A friend got a cost estimate to replace the plastic bumpers on his 74' Vette of $7,000. That's to replace the bumpers and paint them, NOT paint the whole car. It was from a local Corvette repair shop so they should know what's involved. That seems way high, any idea what the cost should be?

Thanks,

Gary

 

I agree it sounds high, but then again the flexible bumpers are a real pain to get properly aligned and may involve body work to get it so that it looks good. The fact that the 74 rear bumper is split adds to the effort to get it all lined up and fit properly. I have spent a lot of time taking them off and putting them back on again several times before you get it to fit correctly and I was putting on the same bumpers that came off the car originally.
It would be worthwhile seeing the breakdown on the estimate.
Unk

 

Is he blending at all with the car's paint or just spraying the bumpers and installing them? If this is all he's doing a good body should should be able to do it for less than half that, if not 25%. Prepping and spraying two bumpers is nothing. Installing and getting everything lined up right sucks, but probably only a few hours each. I think he's being quoted the Corvette Tax.

 

It is obvious that they do not want to do the job.

 

I have less than $1500 in my bumpers. With paint. But I did have to install them myself. It took me five hours. I guess I'm in th wrong business.

 

HIGHWAY ROBBERY! The front and rear bumpers cost approximately $725.00 (Fiberglass flex fit) or $1400 (urethane). Labor per the collision repair estimating systems is 2.5 hours front and 3.0 hours rear. Paint, materials and blend should be in the 6-7 hour range (that's on the high side to be safe). Remove and reinstall the front grills, turn lamps and rear lamps another 2.0 hours. Given this is a corvette shop they must have added the 900% corvette owner mark up to reach $7000.

So lets round things to keep it simple

Parts urethane bumpers $1360.00
Body Labor 7.5 hrs @ $65 (very high) $488.00
Paint and materials 7 hrs @ $45 (high) $315.00
Misc (shop supplies, etc) $100.00
Shipping $100.00
-----------
Total $2363.00

So for safety measure round it up to $2500.00

Parts flex fit bumpers $ 700.00
Body Labor 7.5 hrs @ $65 (very high) $488.00
Paint and materials 7 hrs @ $45 (high) $315.00
Misc (shop supplies, etc) $100.00
Shipping $100.00
-----------
Total $1703.00

So for safety measure round it up to $2000.00

can't say I know where the other $5000.00 is coming from

 

I agree with everything Palmbeach says, but let me add that there are no rear urethane bumpers for a 74. The closest you can get is a two piece Flexfit from Ecklers or go to a different year rear bumper. Eckler's charges $499 plus $30 for the clips. I might have been a little conservative on my 5 hour install, but for sure less than 8.

 

I agree 100%, I was mostly trying to compare the highest priced bumpers versus the ones most guys end up using just for a price comparison which still fell well below the estimate given to the OP.

 

The reason $7K sounds way high, is because it's way high. True, most of these bumpers will not fit propery out of the box, and usually require some file/fill body work. But $7K's closing in on the price of a full car strip/re-paint. I'd definitely check around with other shops. Although, probably out of the area, maybe check with Josh at Custom Image Corvettes in SD, and see what he thinks.

 

Time to find another shop or do it yourself.

 

Thanks guys, any good shops in the Detroit area?

Gary

 

Obviously not the one who gave the $7K estimate.