Professional restoration?
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
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Professional restoration?
Hubby and I have made contact with a gentleman in Springfield, Mo. who has restored Corvettes for 43 years.After discussing the improvements we would like to completed we have decided to hire him and his company to restore our Vette. This restoration will be complete repaint, repair of fiberglass as need be and replacement of carpet, door panels,and seats etc.
No mechanic changes will be made.I've given him a $15,000 budget, he says the work will be less than that amount. Have any of you hired a specialist to restore your Vette or other classic rides?
No mechanic changes will be made.I've given him a $15,000 budget, he says the work will be less than that amount. Have any of you hired a specialist to restore your Vette or other classic rides?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Is this all in writing? Have you detailed out exactly what you expect (again, in writing) for the money that you are spending? If you do your 'dealings' with only a verbal agreement and a handshake, you're in for trouble down the road. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
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From: North of the Bay California
You can spend 15k on a paint job alone. You're better off to break down exactly what will be done and in what time frame it will be completed....and have that in writing.
Here's just a few questions that I think are important:
Who is the vendor for the interior parts? If you don't think that's important do a search here and read the horror stories of those who bought carpet kits or door panels that don't fit. Don't forget the weather strip kit. If they do a proper paint job you'll need all new seals.
Who will be doing the fiber glass repair? Is this shop owner a body and paint guy..or will he farm out fiberglass work to a young and inexperienced helper? Glass repair is a lost art.
How will they strip the car? Acid.....Soda...razor blades..They all have their pros and cons imho, but who ever does it should know what they're doing.
You will get better results if you do the homework
Here's just a few questions that I think are important:
Who is the vendor for the interior parts? If you don't think that's important do a search here and read the horror stories of those who bought carpet kits or door panels that don't fit. Don't forget the weather strip kit. If they do a proper paint job you'll need all new seals.
Who will be doing the fiber glass repair? Is this shop owner a body and paint guy..or will he farm out fiberglass work to a young and inexperienced helper? Glass repair is a lost art.
How will they strip the car? Acid.....Soda...razor blades..They all have their pros and cons imho, but who ever does it should know what they're doing.
You will get better results if you do the homework
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
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The gentleman which we plan to hire has been restoring interior and painting Vettes for 43 years.
Company has a BBB A+ rating plus a 5 star customer satisfaction rating.We will have a written contract stating all restoration. We have discussed the $15,000 budget. ! Hubby has actually discussed the actual process of stripping and says the guy uses soda. He will jell coat, prime then paint. I check out horror stories on this forum!
Company has a BBB A+ rating plus a 5 star customer satisfaction rating.We will have a written contract stating all restoration. We have discussed the $15,000 budget. ! Hubby has actually discussed the actual process of stripping and says the guy uses soda. He will jell coat, prime then paint. I check out horror stories on this forum!
Last edited by Vette Fetish; Feb 15, 2015 at 08:59 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 412
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From: Sultry Steamy Muggy Humid Texas Gulf Coast
The gentleman which we plan to hire has been restoring interior and painting Vettes for 43 years. Nam,e of the company is Crash Magic Extreme Auto Body Restoration, Springfield, Mo.
Company has a BBB A+ rating plus a 5 star customer satisfaction rating.We will have a written contract stating all restoration. We have discussed the $15,000 budget. I am driving our 73 to Springfield next Friday and will view his shop and work. He has a large facility therefore he has many employees working on cars.
I appreciate all your input! Hubby has actually discussed the actual process of stripping and says the guy uses soda. He will jell coat, prime then paint. I check out horror stories on this forum!
Company has a BBB A+ rating plus a 5 star customer satisfaction rating.We will have a written contract stating all restoration. We have discussed the $15,000 budget. I am driving our 73 to Springfield next Friday and will view his shop and work. He has a large facility therefore he has many employees working on cars.
I appreciate all your input! Hubby has actually discussed the actual process of stripping and says the guy uses soda. He will jell coat, prime then paint. I check out horror stories on this forum!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 21
From: Chesterfield Mo
Hubby and I have made contact with a gentleman in Springfield, Mo. who has restored Corvettes for 43 years.After discussing the improvements we would like to completed we have decided to hire him and his company to restore our Vette. This restoration will be complete repaint, repair of fiberglass as need be and replacement of carpet, door panels,and seats etc.
No mechanic changes will be made.I've given him a $15,000 budget, he says the work will be less than that amount. Have any of you hired a specialist to restore your Vette or other classic rides?
No mechanic changes will be made.I've given him a $15,000 budget, he says the work will be less than that amount. Have any of you hired a specialist to restore your Vette or other classic rides?
