VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Paint and body work costs?

I just came back from a drive with my old car. I was in no hurry and had no place to go. It was just a short pleasure trip. I found myself going by a body shop and decided to stop in and get a ball park figure on what it would take to do the body. The car has a bunch of small dings and no rust. I let them know I was not after a trophy winner. I ended up stopping at two body shops and each said the same thing. It almost sounded scripted. The bottom line was $8,000 for a "fair" job. I had been thinking 2-5k, tops.

What would be a reasonable price in y'alls estimates.

Thanks.

I been thinking about doing it myself for about $600 and a week of time. If I don't like it I can do like the commercial shops do sand and polish out the rough spots....Well maybe, if I have any rough spots..think positive, is what I say.

here in south texas it would cost about 10 -12,000 if they took it apart to paint i mean like the fenders and hood and top brackets and strip down to the bare metal and start from there probably have a hard time finding a shop to do it most like to do collision work . and there is maco they wipe it off tape it and paint a friend of mine in dalas texas area had his done at maco looked plenty good for a tour car . paint is expensive and i wont go into what i spend to do one but it way more than 600. might go tractor supply and get a gallon of enamel and a few brushes i done one with a fly sprayer sandpaper and a little compound most original cars were painted and rubbed . a lady in kansas painted hers with enamel and a vacumm wasnot too bad so it depends what you want for the end result

Ah yes!!! The old vacumm cleaner paint jobs. I remember talking my mom into buying a vacumm cleaner from a door to door salesman because of that capability! Definetely not show quality, good for barn doors and such!

In this area, a nice paint job with some typical body work that would be needed is around $7,000 to $8,000...and that is for a driver. There are several shops around here that do high quality body and paint work for the street-rodders and the restored show cars and their paint jobs start at $10,000 and go up from there! It is not unusual to pay $12,000 to $15,000 for a show quality paint job.

Even if you are going to paint the car yourself, quality automotive paint materials would run you over the $600 mark.

The last 2 vehicles I had painted, a '31 Chevy fire truck and a 1925 Franklin roadster. I did all the prep work (sanding and priming) and bought my own paint, PPG Concept Acrylic Urethane. And took it to Macco in Garland and they painted them.
I am pleased with the results and the total expense was less then $2,000.00 for each of them. I used to spray them in my garage and outside and fight overspray and bugs. No more.
Cleon

Not in Comanche, Texas JYD! I didn't count sandpaper and any tools, I have them already.

I'm with Cleon! Stripped my 51 wagon down and took it to Maaco. They didn't do a bad body job (fix dents, etc.) and the total was 1400. They told me they could get the body even smoother for a total of 2000. I just wanted a nice driver and that's what I got. Can't beat them on price and it ain't worth doing it yourself, unless you're shooting for show quality.

The paint job is the first thing you see on a car. It will make or break a project. The paint job will basically determine the what type of car you have.

When I budget for a paint job, I assume $1200 for paint materials alone and I do all work myself (well, dad does the welding).

I use only PPG paints. On a show job, I use basecoat and clear. But the PPG Concept paint is a great product and will save you about $300.

Most people don't realize is how much time you spend on prepping a car for paint. I spent over 3 months of sanding and painting my Nova, and it was straight to begin with but it looks good.

If you want more than a driver job, expect to spend alot of time to do ot right, or save the money and pay a shop the big dollar.

I'm getting dizzy.
:rolleyes:

You might check with some of the trade or techinal schools in your area. Here in Michigan Mott Community College in the Flint, MI area has a Auto Body Trade school and the best thing about it is if your 60 or older you can take any of their courses for free including sheet metal & welding and Auto body Painting. They have all the up to date equipemnt & spray booth for student use; can hardly beat it.

You might check with some of the trade or techincal schools in your area. Here in Michigan Mott Community College in the Flint, MI area has a Auto Body Trade school and the best thing about it is if your 60 or older you can take any of their courses for free including sheet metal & welding and Auto body Painting. They have all the up to date equipemnt & spray booth for student use; can hardly beat it.