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I had my '99 done a year ago. A PO had repainted a couple of panels (trunk lid and one headlight cover) and it did not match well. I had collected the expected dings and scratches for a 20 year old car, and then my father backed into it and smashed the left quarter panel and bumper cover. My regular body shop wasn't terribly interested - they only do a couple of full repaints a year and usually only during the summer when business is the lightest. I checked with a well known Corvette restoration shop and they told me it would be $15-20K. I took it to a shop that does a lot of high-end custom work and asked for a very good (not show quality), as good as OEM on the showroom floor, job. The owner, another Corvette guy, said that would be $13-15K but if I was willing to leave it for a while and they could work on it in between other jobs, he would do it for $11k. The insurance paid for about $2800 of that and my father felt really bad about it, so he chipped in. I know - seems silly to spend that much on painting a car that is worth only a bit more than that . . . but I love this car, my father was the 2nd owner and passed it on to me (when he came home with one too many "just another car" and my mom blew her top and told him he had to get rid of at least one car). I don't care what it is worth on the market, it was worth it to me.
My rear driver fender is starting to peel. I often wonder how much MAACO would charge me if I pulled up, and then pulled all the panels, trim, and weatherstripping off the car so they didn't have to mask anything, then told them I'd reassemble. Unfortunately the nearest MAACO is 2+ hours away, so that would be a tricky proposition.
Just one fender? Buy a used fender in the correct color off of ebay and put it on. Far easier and cheaper than all the process you describe.
Just one fender? Buy a used fender in the correct color off of ebay and put it on. Far easier and cheaper than all the process you describe.
I've considered the option. I replaced my passenger door with a good condition used ebay door after someone sideswiped me. (Made a HEFTY profit since insurance paid out over $5000) They've even got one in my color for ~$200 shipped. If the rest of my paint was in good shape and I loved the color, I'd definitely go for it. Navy just isn't really my style, and it has numerous little paint chips all over it.
Gloss Black is going to be the hardest color to do correctly just because it shows highlights every single imperfection. If you try to go cheap on a gloss black paintjob, I think you're likely to be disappointed.
My rear driver fender is starting to peel. I often wonder how much MAACO would charge me if I pulled up, and then pulled all the panels, trim, and weatherstripping off the car so they didn't have to mask anything, then told them I'd reassemble. Unfortunately the nearest MAACO is 2+ hours away, so that would be a tricky proposition.
If it’s something you plan on keeping,stay away from MAACO! Substandard prep work and materials.
I had fun taking an old Jeep apart and having MAACO repaint her. She had clear coat cancer on the hood and fenders. I drove her to the shop with only a driver's seat and taillights...took those with me when I left. They did a great job, for a Jeep. Wouldn't consider for my Vette.
If it’s something you plan on keeping,stay away from MAACO! Substandard prep work and materials.
my paint is thrashed and I can't afford the $5000-10000 other places want. For a high mileage, base model, daily driver vette, I don't see an issue as long as it comes out better than what I've got now.
my paint is thrashed and I can't afford the $5000-10000 other places want. For a high mileage, base model, daily driver vette, I don't see an issue as long as it comes out better than what I've got now.
Your car,your money. Good Luck
Last edited by old stingray; Oct 18, 2020 at 09:19 AM.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
