ballpark figure for a paint job?

[Edmond]

I'm really starting to consider getting the car repainted in the spring or summer of next year.

What is the ballpark figure for a strip, prep and paint job?

I've heard figures anywhere from $2000-6000 so I'd figure that I would just ask the people here since many have done it before.

 

[WNH]

I've heard figures anywhere from $2000-6000 so I'd figure that I would just ask the people here since many have done it before.

I guess a good paint job would cost more.
I think at least $5000-6000 at a body shop that has experience with Corvettes. Painting it a different color would raise the price, because of all the door jams,etc.

 

[Ken]

I've heard figures anywhere from $2000-6000

You heard right. A very basic, and I do mean basic, as in Earl Schieb basic, will cost you around two grand, while a pretty good paint job will probably run closer to the six grand figure, but it should be something that you can at least wax without wincing. :eyerole

A really good paint job takes a liitle more time for preparation and the actual painting aspect, plus you have the cost of the paint itself. What paint you choose affects the cost of the final job.

Then of course you have details, such as pinstriping, stripes maybe, maybe some personalized thing like my "Z51" logo, ... Those things, especially if they're hand painted, are expensive (read: labor intensive, artistic) and the total cost keeps rising.

It's nothing to have a paint job cost you ten thousand dollars or more before you''re through.

Hell, depending on the painter, a motorcycle will cost ya ten! :L

 

[SSTibet]

Edmond, what is the going rate of your car? You could buy a late C4 or better a C5 maybe for the difference...??? US$10K for paint? Wooooov

 

[c4cruiser]

I talked to a local body and paint shop that has done a large number of Vettes over the years about a complete repaint in the same color basecoat/clearcoat (gold) for my 87 coupe, and the owner said about $3000 would be a typical figure if there was no body work to do. This would cover prep sanding by both machine and hand, filling of rock chips and small dings and include painting of the front and rear bumper covers using the correct flex additives, and color sanding and buffing.

This place is very reputable and does a lot of work for insurance companies and show car people. I had my hardtop for my 92 done there and they did an excellent job of color matching the Polo Green and I got a near show-quality finish for $400.

There are places that will charge $5-6000 and more but for that amount of money, you should expect a level of quality approaching that of new cars. Maybe not a show car finish, but reasonably close to that.

 

[6 Shooter]

I thought you were talking about buying another corvette next summer.

 

[Rufus1050]

Down here along the coast the price from a corvette specialty shop runs sorta like this...base paint job w/o any body work is $4,500. If you have some dings they say add another grand. Too rich for my blood, I thought. Don't know either if this is a show paint job (which is not what I'm looking for!) or just regular. I'm still looking and may be able to find something for around 2,500.

 

[WhalePirot]

I had my whole car redone a few years ago, when it was in the body shop for repair. I had the shop convince the insurance company into repainting most of the car and I paid $1k to do the entire car, about 35% more work.

Your car is in now, right? This is the most opportune time, if you have the cash to do it all. It's a balance of how good is the old paint, how much will they do with the repair, how well will that partial look, and how long will you keep the car.

 

[G Winter]

Much of the cost of a paint job depends on the labor rate in your area. In Iowa the labor rate is not that high, mybe around $50 an hr. Go to chigago and The labor rate may be more than double that. If you know a good body shop in a diff area it might be worth taking the car there to have it done.

 

[FX3FX3]

Money comes and goes, if investing 5-10K on paint would make you happy, go for it.

Paint Job:10K, Corvette Happiness: priceless

 

[Ripp 73]

Here in Indiana I have a guy that will do a great paint job (not show quality but go quality) for around $2000. That is also with doing some of the body work and includes door jams and everything that is supposed to be painted. At that rate though he is expecting the car to be stripped down and the chrome to be removed. Its a balance of how much work you want to put into it. If I strip the car I save some money. But it's worth it to me. After the car is running in great mechanical order, she will be her bright blue once more.

 

[plumcrazy]

had the 85 stripped down some cracks fixed and a show finish applied. 1 sealer, 1 primer,2 base and 3 clear coats then stick sanded and buffed to a mirror finish. for the low low price in the neighborhood of 6,000. replaced some minor pieces as well. word of advice if the mouldings are comming off before painting have them be careful., the strips on the back are known for having the studs break or strip out. i fixed mine for the body man but its like tryin to weld bolts to tin foil. good luck.

 

[plumcrazy]

oh yeah i had a hell of a time finding a shop that would do glass work in my area and lots of places only want the quickie ins. work to.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

I just had my 86 repainted and the total cost was $2300.00...

that included the SS stripes on the hood and rear deck

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

The actual color is gold on the stripes and not yellow

Mike

 

[NevadaJim]

As other's have said, the cost will depend on where you live and the quality you want. A few years back we completely restored an '82. When it came time to paint, we had it completely stripped, some minor stress fractors fixed and started with a new feather coat. This was all done by a small custom shop that specializes in Vettes. When all was said and done it cost a little over $10K, and worth every penny. It was the deepest, smoothest black I've ever seen on a Vette -- she ended up winning a couple of awards for paint before we sold her.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

At some point I will probably get my car repainted, but before I do I am going to read a book on painting Corvettes, to try and see if there is any real justification for some of these ridiculous prices. Like many things Corvette, I suspect much of the price is simply a mark-up by painters because they have been able to sell the idea that a Corvette is "so different". Being "different" does not mean things should always be more expensive. One thing I have also found is that there is sort of a preverse bragging rights syndrome among Corvette owners---you know, they compete over who can claim they have the more expensive paint job, wheels, original ash tray with original ashes, etc. Corvette operations know this and appeal to it. I still remember the time I took my car in to get the carpeting installed, and the first comment out of the shop owner's mouth was that he could sell me a bargain basement $3500 paint job. Needless to say, I left and put in the carpet myself with no drama before he told me something like putting in carpet in a Corvette was a highly specialized operation.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[Edmond]

I haven't had any luck in selling the '88. But I'm going to Bloomington next weekend to see if there's any interest there. If I can't sell it soon, I may take it off the market and restore the car. I want to sell the car but I'm not going to give it away.

I'd rather park it in my driveway and slowly restore it than to give it away for next to nothing.

I guess that's a "worse case" scenario, which really isn't a bad scenario at all. If that happens, I'll start reading and probably buy videos on how to do body work to save myself any money that I can. At least I could learn something, maybe something like stripping the car.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I haven't had any luck in selling the '88. But I'm going to Bloomington next weekend to see if there's any interest there. If I can't sell it soon, I may take it off the market and restore the car. I want to sell the car but I'm not going to give it away.

I'd rather park it in my driveway and slowly restore it than to give it away for next to nothing.

I guess that's a "worse case" scenario, which really isn't a bad scenario at all. If that happens, I'll start reading and probably buy videos on how to do body work to save myself any money that I can. At least I could learn something, maybe something like stripping the car.

Well, after listening to all these people over the years claiming that the labor and materials required in re-painting a Corvette are the equivalent of that required to re-paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it WOULD be good to sit down and actually read a book about what's involved in repainting our cars, and why this is so different from other cars to justify these prices some people have paid (Egads---$10K!!).

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[WhalePirot]

You're not going to get any better background, nor result, on quality painting a car than you would expect from reading a book on how to represent yourself in court. Good luck!

BTW, I have both books.

As with any smart shopping, the price versus an examination of the provider's results is how I determine whether I am being fairly charged. Proper result demands proper research, before buying; MUCH easier than paying a high-priced lawyer to fight afterwards. >>Chris...you requently sound like UR looking for a fight. (offered as a 'friend)