$6K Paint estimate
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
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From: Orlando FL
$6K Paint estimate
Would you pay $6000 for a paint job on an ‘85? I went to a guy this weekend that has a private shop. Let’s just say he is VERY talented. The thing that I like is that he picks his clients. (Luckily I was referred by a friend in my club) If the owner doesn’t like his methods, he tells you to take the car somewhere else. I am really bothered by the fading paint on the hood, b-pillar and bumpers. I am keeping the car as stock as possible, so spending the money on “go fast” upgrades is not for me. I plan on keeping this car, so in the LONG LONG run, I see it as an investment of sorts. This paint should last just about forever with proper care…
Would you do it? Some of my photos show the extent of the paint damage, but it continues to get progressively worse.
Would you do it? Some of my photos show the extent of the paint damage, but it continues to get progressively worse.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 2
From: Oviedo FL
Mike,
Take it by Burke Corvette's (Behind Rogers) to get another estimate (I think they are in the same ballpark). They do excellent work and we have a few members who have had repaints there and they look pretty flawless (The car on the main page of their website belongs to one of our members).
Tim Burke - (407) 539-1717
www.burkecorvettes.com
Mike
PS: What club are you in?
Take it by Burke Corvette's (Behind Rogers) to get another estimate (I think they are in the same ballpark). They do excellent work and we have a few members who have had repaints there and they look pretty flawless (The car on the main page of their website belongs to one of our members).
Tim Burke - (407) 539-1717
www.burkecorvettes.com
Mike
PS: What club are you in?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If he's top notch, it may be worth it. I'm paying 7500 for bodywork/paint for my '67. He's high, but at the time I had the money.
Same as yours-one man shop, does one or two cars at a time, etc. I tried a cheaper guy out prior to him 5K for everything and I wound up towing a stripped shell on a chassis out of there missing a LOT of parts. I even supplied him with $900 in Concepts paint. Best part is my motor wound up in one of his customer's cars. Cops wouldn't even write up a report! Never saw a dime back either. You get what you pay for.
Same as yours-one man shop, does one or two cars at a time, etc. I tried a cheaper guy out prior to him 5K for everything and I wound up towing a stripped shell on a chassis out of there missing a LOT of parts. I even supplied him with $900 in Concepts paint. Best part is my motor wound up in one of his customer's cars. Cops wouldn't even write up a report! Never saw a dime back either. You get what you pay for.
Last edited by cv67; Apr 4, 2005 at 09:37 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 584
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From: Baldwinsville NY
Please don't take offense to this, but wow, investing $6k, I sure hope you plan to keep it for a very very long time. Although I have no plans to get rid of mine anytime real soon, I just couldn't spend that kind of money unless I was showing the car and trailering it. Mine is more of a DD (at least on sunny days when we don't have the baby with us) and even though it is in remarkably good shape compared to most early C4's I've seen I didn't want to invest $$$ that would equal about 90% of the cars worth, so I got lucky and found a guy that did a very nice job without going through the bumper removal, etc and did it for $800. It's not a showcar but people that don't know better think it is a new Corvette (rather than a 21 year old 93,000 mile car). I figure it will look good for the 2-5 more years I will have it before trading up to a late C-4 vert. (those are my plans anyway). Good luck, I am sure it will look great and it's good to see an early C-4 in the hands of somebody that wants to pamper it rather than all of the early C-4 "beaters" you see around.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Wow - tough to justify a paint job that has roughly the smae value as the car. I think I would shop around a little more and see if you can find a few other very good painters that might be able to do it for $4-5000. HOWEVER, if you plan to own the car "forever" and a great paint job is that important to you and if it will make you happy, then I say go for it. That's what this hobby is all about.
Just be preapred to be ratlled by non-Corvette people who will NEVER understand how someone could spend as much money on a paint job as the car is worth.
Just my $.02
Just be preapred to be ratlled by non-Corvette people who will NEVER understand how someone could spend as much money on a paint job as the car is worth.
Just my $.02
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
I shopped around in my area and to paint the car the exact same color was going to cost about $3,500.00 plus about another $800.00 for weatherstrips and moldings, etc. To change the color of my car (I wanted corvette competion yellow) was going to cost about an additional $1,000.00 on top of the above stated cost. Well, I started saving, but then I blew the money on a jet ski, then I tried saving again - only to blow the money on a custom motorcycle.
Here's what I did at a fraction of the cost of paint, plus I designed it myself! I get more attention now than any paint job... my car is always turning heads and getting photographed!!! Of course you mentioned you were keeping your car stock... and this is the furthest thing from stock, it's actually kind of obnoxious - but I love it and I have no regrets!