My wife's good friend took her original owner 73 to a restoration shop in Washington, Mo which said they would restore it for $11,000. After two years, $15,000 in progress payments and many excuses they told our friend that someone broke into their shop and "stole" the supposedly rebuilt original engine, chassis parts, frame, interior, windows and bumpers. Our friends got back a stripped and unpainted worthless body. Police said it was fishy but couldn't prove anything. The shop is out of business.
As long as you know exactly what you are supposed to get and make regular inspections of progress made you may be OK but I would be very cautious.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
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From: Land of Thunder
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15, '19
I think what VF describes is quite doable for that budget, and they have done their due diligence on the shop.
Sounds good to me!
Sounds good to me!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If you are holding out for a shop that you "trust", be prepared to wait a while. Unless you know this person intimately, you have no idea whether you can trust him or not. That is why you don't worry about "trust"; you have a contract with all the details in there about what will be done, how, and when and at what price.
Then, if the work is not done per the contract or for the price quoted, the lawyers get to handle it. That's how it works. Anything else is a 'crap shoot'.
Then, if the work is not done per the contract or for the price quoted, the lawyers get to handle it. That's how it works. Anything else is a 'crap shoot'.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,453
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From: Easton Pennsylvania
I think that what you are seeing is that some folks are a little skeptical about a quality restoration to the level that you described costing only 15k.
I admit, That number sounds more like a paint job and an interior refurb more than a restoration. IMHO.
Bottom line. Your car ,your money, your decision. Good luck and please post plenty of pics as the job progresses.
I admit, That number sounds more like a paint job and an interior refurb more than a restoration. IMHO.
Bottom line. Your car ,your money, your decision. Good luck and please post plenty of pics as the job progresses.
Last edited by persuader; Aug 31, 2014 at 12:23 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Trust
It is alot of work to fully restore a car. Maybe clarification would needed as well, and that $15000 is labor only. Parts alone can be just as much, and paint supplies can be $3000- $5000.
I would be very surprised if you can get a good job for $15000 in labor.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Team Owner
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi VF,
I agree that everyone's definition of "restoration" is different.
Paying someone to do very good work on a Corvette has become frighteningly expensive.
It might be a good idea to get some opinions from other Corvette painters about using soda blasting as a means to remove the current paint and also opinions about applying 'gel coat' to the body. Corvettes didn't have or need any 'gel coat' originally and shouldn't now unless the surface of the fiberglass has been damaged.
I think working on fiberglass bodies takes a completely different set of skills and experience and would thus be cautious in choosing a shop that mixes metal bodies and fiberglass bodies together.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Yes, there still are painters that you can put your trust in.
I agree that everyone's definition of "restoration" is different.
Paying someone to do very good work on a Corvette has become frighteningly expensive.
It might be a good idea to get some opinions from other Corvette painters about using soda blasting as a means to remove the current paint and also opinions about applying 'gel coat' to the body. Corvettes didn't have or need any 'gel coat' originally and shouldn't now unless the surface of the fiberglass has been damaged.
I think working on fiberglass bodies takes a completely different set of skills and experience and would thus be cautious in choosing a shop that mixes metal bodies and fiberglass bodies together.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Yes, there still are painters that you can put your trust in.
Last edited by Alan 71; Aug 31, 2014 at 09:39 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Crystal Lake IL
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I know two different guys who I met thru this forum who can do paint, body work and all other things that go into a restoration of these cars. They do this as a side job and enjoy helping others. But they are in Illinois.
Thread Starter
Pro
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Thanks for the responses. I guess I should have stipulated the 73 was going to be getting a partial restoration. I did say interior and repaint no mechanic work involved. This Vette has a few spots in the fiberglass which need to be filled, repaired.
I've tried to change my avatar to our current 73 using photo bucket. I have downsized the picture but can't get it to download. I have posted pictures on FB and will continue to do so. If anyone is interested in seeing these pictures you can friend me Betty Ann Jacks-Miller.If anyone can assist me in the avatar change I'd appreciate that.
I've tried to change my avatar to our current 73 using photo bucket. I have downsized the picture but can't get it to download. I have posted pictures on FB and will continue to do so. If anyone is interested in seeing these pictures you can friend me Betty Ann Jacks-Miller.If anyone can assist me in the avatar change I'd appreciate that.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
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From: Indy Indiana
it is definitely a definition of 'restoration' here. you will find that just paint and interior refurb will be nice cosmetic upgrades, but you will be missing the surface rust, the patina on the gauges, the suspension rebuild and of course the mechanical work and many other things that a restore should cover.
but yes to answer the OP's question.. paint/bodywork/interior for 15K is a fair price.. but I really feel that after getting your car back with nice paint but pitted trim and surface rust everywhere and shot suspension bushings, you will wish you spent 30K.
but yes to answer the OP's question.. paint/bodywork/interior for 15K is a fair price.. but I really feel that after getting your car back with nice paint but pitted trim and surface rust everywhere and shot suspension bushings, you will wish you spent 30K.