Need advice for paint
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
From: Bel Air MD
Need advice for paint
Hey everyone-
I have a 70 coupe that I've owned for 15 years or so and am finally in a position to have it painted. Have been agonizing over the years on what color, but after going to Carlisle, seeing many in person and speaking to owners, I've decided to go with the original Donneybrook green.
Herein lies my problem. I called a recommended shop in my area and the quote knocked me off the chair! My question is......how much should I expect to pay for a decent paint job involving stripping the car, gelcoat work, body alignment (body was off frame and now gaps are misaligned),paint and reassembly?
Yes, I know you get what you pay for, but I don't want to pay for somebody elses college tuition! What's fair??
Thanks
I have a 70 coupe that I've owned for 15 years or so and am finally in a position to have it painted. Have been agonizing over the years on what color, but after going to Carlisle, seeing many in person and speaking to owners, I've decided to go with the original Donneybrook green.
Herein lies my problem. I called a recommended shop in my area and the quote knocked me off the chair! My question is......how much should I expect to pay for a decent paint job involving stripping the car, gelcoat work, body alignment (body was off frame and now gaps are misaligned),paint and reassembly?
Yes, I know you get what you pay for, but I don't want to pay for somebody elses college tuition! What's fair??
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 1
From: Winston-Salem NC
I have a '71 vert......
and I had a really good painter(has done several hot rods), told me around 415 hrs, came out to about $19,000. I damn near passed out. Shop around. Mine is now in the shop getting painted, will cost $5000 -10,000. He is very good. He is also trying like heck to get me to change from Ontario Orange to another color, but I am staying with the origional color, even though I have made some mods.Be patient, shop around. Ask some people at your local Vette Club, that's what really helped me, because I didn't hardly know any paint/body guys here. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
From: Bel Air MD
Thanks eagle 275
Ok, I think your first quote would have put me in the hospital, so now I don't feel so bad. I do recall hearing 5-6 years ago that good paint was 5-7K. I can accept inflation, etc., but my first quote was more than double that. Still not 19K!!!
It's time to make some calls. Can anyone out there give me some recommendations for paint shops in the Mid Atlantic region?
Thanks all
It's time to make some calls. Can anyone out there give me some recommendations for paint shops in the Mid Atlantic region?
Thanks all
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi AL,
I think every-one's idea and description of a paint job is different. Take a look at ' Return to Steel Cities Gray', and you'll see what can be involved.
Another thing that happens is that other parts may need work too... should the exterior chrome be re-plated now, new paint may make the interior look shabby, new perfect paint makes scratched, chipped glass really show up, and on and on.
Fro what you say about the body having been off makes me wonder if $15,000 is even close. Just the re-assembly is a LOT of hours.
What do you want the car to be once it's finished? That answer will help the shop to give you a realistic price.
Regards,
Alan
I think every-one's idea and description of a paint job is different. Take a look at ' Return to Steel Cities Gray', and you'll see what can be involved.
Another thing that happens is that other parts may need work too... should the exterior chrome be re-plated now, new paint may make the interior look shabby, new perfect paint makes scratched, chipped glass really show up, and on and on.
Fro what you say about the body having been off makes me wonder if $15,000 is even close. Just the re-assembly is a LOT of hours.
What do you want the car to be once it's finished? That answer will help the shop to give you a realistic price.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
Based on your description of body needing adjusting I would think around $10k but it really depends on what you want in the end. I had one done a year ago and wanted a good quality but not show quality job. The paint work was around $6-7k but the work to get the body "aligned" brought it to $10k. It can take many hours to get the hood to fit "right" as well as where the back deck (Vert) shuts and matchs with the rear. My guy started to go too far making things perfect and that isn't what I wanted or wanted to pay for. It came out great and I am happy with the result but it does amaze me how much of the total car value you can put into paint and body work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 4
From: Alcolu S.C.
I could not justify paying someone else to do what I know I could do. So I stripped the car did the body work and painted the car in my garage. There is nothing like the satisfaction of doing the work yourself.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
From: Bel Air MD
appreciate the feedback
Everyone-
I am taking it all in to make an educated choice. What do I have now? Basically a frame off restoration minus body work. Motor, frame, suspension, trans - all rebuilt or new. The rolling chassis- a work of art. The body was lowered back on and the car trailered home. I switched to an LT-1 hood because I went with the theme (on the motor). The hood is primed and the rest is Monza Red at the moment.
I rarely drive the car as it is and would enjoy it more if this last detail (paint) were accomplished. What do I want? Not a "show" car, but quality work I can be proud of. This I am willing to pay for.
I have enjoyed "Return to Steel Cities Gray" post immensely. All I can say is WOW!! I can see where the expense comes in.
To those who "do it themselves", I have such great respect and awe of you guys......... but as I am in the military and lets be realistic, away from home quite often, I just want to give the car to someone and say call me when it's done and not get ripped off.
Anybody know who I can trust? Thanks!!
I am taking it all in to make an educated choice. What do I have now? Basically a frame off restoration minus body work. Motor, frame, suspension, trans - all rebuilt or new. The rolling chassis- a work of art. The body was lowered back on and the car trailered home. I switched to an LT-1 hood because I went with the theme (on the motor). The hood is primed and the rest is Monza Red at the moment.
I rarely drive the car as it is and would enjoy it more if this last detail (paint) were accomplished. What do I want? Not a "show" car, but quality work I can be proud of. This I am willing to pay for.
I have enjoyed "Return to Steel Cities Gray" post immensely. All I can say is WOW!! I can see where the expense comes in.
To those who "do it themselves", I have such great respect and awe of you guys......... but as I am in the military and lets be realistic, away from home quite often, I just want to give the car to someone and say call me when it's done and not get ripped off.
Anybody know who I can trust? Thanks!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If you just needed "paint" and you did the prep work, you could probably get a decent paint & finish job for $3000 or less. But, it won't be show quality and you will have to do all the parts removal (chrome, etc.), glass prep, priming, etc. As you want body panels aligned and gaps sized, that would add at least $1000-2000, depending on the extent of work needed. Your request seems to indicate that you don't plan on any of the work. If that's the case, $8-10K is not out of line.