Check out the link - these have just been posted on the forum!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...=31049&cat=500
(In your situation, I think I'd shop around a little more - "6 Large" is too much for a stock car. You should still be able to find a very nice paint job around $4,000 - it won't be show quality - but, it'll be better than factory)
Here's what I did at a fraction of the cost of paint, plus I designed it myself! I get more attention now than any paint job... my car is always turning heads and getting photographed!!! Of course you mentioned you were keeping your car stock... and this is the furthest thing from stock, it's actually kind of obnoxious - but I love it and I have no regrets!
Check out the link - these have just been posted on the forum!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...=31049&cat=500
(In your situation, I think I'd shop around a little more - "6 Large" is too much for a stock car. You should still be able to find a very nice paint job around $4,000 - it won't be show quality - but, it'll be better than factory)
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Originally Posted by rick lambert
If you're gonna keep it-go for it. 6k is right in the ball park for a good paint job on a vette.
People can talk all they want but an el-cheapo paint job always looks like an el-cheapo paint job.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
I'm getting mine done for just under $2500, it is a father and son shop that a friend of mine who owns a Mercedes shop uses. I saw a old T-bird he restored and it is flawless. Of course mine is white so it is cheaper than other colors.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
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From: Orlando FL
Randy…what shop in Winter Park? I work on Park Ave and can probably give them a call and see them at lunch this week. It amazes me how far apart these estimates can be. On one hand, I hear the “you get what you pay for” mantra, yet on the other, its “$6K is A LOT for paint”
Waka, Waka, Waka!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,435
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From: Richmond Virginia
CI 4-6-8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
I had planned to have the paint be the LAST thing on my project list, but the it was just too crappy to put up with. I went looking for quotes and the most highly recommended shop in town wanted 4K to strip the whole car to the glass and put a base/clear on it.
Yea, you get what you pay for, but 6K sounds just a bit high if there is no body work needed. Your town may be more expensive, but 50% is more than I would guess. If you know that this guy is the best around, then maybe I'd go for it. But I would probably go through the effort of getting just a few more quotes. 6K isn't out of the ballpark, but you could probably get a first-rate job for a bit less.
As for me; since I had not done any the other things to the car at that point, I just paid for a cheap paint job. I thought it would be only for about 2 years, but it will be over three until I get around to fixing it. It's good up to 5 feet away, which is 1000% better than what was there. Once my engine rebuild and suspension upgrade is done, I'll go back to the guy and pay the 4K. That way I will not spaz about people using an engine lift next to my car.
Yea, you get what you pay for, but 6K sounds just a bit high if there is no body work needed. Your town may be more expensive, but 50% is more than I would guess. If you know that this guy is the best around, then maybe I'd go for it. But I would probably go through the effort of getting just a few more quotes. 6K isn't out of the ballpark, but you could probably get a first-rate job for a bit less.
As for me; since I had not done any the other things to the car at that point, I just paid for a cheap paint job. I thought it would be only for about 2 years, but it will be over three until I get around to fixing it. It's good up to 5 feet away, which is 1000% better than what was there. Once my engine rebuild and suspension upgrade is done, I'll go back to the guy and pay the 4K. That way I will not spaz about people using an engine lift next to my car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
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From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by Fozzy_Bear
I had planned to have the paint be the LAST thing on my project list, but the it was just too crappy to put up with. I went looking for quotes and the most highly recommended shop in town wanted 4K to strip the whole car to the glass and put a base/clear on it.
Yea, you get what you pay for, but 6K sounds just a bit high if there is no body work needed. Your town may be more expensive, but 50% is more than I would guess. If you know that this guy is the best around, then maybe I'd go for it. But I would probably go through the effort of getting just a few more quotes. 6K isn't out of the ballpark, but you could probably get a first-rate job for a bit less.
Yea, you get what you pay for, but 6K sounds just a bit high if there is no body work needed. Your town may be more expensive, but 50% is more than I would guess. If you know that this guy is the best around, then maybe I'd go for it. But I would probably go through the effort of getting just a few more quotes. 6K isn't out of the ballpark, but you could probably get a first-rate job for a bit less.
As the old saying goes: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten..."
YMMV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
If you pay $6k for paint it does exceed the value of the car.
I wouldn't do it and I'm a painter and two of friends are painters.
For one thing you won't be able to take the car anywhere for fear of paint damage.
Although $6k isn't the extreme for a custom paint job it is up there. Find a shop that will do a repair paint job on your car.
If done right it will be next to invisable.
When I painted my Corvette it took me about 25 hours for the color (this was a totaled car) and about 8 hours for the wet sand and polish.
Materials costs were about $200.00 A friend let me use his spray booth. So it was about $1,450 at $50.00 an hour with materials. My cost was $200.00
That leaves $4,550.00 for profit. Not bad you could paint one a month and still make money.
Last car of mine I painted was black it took me about the same amount of time to paint it and when it was done it was a black mirror. I went to visit a friend and parked on the street.
A kid on a bicylce crashed into my car and stratched it from bumper to bumper.
