My family uses a local auto body specialist and he treats us well. Mainly repairs on our daily drivers and we normally pay cash for the best price. He's even done some repairs to my 93 vert when I caught the door on a post.

Last month, the car scored lousy with panel fitment and paint condition at a car show. I just can't bring the paint back enough to hide the imperfections. So, I asked the owner what a basic price would be for a good show car paintjob. I told him I'd remove all door components, emblems, lights but all the panels would be left untouched. He states he would remove the bumpers, hood, doors and louvers stripping the paint down to the primer, repaint and fit the panels for a rough cost of $2500-$3000 +/-.

A little skeptical about the cost. Most people claim a C4 repaint costs around double what he's asking.

 

Easily two to three times that. Just the cost of materials (I am assuming bc/cc) would add up to $800. Pulling and aligning the bumpers could be 8 hrs in itself. Stripping the paint would be at least 8hrs. and probably double that.

 

See if you can take a look at some customers' cars of his that he has painted the same way that he may paint your car. This will at least show you the quality of work that he does. And then find out what he charged for those paint jobs.

 

If you can get a good quality "show car" paint job for $2500 - $3000, that would be one heck of a deal.

 

a lot of the work for quality show work is done after the paint is shot, also

 

Do it, that price of $2500-$3000 seems right and very fair. Mine cost the same, and for the same price my body guy also installed the Greenwood kit and molded it in to the body so it looked like all one piece. My 89 Vert was painted black with a blue pearl, also all products used were top of the line House of Colors. Anyone who pays more then 6k for a paint job should have his head examined in my opinion. That’s another nice car (Vette) that I could own!

 

I'm curious to see how it comes out RI is only a 2 hour drive for me and that would save me $2000 over the quotes I have for paint (with no body work needed)

 

There've been quite a few threads on this in the past with paint shop owners and workers commenting. I recall redwing76, albeit with CA prices, commenting that the cost of materials is substantial. I also know that retail, many years ago, a true show-quality paint job was 3 to 4 times as much on mid-year Corvettes.

I honestly think there are "good" paint jobs out there for that price range. The question is, how long will they last? I've seen paint last a couple or three years and start to peel, flake, dull, chip off, etc. And then there is the other kind, the ones that last.

The good thing is he's local to you, has done business before with your family.

I'd ask him very frankly if he knows what you really want, and define for him what you really want. Just get everything clear up front so there's no misunderstanding about what you "meant," or what the shop owner "thought." Afterwards is too late.

A few years back, I spoke with an outstanding body repair and paint place in San Diego where the owner told me he used to do full car paint jobs. And they were super expensive, but even then, he says it wasn't worth the aggravation or money. Why? The car owners were so picky (you might be, too, if you were paying $10K, $15K or more!!!) and it's almost impossible to have a perfectly shot car; it requires a lot of after work to make it that way. And I saw his equipment; it was truly state of the art.

Good luck, hope this helps.

 

thats a steal....if you trust him and thats all he wants, take him up on it...I prepped my own car for paint (disassembly and wet-sanding down to the primer) The only thing I had to pay for was the paint, materials and $250 in labor to a buddy who shot it and did the final clear coat wetsanding...turned my garage into a piant booth...and now she wins 1st place at shows...as a garage painted car!!

 

Definately look at his other paint jobs, and be sure to ask him about what materials he's using. Is it possible that everything is on the up-and-up and you'll get an amazing job? Yes, especially seeing as you are old customers and on friendly terms. HOWEVER, that is a very cheap price. So be sure to do your homework on his work and products of choice, and if everythings seems legit, then go for it and be happy about such a great deal!

Keep us posted on your decision and we definately want pics when you get it done!

 

Sounds like a pretty good price. He probably quoted you a good price because he doesn't want to lose your family's work.
By the way.....how much work do you send them?
What happens to your cars?
Is the body shop on retainer?

 

Bargain Basement. IF he uses top grade materials and does good work.

 

Uses Dupont and has worked on 3 other vehicle besides my corvette in the past 2 years.

Vette... door to post repair
caddy... new front and rear bumper
GM truck.. new tailgate
Ford truck.. new bumper

They weren't complete paintjobs and if he does good work, I doubt he will object if I ask to see some of his work. I am picky and have been taking pictures of other ruby vettes to match and I especially don't want orange peel or any imperfections.

 

if youve given him that much business it might just be worth it. I was offered a perfect black paint job (ive seen a few of his in person) by my painter for $3500 which is totally unheard of...He has done a few cars for me though in the last 2 years and Ive sent him a number of customers so that helps.

 

Well, not to be too corny about it, let's recall that if you are going for a truly authentic paint job, there is such a thing as "too good." No kidding.

It all depends on what you're going for. If you eventually plan to take this car to NCRS or Bloomington, be careful what you ask for and know what is required/expected. If, however, you want to win good, and better local shows (or even area shows) that's a different story. And in that case, a great paint job may just be what is required.

And while painting is painting, it really is part science, part art. For that matter, all Corvettes compared to other cars, are not alike. I'd ask to see some of the Corvettes he's painted, even body panels, that are a few or more years old. That, to me, would be the test.

Locally, I saw a fellow in a show with his '69 Vette many years ago, and he's the owner of a paint and body shop. Absolutely beautiful dark green. I went to see him about 5 yrs later and told him I still remembered his car. His comment? He'd been experimenting with a new process with no primer. After about a year, glass fibers started coming right through the paint. Thus, he had to take it down and start all over again.

Tell us how it all turns out.

 

Mine was repainted for about $3K... all with Dupont paints. everyone thought the price was astronomical at the time... but it came out show room perfect.

That was about 5ish years ago. The paint still looks good as new except for all my own mishaps and bad treatment.. but my own problems aside, it looks great still and it sits outside 24/7 too in the hot Florida sun.

 

That is a heckuva good endorsement, and a really good paint job for the price which was excellent!