Paint Job for c3

[FlagCraig]

What could I expect to pay for a high quality paint job on a 1970 with limited body work needed.

Thanks,
Craig.

 

[bill81vette]

I'm guessing 4000+ depending on the color.

 

[6880 Mike]

...What could I expect to pay for a high quality paint job on a 1970 with limited body work needed...

That depends on where you are, who does the work, and how much of the prep you do.

 

[Karsten]

I was hoping for a $3-4000 guestimate on my 1973...Basic sand and paint, replace the front bumper.

1st place was around $6000 but I have seen their work on vintage cars and it is flawless...show car quality work is all they do.

I am guessing I could shop around and save a $1000 to $1500.

Karsten

 

[6880 Mike]

If you like them, go with Place #1. $6K is not unreasonable.

 

[frank_nesta]

You get what you pay for. $6K is not bad if you get what you want.

 

[hotmtrsports]

I still get sticker shock when I hear paint jobs for Corvettes in the 5-6-7K + range...ouch!!!

What do the materials cost?

Chuck M

 

[6880 Mike]

...I still get sticker shock when I hear paint jobs for Corvettes in the 5-6-7K + range...ouch!...

Don't look now, but some owners confess to paying five figures for a paint job.

 

[larryg3]

paint

I just paid 13K for mine. we did remove all of the paint as well as change the body mounts.

But I must agree you get what you pay for.

here is a picture of the car after the paint job

 

[frank_nesta]

A good paint job is worth the money. One of the first thing people notice and say to me is great paint job. That alone is worth the money.

 

[vett boy]

Payed $3800 for show quality on my 69 .Always did well at shows .Oh ,that was 1985

 

[Karsten]

Well the $6000 bid I got went to $6500-7000 and they don't have time to do the car until spring if then.....I guess I am back to looking.

Karsten

 

[Corvette Ken]

In 2009 I stripped my 1973 LS4 and got a very good job for $6,500. I have seen jobs cost up to $14,000.

 

[USNA1969]

i just paid $7750 for my '72 in Steel Cities Grey. It looks great, but it took 4 trips back to the paint shop to fix issues and get it right.

 

[Evolution1980]

Chiming in late here, but hey, I have a couple extra minutes... (Of course, there's been tons of previous threads about this if you wish to use the search function. One of the threads even has the pre-, during, and post-paint pics.

My paint was $7500. It's not the materials that cost the money. It's the time and skill involved. Once your car is painted, you'll be doing the same thing everyone else with a C3 does...

The paint shop has to be careful about sanding fiberglass 'cause it ain't like stripping metal. IIRC, it needs to be sanded by hand. Media blasting or chemical stripping can be done, but it's risky on fiberglass, especially one a 43 year old car. When they are sanding down the body, they need to run along the creases and NOT over them, side-to-side. They'll destroy those crisp edges on the fenders right quick! It's pretty easy to tell C3's that have been repainted because the fender lines are smooth & rounded, not crisp & sharp like they left the factory.
Then there's simply the time invovled to disassemble and mask off everything. Door panels come off, glass come out to get to the mirrors. Hood comes off (if you plan on getting the underside painted). Trim pieces, logos, gas cap, etc... There's a LOT to mask off and/or disassemble. Once the car is all prep'd, painting it is the easiest part of all of it. Then all the pieces have to sit for a few days while the paint cures. Otherwise you'll end up with depressions in the paint where the touching pieces emboss the paint.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of people that will be very happy doing it themselves, or claiming they got a show-quality job for $3000 or less. That's your decision which way to go. Caveat Emptor! You're the one that has to live with the results. Have you settled for anything on your car? Or have you always got exactly what you wanted because you didn't settle? Food for thought.

 

[MRANT212]

You get what you pay for...new paint looks great when its new. Its a question as to how it looks a number of years down the road. Also, you start getting crazy with everything else...emblems, chrome, interior etc. Then it turns into a frame on resto which is what I did. Media blasted and eveything redone (bird cage wasnt in good shape either)...needless to say it was a lot of $$$$$$$. Looks awesome though!!!!