Theres no point in having a show finish on a car your going to drive.
I wouldn't do it and I'm a painter and two of friends are painters.
For one thing you won't be able to take the car anywhere for fear of paint damage.
Although $6k isn't the extreme for a custom paint job it is up there. Find a shop that will do a repair paint job on your car.
If done right it will be next to invisable.
When I painted my Corvette it took me about 25 hours for the color (this was a totaled car) and about 8 hours for the wet sand and polish.
Materials costs were about $200.00 A friend let me use his spray booth. So it was about $1,450 at $50.00 an hour with materials. My cost was $200.00
That leaves $4,550.00 for profit. Not bad you could paint one a month and still make money.
Last car of mine I painted was black it took me about the same amount of time to paint it and when it was done it was a black mirror. I went to visit a friend and parked on the street.
A kid on a bicylce crashed into my car and stratched it from bumper to bumper.
Theres no point in having a show finish on a car your going to drive.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 299
Likes: 7
From: Oregon City Oregon
paint job
I got an estimate to re-paint my 92 original color. It was around 5-6k.
Paint shop asked me why i wanted to spend that much when car looks
good. I have a few rock chips and some fading, but after thinking
about it I decided not to re-paint. As mentioned above I would be
afraid to drive it or park it some places for fear of something happening.
Paint shop asked me why i wanted to spend that much when car looks
good. I have a few rock chips and some fading, but after thinking
about it I decided not to re-paint. As mentioned above I would be
afraid to drive it or park it some places for fear of something happening.
I would try to get the part that needed painting painted, or do it myself.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
The whole car has parts that need to be painted…hood, b-pillar and urethane bumpers are disgusting and embarrassing. Tops of the doors, near the windows are starting to show some fading. IMO the only was to get a consistent color on a car with that metal flake kinda paint is to get the whole thing done at once. This guy said that the car doesn’t need any body work, but that he will still take some time to make sure that all the gaps are PERFECT. (He just did a C3 that has perfect gaps and for anyone that has seen a factory C3, its just about a miracle to have gaps that even) I want to start showing the car, but she gets driven just about every day too. I understand the concerns about paying that much for paint but then being paranoid to drive it. I just feel that if I short myself here, I’m gonna be pissed when the paint fades AGAIN and I am deeper in the hole because I didn’t do it right the first time.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,017
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St. Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by Orlando85UCFvette
I’m gonna be pissed when the paint fades AGAIN and I am deeper in the hole because I didn’t do it right the first time.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Originally Posted by redwing76
If you pay $6k for paint it does exceed the value of the car.
I wouldn't do it and I'm a painter and two of friends are painters.
For one thing you won't be able to take the car anywhere for fear of paint damage.
Although $6k isn't the extreme for a custom paint job it is up there. Find a shop that will do a repair paint job on your car.
If done right it will be next to invisable.
When I painted my Corvette it took me about 25 hours for the color (this was a totaled car) and about 8 hours for the wet sand and polish.
Materials costs were about $200.00 A friend let me use his spray booth. So it was about $1,450 at $50.00 an hour with materials. My cost was $200.00
That leaves $4,550.00 for profit. Not bad you could paint one a month and still make money.
Last car of mine I painted was black it took me about the same amount of time to paint it and when it was done it was a black mirror. I went to visit a friend and parked on the street.
A kid on a bicylce crashed into my car and stratched it from bumper to bumper.
Theres no point in having a show finish on a car your going to drive.
I wouldn't do it and I'm a painter and two of friends are painters.
For one thing you won't be able to take the car anywhere for fear of paint damage.
Although $6k isn't the extreme for a custom paint job it is up there. Find a shop that will do a repair paint job on your car.
If done right it will be next to invisable.
When I painted my Corvette it took me about 25 hours for the color (this was a totaled car) and about 8 hours for the wet sand and polish.
Materials costs were about $200.00 A friend let me use his spray booth. So it was about $1,450 at $50.00 an hour with materials. My cost was $200.00
That leaves $4,550.00 for profit. Not bad you could paint one a month and still make money.
Last car of mine I painted was black it took me about the same amount of time to paint it and when it was done it was a black mirror. I went to visit a friend and parked on the street.
A kid on a bicylce crashed into my car and stratched it from bumper to bumper.
Theres no point in having a show finish on a car your going to drive.
If a shop charged $50 an hour, their net is probably closer to $15 per hour.. So they make 1.5K on the job, not 4.5. You have to do plenty more than one a month to make a living.
Being in business is expensive.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Corpus Christi TX
St. Jude Donor '05
My opinion
Sell the car... use that money along with the 6k you were going to spend on paint and get yourself a newer C4... 6k is way too much to spend on a car that is worth 6 or 7 thousand. You an get a pretty decent C4 for the 12 or 13k you will be left with... unless this car has sentimental value....your idea doesn't make financial sense!
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.