad now, but not "lazer" straight like all the cars claim to be on ebay . If I do much of the tear-down myself, like removing bumpers, grill, and all trim, what is a reasonable price to pay for someone to straighten the body up a bit and spray it with a good 2-stage basecoat/clearcoat system? No metallics or exotic paint, just red-orange like it is now. The body guy who did my estimates said they would spend 2-3 days sanding out the clear when it's finished, and I have no doubt he'll do a good job but I just don't want to pay way too much. Here's a few pics of the body now. Your opinions and cost estimates are appreciated.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i37/jwold1/CIMG3456.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i37/jwold1/CIMG3896.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i37/jwold1/CIMG3179.jpg

I would think between $800 and $1000.

P.S. Nice color:D

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2532000-2532999/2532222_23_full.jpg

Good and cheap don't do together. You could spend $1000 for quality materials. Spend too much on it and its hard to drive without fear of messing it up. The faster you drive the nicer the paint will look.

Chopper

Here in California, the basic two stage paint job, starts at $8,000 and goes up from there.

The key is the Prep Work, Prep Work and the Prep Work. What is on the bottom will come thru.

B

Good and cheap don't do together. You could spend $1000 for quality materials. Spend too much on it and its hard to drive without fear of messing it up. The faster you drive the nicer the paint will look.

Chopper

I agree with these 4 sentences 100%, and these were things I discussed with my body man yesterday. I don't want to spend so much I'm afraid to drive it, but I want it to look decent too. I also won't skimp on the quality of materials. My old single-stage (Deltron I believe) paint is brittle and chips very easily. A good two-stage system should be more durable.

I think the key is to shop around and get some previous customer feedback. So many guys here have been cheated by body shops (myself included) that I would be looking for a quality shop.Then discuss what you expect from the work and what the car will be used for and both of you decide on process and proper pricing.

Youre probably lookin at $5-6k for the paint but the bodywork just depends on how bad it is now and how "straight" you want it. Bodywork can easily out-cost the paint but yours looks pretty straight already so it may not flatten your wallet too bad ;)

PLEASE remember when searching a compatant shop there IS a difference between a "collision center" and a Classic car specialist.

That is very good advise Mr repo dude. :cool: :cool:

Tommy :)

PLEASE remember when searching a compatant shop there IS a difference between a "collision center" and a Classic car specialist.

True, and often that difference can mean a lot higher price! Seems like the guys who only do classics are very high priced. The body man I've been talking with does both. His primary business is collision, but he as least one classic car in his shop most of the time. I visited a classic car dealer in my town who specializes in high-end restorations of first-gen Camaros and '60's Corvettes and asked who did their paint and body work, and they recommended this guy. Twice when I've visited his shop he's taken me out and shown me a car he's doing for them, and the work looks great. He did say that he doesn't like to have to do all the R&I work on classic cars, like removing bumpers, trim, etc., but by doing that work myself I can save myself some money. He's offered to let me use his trailer so I can take the car apart at home, then bring it to him. I get a really good vibe from this guy, very down to earth, so I'd like him to do the work. I just want to be sure he's not way high on price.

Good and cheap don't do together. You could spend $1000 for quality materials. Spend too much on it and its hard to drive without fear of messing it up. The faster you drive the nicer the paint will look.

Chopper

Agreed...

A realistically priced quality paintjob will run you anywhere from $4k on up to $8k+ depending on how crazy you get with the "little details". That could be painting the jambs, under the hood/trunk, removing trim & door handles/locks, removing and painting doors/trunk/hood/fenders separate, etc...etc... The easier you make it, the less it will be (in most cases :rolleyes: )

My cousin just did a 72 nova that took him 4 months to complete (he mostly does collision). He welded all the side molding and welded in a new quarter panel and painted it all separately. He charged the guy $7k and it is show quality, he is in Western Washington. It seems that some areas are more than others, best to shop not only the ones in town but maybe check out across town as well.

Mike

also, a "collision center" will put you on the back burner every opportunity they get for the QUICK, NO QUESTIONS ASKED INSURANCE CHECK !!!!
I have seen it happen waaaaaaaay tooooo many times !!!
Not to mention your every day street car owner will not inspect it with a fine tooth comb like us addicts will.


Just be careful guy. Jim

Well it really depends on if you want it done by like a proffesional that only does paint and if you want to any art done on it like flames. Also you can just take it down to macco if you just want a solid color which is what im doing with my nova.
A pro job can be very expensive if u are geting body art on it
Now a macco you can get a solid paint job for a few hundered bucks
also they can fix that dent to at the same time