Hey, just wondered what a decent paint job is running these days?

 

My ladyfriend discovered that 1500 will get an icky one - better remove the bugs from the front or they will be painted over.
I think 4K will get you a "decent" one worth showing off.

 

don't ask me - its a loaded question "a paint job" assumes way too much

 

Been quoted 3-4k for an average job here in Long Beach. Can get a crap job from like earl scheib for under 500. And if i did my own body work and taped everything off they would do between 1500-2k, but they dont particularly like when people bring their cars in already prepped because if theres a mistake with your work and their paint turns out bad they dont want you coming back and blaming them when it was your faulty body work. One guy quoted me before to do a complete interior with new upholstery, paint, and paint the outside for 8k. That was on a 65 Mustang though. Every shop is different, I try and look for a guy from a shop that loves old cars and seems enthusiastic because to me it feels like hes actually going to put some pride into it, and you get a better price

 

It all depends. What condition is the car and paint in now? Does it require a complete stripping to bare metal? How much body work is required to get the car straight? How much trim must be removed for painting? What type and color of paint do you want (different colors cost different amounts due to pigment costs).

When evaluating quotes, keep this in mind: A good automotive paint job is about 80% labor cost and 20% materials cost. I paint my own cars and materials easily cost me $700-$1000 per car. Do the math. A $500 Maaco/Earl Schieb paint job uses the lowest cost (and quality) materials and the least amount of labor possible. $4000 is about the minimum for a quality paint job.

 

I am getting a $7300 job, including taxes (5%) and materials, on mine. I replaced lower quarter panels, inner wheel houses, trunk pan, and door patches and filled several trim holes. THEN took it to body and paint. Lots of tweaking, 4 rounds of filler primer and sanding, sealing, 4 coats of body, and two tone accent striping, then 3 coats of clear followed by a two stage buffing. It is also taking 4 months so far. (Grrrrr!)

Adam

 

Visited around 5 shops over the last couple of weeks and for a good job (in Canada) is around $4000 - $5000 and my car is in good condition.

Wayne

 

If your looking for a cheaper job and your car's in good condition see if they can just sand down your existing paint to rough it up and throw a coat of paint on it.. I've heard Earl Scheib and Maaco painters aren't actually that bad they just have all the cheap materials.. I dont know if they have those in Canada, but I'm sure there's an equivalent. Tape everything off yourself and bring them the paint. Could work?

 

$10,000 for mine. But they removed everything. It's not show car paint, but it will do for another 20 years.

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That has got to be the nicest 76 around!!

 

Thank you.

 

Might I suggest removing all the trim, lights, bumpers, emblems, grill, weatherstripping, handles etc. Leave the body work to the pros unless your up to the task. Not to many shops are going to guarantee the paint job if you've done your own body work anyway. It isn't that hard removing everything, it just takes a little patients and organization. Label everything! This will also give you the opportunity to rechrome, polish and repair trim, bumpers etc. Can't imagine getting a nice new paint job and not removing the trim to give it the once over. Besides you will get a much better looking job, rather than just taping off and painting up to the trim. Especially if you are going for a color change.

 

Another chance to show off my paint.
The less the body guy has to do the better/cheaper. As long as you don't do more damage than good prepping it.
I did all my own bodywork, stripped to bare metal. The car was block sanded and ready for paint when I took it to the shop. They pulled the doors, hood and tailgate and prepped and painted the jambs then put it back together except for the hood and did the exterior, did the hood off the car.
They used Spies Hecker and it was color matched to the original paint in the jambs, base/clear, almost 900 bucks for materials, 2400 bucks total out the door, I like it.

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I dusted my car off before I brought it to the shop...it's not like I didn't do anything.

 

At some point Ken I just need to see your car. I was never a colonnade fan but your car has changed that. Maybe I will make it to Alberta some day.

Wayne

 

Neither was I but the older I get the more I like them and yes his is beautiful

 

Pay no attention to these guys and their real quality paint jobs. Why go through all that hastle of doing it the right way?

All you need is a roller and some rustoleum.

Before


After


Holding Up After 3 years of year 'round daily driver duty



I'm kidding of course! Of course mine doesn't look NEARLY as amazing as the cars posted above. Mine only looks amazing because I only spent $150. haha.

 

Joe's right, it depends on how much rust is found underneath etc. Having said that, if you car has no body damage, you might be able to find a gifted painter willing to do it for $2500- $3000. Of course there are always others who will charge you 4 times that amount...shop around and get recommendations from local Olds club members...you might just find a great deal, but starting price is $2500- $3000.

 

I painted my own.

Spent about $700-$800 in supplies.

did more that most shops would of done, and pocketed the cash.

 

Thanks guys. Anytime you make it out this way, look me up. I like the looks of my car, that's why I bought it. But what makes it special are the memories that I have because of it. I was too young when the 1964-72's came out. And then I saw "American Graffiti" in 1973 and came out of the "car closet" so to speak. That's why I love the 73-77's, because they were the cars being sold and on the street when I was growing up. Buying one (this one) at 22 didn't hurt either....driving across Canada and the US and bringing my sons home from the hospital, picked by Oldsmobile to represent its year at the Centennial, etc...... and that ladies and gentlemen, is what this hobby is all about....memories.

