I took mine today to get a quote from a local private shop. The shop quoted me $5000.00 with the ghost flames on both sides (3-4 colors) and body Candle Apple red. I also had all new rubber (weather stripping) priced for the car. It is leaking pretty bad. It was $1500.00 just for the stripping, then @ $500.0 for installation. The paint shop man said he would gladly replace the stripping if I bought it when he painted it. It would be easier to rip out the old and install new when he got finished, so he wouldn't charge me labor on the installation. He also said he would replace the interior for $200.00 dollars in labor, when he painted it. I would have to buy the parts for that, too. SO, the tally is, (so far anyway)
Paint=$5000.00 (he says paint and supplies would be $1200.00 since I want Candy Apple red, included in the price)
Rubber=$1500.00
New interior installed for $200.00 ( I haven't priced the supplies yet)


total=$6700.00 + interior parts/supplies
or $6500.00 just for new paint and new rubber seals.


I don't think thats bad at all, but I haven't seen any of his work. He does come highly recommended, but without seeing his work I am a little worried. I will be getting more estimates from bigger shops to compare. That is still a lot of money, regardless him coming highly recommended. The one major thing that bothers me about this shop is that he said it would take at least 1 month to prep, than another month or 2 to paint! Isn't that a little extreme?

Just my .02 cents worth.

 

I guess if money's no object, then sure....spending $10k on paint is alright. I completely agree with the remarks above regarding the fact that it will be driven, and end up getting chipped here and there. I suppose if your Vette's a trailer queen, then it's not a biggie either. I think I'd seriously vomit if I got a door ding in my $10K paint job!

As for my project, I'm doing the prep work myself, and having a shop here in town shoot it. I know some of the guys at a few body shops around town, and they have already said they'd take care of me. I don't expect a 3-year warranty however....that would be .

Here's some food for thought too...a LOT of shops will charge more, when they DON'T WANT THE JOB. It's a good way to send you packin' if you don't have the cash. You talk about being ****...that's what the shop doesn't want! Do you think they want to see you come back for a dirt nib in the paint?? Not on your life. Granted, not all paint jobs are created equal....but for right now, pay at my job doesn't equal a paint job. Cheers!

 

Paul -
Just for your reference:
I think you got a good price there. I've been doing body and paint work for quite a few years, and I've done a lot of Vettes. I tell people that entry-level price for a paint job on a Vette that's not damaged in any way is $6500, and it goes up from there. Nobody with any level of experience and a good reputation is going to sell their time for less. Why would a good body guy sell himself for $20/hour..? Your estimate is correct: It takes a solid 2 weeks' labor (80 hours) to properly prep a Vette (if there's no damage), and it takes a full week (at least 40 hours) to final-prep for paint, paint, wet sand, and rub. That's a minimum of 120 hours, and I find it easy to go to about 160 by the time the car is done. Going rate for good body labor is Colorado is $45/hour, so that's $5400-$7200 just in labor. My cost on materials to do a Vette right is $1000-1500, so that puts the low-end pricing at $6400, with likely cost up around $8700. If you get quoted less than that, they're either cutting corners, or the guy doing the work doesn't feel he's good enough to be worth the going rate (and I'd sure question that...). Your estimate looks great - go for it!

 

"An estimate......an 'educated' guess on what it will take to paint your car"

I think that about sums it up.

 

[QUOTE=Cali,68,L-79] My friends have new C6's/ M5/ or AMG's that they drive daily and I'm tired of commuting in a Civic QUOTE]

you don't even have to go that expensive if you want a fun commuter just get an end of the c4 series ...like 94, 95,96? (Whens the last yr 96?)

 

That rocks. With you outta here i might finally get my C3 section split.

 

No I'll still roam here to keep you in check.

 

 

Paul the one thing I would question is the materials. there's grade A and grade B. $900.00 for materials sounds like you're getting grade B. That's probably why you're only getting a 3 yr. warrranty. I've done cars for 30 yrs. I can EASILY spend $800.00 on the clear, hardener and reducer alone. Usually 2 gallons are required when you cut-in the door jambs. Now throw in paint, reducer [ not the same as the clear ], primer, sandpaper, tape [ it needs to be taped twice, primer then paint ] sealer, more special reducer, rubbing compounds. Any repairs requiring fiberglass , resin and hardener, and wax and grease remover. Ya gettin the picture here? I tell my clients a minimum of $1800.00 for materials but also tell them that with proper care the paint should last their lifetime. And I live in Michigan. Now if it's red, that's the most expensive paint to buy, so you can double the base coat paint price too. I hope you don't need to paint it again in 5 yrs. It'll be twice as much then.

 

That don't look minor. Looks like the glass has to come out to repair that crack properly.

 

where's my Krylon?

Just kidding. If I had your car Paul, that price would not phase me. Your car is worth a LOT more than mine. I can't see spending that much on a 79. They're just not worth as much. I'll make mine look nice someday and be done with it. A show car it will never be.

 

I've been involved in several $8,000-$10,000 paint jobs on vettes when working at a nice body shop. Nobody likes to work on fiberglass, its easy to mess up, you itch constantly, and breathing the stuff just kills you..(i always wear a mask as much as possible.) To do a vette right, consists of taking all the old paint off, while a flawless smooth paint job involves body work, and vette glass is very wavy. Also to paint a show vette, body parts have to come off...to get the stainless trim off the doors, involves either dropping or taking out the entire window mechanism insdie the door just to get a screwdriver on the screws..just a PITA. Anything around $6000 will get you a nice paint job. no way around it.

 

I thank everyone for their replies! Very informative. The fellow who will be doing the job took care of the paint on my 1979 in the year 2000. It still looks great today.

I have to conclude that the estimate is in the right ballpark. There is a contingency built in for any surprises under the old paint. I suspect the final price will be ~$7,000.The comment on the quality of the paint is one that struck a nerve. I will follow up on that.

 

I only paid $10,000 for my car (80 L82 in 1983)