I finally did it!

[steveb]

After 6 years of ownership, I finally broke down and had my '85 painted. It has always been fun to drive but I had finally had enough of the peeling clear coat and faded paint. Seeing all of those pretty Vettes at Cruisefest this year gave me the final push to make it happen. It feels like driving a new car!

 

[silverja]

Looks great! Just like new. Nothing like a red Corvette.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

Awesome! I saw one just like that here in town the other day in downers grove, IL. Paint looked awesome same color.
-=Rick

 

[RedVetteMan]

Steve,

That's beautiful! 'course I'm sorta partial to red early C4's myself. Is that the original color?

Paul

 

[Kevin Doyle]

Looks really nice.Kevin.

 

[steveb]

Steve,

That's beautiful! 'course I'm sorta partial to red early C4's myself. Is that the original color?

Paul

Yes, it is the original color. The old red was in such bad shape that this seems like a new color.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Looks GREAT! Musta been hard to let her go long enough to get such a nice result, I know it would be for me. I know I'm gonna have to one of these days, but for now, I rationalize not looking great by diving my baby every day, and I've dubbed her all go and no show :L

 

[ZumZum]

Fantastic! A Cardinal Red vette for a Cardinal fan.
Looks great.


and....GO CARDS!!!!

 

[Toms007]

Very sharp. Did you have them take the bumpers off or were they left in place? If it is not prying too much, what did that job set you back?

 

[Edmond]

Please give us more details! That looks very good. How long was the turnaround time on that?

 

[BobZ06]

Congratulations! It looks great!

 

[vetteboy86]

I am curious to know the process they used, how the paint was stripped, how many coats, you know all the details.

 

[steveb]

Very sharp. Did you have them take the bumpers off or were they left in place? If it is not prying too much, what did that job set you back?

The bumpers were left in place. They had the Vette for 3 weeks. I had quotes from 2 other shops. One quote was for $4000.00 and the other was for $4300.00. The shop that quoted me $4300 has produced some very good work that has ended up in magazines. I didn't feel that I needed a show car quality job on a Vette that wasn't worth a bunch of money. The shop I ended up taking it to was referred to me by a gentleman I work with. This shop also had a good reputation in the area and I figured I would be looking at about the same price. When he gave me the quote for $1900, I decided to let him have at it. It is probably as not as good a job as I could have had for $4300 but it is miles ahead of where it was and at a price I could live with. I am very pleased with the results.

 

[Edmond]

That's with strip and body prep? Friend of my father said he'd do mine for $2500 without stripping. Didn't ask about the body work. I'm hoping I can at least strip mine myself and save a few hundred $$$ that could go into mods.

 

[steveb]

That's with strip and body prep? Friend of my father said he'd do mine for $2500 without stripping. Didn't ask about the body work. I'm hoping I can at least strip mine myself and save a few hundred $$$ that could go into mods.

Yes that was with body prep and all.

 

[JEFNLSA]

Very nice!

That baby is gleaming! $1900 well spent! (what a price! :confused )

 

[tdonlin]

Wow, great paint job at a great price.

 

[Edmond]

That sure is a great price. Too bad Galesburg is so far away from Chicago!

 

[MsSchroder]

Steve, weren't you the guy at Cruisefest with the "buffed down to the primer" car? If so, it looks a LOT better now! :L


Tammy

 

[steveb]

Steve, weren't you the guy at Cruisefest with the "buffed down to the primer" car? If so, it looks a LOT better now! :L


Tammy

Believe me. It does look a lot better now. The paint wasn't so bad below the belt line but it was absolutely tragic on the hood and rear deck. That rain we had during Cruisefest helped wash away more clear coat. It started coming off in sheets. :cry I bought the car 6 years ago knowing that it needed paint. I just didn't think it would take me this long to get it done. Now that it is, I couldn't happier. I won't be afraid to get it in the group photo next time.