 

Now that's impressive! That's a skillI wish I had. She looks fantastic! Good job. I let the bodyshop take all the trim, bumpers etc. off, because I knew if I did it, I would have to put it back on...on a new paint job? No way. I let them do it.

 

I did this laser for the father in law last year, used nason and the red was like water(lots of coats), but it turned out good. Didn't cut and buff it, clear layed down great. Using the cheap stuff probably was $200 and lots of labor.

 

Mine was exactly the same as above except I stripped it to bare metal & put a coat of self etching on it. Mine's been blocked out at least 4 times & they're still working on it . They're also polishing the stainless. The total price was $6,100. It makes a big difference where you have it done. It's mostly labor and the labor rates around major cities can be twice what I'm paying. The shop doing mine bills out at $35/hr.

I also got a estimate from a local "hot rod custom shop" for $12,000 (their bill out rate was $45/hr) & they wouldn't commit to a fixed price.

BTW.........I've got arodenhiher beat. They've had mine for 5 months (they said it would be 8 weeks)

 

My shop is $40 an hour, quoted 165 hours to strip, seal, fill, sand etc plus 750 in materials. My original quoted timeline was 4-5 weeks, but the owner pays his workers on comission so the quick bolt on insurance jobs are being done first and I keep getting sidelined.

I took the car stripped, but legally driveable, to get quotes from several shops after I did the sheet metal work and at one place the two guys looking at the car said $18,000US for body and paint, no parts or metal work. I said I didn't want that caliber of a paint job. They told me that they would not put thier "name" on it if I didn't do it right. I jokingly said I didn't want their name on my car just paint. Without saying a word the two guys turned around and walked back into the office and closed the door. I am getting quite tired of waiting and being told "next week." She is close, very close. On tuesday she looked like this.....






Adam

 

I will see your 5 months and raise you 5. They told me three weeks and I drove her home 10 months later. They told me "We have our best prep man and painter working on it." I asked, "What's his name, Michaelangelo?" When it got to winter, I told them to keep it until Spring. They really made it right in the end.

 

I am happy to say I got mine back today. Funny joke if you play with the numbers.

Dropped off on Apr 22 @10am. Picked up on Aug 26 @12pm.

What that that mean?

4 months
4 days
2 hours


Ha ha ha

Adam

 

OMG! That's just 442MUCH

 

It varies HEAVILY on the demographic you live in.

My uncle got my Olds a mint metallic flake dark green badass paint job for less then $3,000 in North Carolina
a few years ago. This same paint job in the Chicago market where I'm at would be extortionately priced
probably more then $7,000.

 

VERY VERY Nice!!!! I love that paint theme. So cool.

 

Thanks. I think it turned out great. We (my wife, not me) were concerned it might look a little dark. It is a tribute to the '68 H/O, in design, not in colour. The body is Ultra Blue Pearl which is not the orig colour or even an Olds colour. Please don't shot me . The stripes are in Ebony Black, '68 H/O correct and Peruvian Sliver for the pinstripe which is the '68 H/O's body colour instead of white. I can't wait to get all the stainless and chrome back on, oh and an interior. The rims are going '68 argent too, soonish.... I hope.

Adam

 

def looks good man. i was about to ask you doing anything with the rims since they didnt seem to match anymore. but then i read the post instead of gawking at the photos

 

Wow. That is nice. I LOVE those stripes.

 

Looks good! Post a pic or two when you get the chrome back on.( I hope mine looks that good when I get it back...3 months and counting!)

 

Well I just visited another shop. The guy was the most knowledgeable and I have seen several cars he has done and they look fantastic. He would remove all trim, doors, hood etc. Strip it down to the metal and basically make it look better then when it came off the line. My heart says let him do it. My mind says "$6500, !"

Now I need to revisit the guy I was going to go with who was priced at $4500 and ask him exactly what he was planning to do. I have been saving for this and $6000 put aside but I was also hoping to use the extra $1500 for other things. My plan is to get the car to a point where it is as close to perfect, keep it for myself for at least another 15-20 years and pass it down to one of my sons. And over that 15-20 years buy a 72 cutlass and do the same thing for my other son.

The nice thing is I am learning a ton about painting. Normally spend at least an hour at each shop and I have visited 7 shops.

Wayne

 

Wayne, ask if you can get a discount by advertising the shops name on your show sign. It might not be much but it might be something. A guy that I know, got $1000 off his paint job by adding the shop to his sign that he displays at car shows. That has helped the shop pick up new business and it's a write off for them. Some will go for it, some won't, but it's worth considering. Win-win for both of you.

 

Wayne,
If nothing else, you're a great father...loved the story. Question...could you adopt me? I'd like a 1970 442 convertible, preferably in blue.

 

Great idea Ken and worth a shot.

'71 you kill me. Funny enough both my sons are adopted (Guatemala and South Korea) but I don't know if my wife is looking for a third. Maybe if I mention this new son comes with a '71 W31 she might go for it!!

Wayne

 

Can you tell me who did it and where in NC?