Rose colored glasses about paint

[bryancobb]

Those who have seen my enthusiastic fixing-up of my 66 convertible for the last 3 years or so, know I feel pretty good about the body's rust free condition.

I have restored everything now except the paint and body.

Now I'm ready to get that done so I'm doing a little research. I had seen numerous impressive pictures on the web of one person who does the quality of work I'd like to get.

After getting him numerous detailed pictures of my car and offering to take the whole body, stripped of all removable items and on my rotisserie, I'm getting the impression from him that a 6 month delivery and my $15,000 guess on cost is quite a bit optimistic?

He was very nice and a true diplomat and gentleman but I felt he was covering his mouth and laughing at me thinking I could even begin to get his services for a mere $15,000. I guess a paintjob from a proven Mustang expert is a dream I'll never be able to afford.

[silversport]

May I hazard a guess? Dan Nolan....

[ross88man]

How much "better" is a 15K paint job versus a 7K or even 5K paint job? Sure it depends on who is doing the 15K, 7K, or 5K paint job, so endless levels of variablity here, but I can't even imagine spending that much for paint.

[silversport]

Originally Posted by ross88man

How much "better" is a 15K paint job versus a 7K or even 5K paint job? Sure it depends on who is doing the 15K, 7K, or 5K paint job, so endless levels of variablity here, but I can't even imagine spending that much for paint.

I think for someone like Bryan, who's really into concours, the person doing the work makes a huge difference.

[Lovies66]

I thought my stang had a terrific paint job. It does look amazing. Labor and paint,in the 5k range. By friends in the resto business. Then I took it for some minor work to the shop doing a $15k job on my vette. Under their lights, you could see numerous flaws in the finish. The body guy pointed out a dozen things I don't miss anymore when I look at the car. To the naked eye, it is still awesome and quite sufficient. For my money on the other vette, I got it stripped and every line and every edge reshaped and resanded sharp. They didn't do any of that on the stang. So there are differences in paint jobs, just not necessarily what mortals will see.

[JohnnyK]

15k.. man!... I (being broke) had no choice but to do my own paint and body. Never having done it.. Probably spent 3-4k in materials I suppose, but after taking my (sweet) time, it looks mint, and after fixing a few clear runs, like a new cars paint job.. Of course, I went bc/cc with lemans stripes and what not, and I'm sure you're not going that route, but.. 15K.. man!

[GT350R Klone]

My painter will lay down a paint job that I will put against anyone. Base coat, clear coat, cut and buffed for $4-$5k. My last two cars. Note the reflection and how deep the paint is.

[tom991]

Originally Posted by Lovies66

I thought my stang had a terrific paint job. It does look amazing. Labor and paint,in the 5k range. By friends in the resto business. Then I took it for some minor work to the shop doing a $15k job on my vette. Under their lights, you could see numerous flaws in the finish. The body guy pointed out a dozen things I don't miss anymore when I look at the car. To the naked eye, it is still awesome and quite sufficient. For my money on the other vette, I got it stripped and every line and every edge reshaped and resanded sharp. They didn't do any of that on the stang. So there are differences in paint jobs, just not necessarily what mortals will see.

So a 10 or 15K paint job is far superior to when the car came off of the dealer's show room floorwhen the car was new is my guess.

[KarlJay]

I've been doing my own body and paint for many years and I have to say it's NOT just the materials. It's a combo of things: Prep, Paint, and what you do AFTER the paint is laid down.

This is my 68 that I painted. The pic is a throw-away camera scanned by walgreens, but it can still serve my point. Look at the hood, look at the tree reflected in the hood, look at the sharpness of the lines (details) of the tree.

This paint was $150 complete (not counting primer, just the paint) and it is SINGLE STAGE, no clear coat, just good old single stage paint. PPG UltraTV I think.

I spent several days color sanding, compounding, polishing, waxing. <-- THIS is what made the difference. But you need enough thickness to be able to do that and that's not as easy as it sounds.

I'd consider $15K to be on the high side. Usually there's a lot of time in prep, repairs, color sanding... and it can add up.

[bryancobb]

Originally Posted by silversport

May I hazard a guess? Dan Nolan....

I've never seen any close-ups of HIS work. I suspect it falls into the category I'm talking about.

I've backed-up-to-punt and I guess I'll do the underneath and engine bay and trunk myself and then have a mid-budget Hot-Rod shop close by do the rest. This is not what I wanted but I'm not a rich guy.

[bryancobb]

Originally Posted by GT350R Klone

... Base coat, clear coat, cut and buffed for $4-$5k.. Note the reflection and how deep the paint is...

That would suit me from what I can tell, but for that price, was underneath, engine bay, doors & dash, and inner floorboards and structure included?

If so...gimme his contact info, shipping to Cali' can't be too much!

As I've said before, I'm fairly well-versed in 60's to 80's body shop methods. My Dad was the Body Shop Foreman at the Lincoln/Merc dealer all the years I was growing up and I was raised in the body shop. I've sanded and taped-up lot of cars. I've heated rosettes for Dad to do the shrinking. I've built bumpers and done all the other menial jobs. I appreciate the skill and talent that goes into getting a panel almost perfect BEFORE you ever consider using the filler. I've even watched Dad work lead on a few occasions.

I suggested to this person that the current paint has been on the car for 25 years and would make a sound base to work from, but he insisted that bare metal would be HIS start point for him to back his work.

In fairness to him, his quoted labor-rate was only $35 per hour. 350 hours of labor and $3,000 in supplies must not come close to what he would expend.

[ScottsGT]

$15K is a big bite to chew on. Sad thing is, people are paying that much. So someone else will just get your slot in his shop. I fully understand why is costs so much, but even for a high end shop, I feel he is about $5K high.
I dropped about $2500 to $3000 on materials alone on mine. If I had the place, I might even think about an early retirement and picking up the trade again. Tough call....Naa....I'll stick to my low paying cushy state job surfing the 'net all day between tasks!

[daves67ss]

I'd say keep shopping. As you know it's price, quality and lead time...and it seems you can never get all three. The more you shop and the more bushes you beat, the better informed consumer you will become. Look at some of his work in person. Ask to speak to some of his clients.

I eneded up having a friend from work paint my 67 in his garage. I had the car basically stripped of all trim. Granted is was not a concourse job, but i have earned my red grille medalliain with the paint job. I paid him $1800 for bc/cc and I did most of the work color sanding and buffing.

[chillininnh]

I knew I was going to drive mine alot when it was completed so I wasn't worried about getting a perfect paint job. Even working 60 hours a week I still managed to put 6K miles on her this season. 15K is what I spent having mine blasted, panel replacement (floors, quarters, battery apron, rear wheel wells, trunk drops), primed, painted and panels reinstalled. It looks great but it's not perfect and didn't need to be.

[mikemstang66]

I am guessing the $15k was for a correct concours paint job with peel .
with the car disassembled you should be in the $5k ballpark for a nice urethane base coat /clearcoat