Paint Expectations

[Jeff Gunn #29146]

I have a friend who is getting his car painted by a Corvette-only shop. The cost to paint the car (not including bodywork, stripping, or any reassembly) is $2500. Is it unreasonable to expect that the paint be free of dirt or trash in the finish? It seems that nearly every panel has some trash under the clear coat, some worse than others. Should he ask that the car be repainted? Just trying to figure out what is reasonable given the cost... Jeff


Jeff's '74 Corvette Restoration Project

[Dave - NCRS#24235]

Re: Paint Expectations

I had mine painted in a Corvette restoration shop (the owner now works for Eckler and teaches body at Bloomington) and got lots of runs and dirt in the finish - along with red dots bleeding through the sealer on a door panel. It cost a little less that you quoted, but that was 8 years ago. I had a few panels (hood, door, etcetera) repainted at my local Chevy dealer and the surface is perfect - with excellent coverage and color match. I was referred to the Chevy dealer by my insurance agent - who sent all glass boats to the Chevy shop (in order to avoid problems and complaints). Ask your insurance agent for a referral, if you want good work. - Dave

[Patrick T.]

Re: Paint Expectations

A $2500 paint job (only) sounds very low to me. In '92, I had a '57, which was was paint ready, i.e. stripped down to the fiberglass, all the bodywork done, block sanded and every attaching part removed before going to the painter. The lowest estimate I got was $4000. The cheapest estimate, in my opinion, is not always the best. I ended up getting a 2 stage Deltron acrylic urethane shoot from small FULL time painter, who showed me pictures of his previous shoots. I ended paying him $5000.

Before he shot the clear coats, he invited me to inspect the color spray and approve, so he didn't get any complaints. I think I paid a very reasonable price for a flawless paint job. In this case, I would insist the guy do it over, and if he wouldn't, pay him along with a letter of protest, and then sue.

[John L.]

Re: Paint Expectations

Hey Jeff,

This was not your car was it?

[Dale Pearman]

Econo - Paint

$2,500.00 is pretty cheap for a good Corvette paint job and really high for the kind of paint job your buddy got. There's a wheeler-dealer down here in Tennessee that goes to Econo-Paint and gets the same dirt and trash in the paint for a lot less money. I think your buddy was overcharged. I got a dynamite enamel paint job on my 62 for $6,000.00 but they didn't add any dirt and junk in the paint! Also, I had a hard time finding runs and imperfections! Maybe next time I'll go to econo-paint.

Varooom!

[Mike #32924]

Re: Econo - Paint

I had a guy in New York quote me a price of $18,000 to do my '64 coupe. That included stripping it down, replacing the upper surround (I had body damage due to a crash years ago that was never repaired correctly), replating the bumpers, putting in a new windshield, and replacing the rocker panels, tail light assemblies and all the exterior chrome. He said that labor alone was 240 hours and at $50@hr for labor, well, you do the math.

[Michael R.]

Re: Paint Expectations

I think it depends where you live. $2500 for paint only, excluding bodywork, is cheap in the Northeast..here in Florida, that should get you a pretty nice paint job. Regardless, with those kind or results, your buddy ought to demand some satisfaction. STW, Mike