Need a Reality Check, please

I have gotten about 3 quotes to have my 1976 Country Squire painted from the creamy yellow color to a dark army green metallic.

Every single quote has come back to me in the $7K range...

Does this seem right?

I removed all of the interior, i will remove roofrack, bumpers and trim prior to delivery. I find it hard to believe that I can't get a nice paint job for ~$4,500.

Advice?

 

Unfortunately body and paint especially a full color change has gone this way. The bid you received is actually pretty reasonable. Have a customer here at Napa who just had a fully prepped 85 Corvette painted and it cost him just over $8000.00. Nothing real fancy white with some blue accents. When I had my wagon painted in 2005 it cost me $3500.00 and was done by a close friend and I helped him with most of the body work and sanding...so from what I have been hearing around the parts and car world lately, this is what a full paint job is costing, anywhere from $5000.00 all the way up to $13,000.00...in my opinion WAY too much but seems the going rate.

 

Seems very high....

A lot depends on how much prep work is needed on the paint that's still there. You are also complicating matters by doing a color change, so the shop has to prep and shoot all the jambs as well. And as far as trim removal, the shop needs to remove virtually everything bolted, screwed or clipped to the outside, including:
- Bumpers
- all lights
- grill
- antenna
- all ornamentation
- door handles and lock cylinders (if separate)
- belt moldings
- side moldings
- woodgrain trim rails
- windshield moldings
- quarter glass moldings
- Roof rack and rails
- All weatherstrips attached to doors and pillars
- windlace trim on pillars
- And probably a lot more that i can't think of.

Why do you want to paint it a dark green?
Post up some pics.


Marshall

 

Why do i want to go with a different color? I want it dark green, because that is my aesthetic prerogative...or: because.

I don't like the cream color. I am dyeing the interior vinyl from poop brown to a cream/tan color.

Pics attached (they don't show the pitting of the paint and how it is somewhat wearing) The ranchero shows the color i want to go to.

 

As an obvious fan of green, I love that deep green color on the Ranchero. I think Krash is right, possibly shop around a bit more.

 

Paint material price have got high in the last few years and that is a lot of car so maybe that is what the estimate(s) are reflecting. My friend who is the painter at the shop where I work gets around $2500 for a scuff and shoot. Which he does not care to do and he can't help but fix a few things even though it is just a scuff and shoot but he likes people to be happy with his work. He was doing some Taxi cab mini vans for $1800 but it was a single stage red or white but he had 8 to do so he cut them some slack. So for a nice job I guess 5 to 7000 range is where it is at these days. Lot of money regardless. Good Luck with your wagon.

 

Many of us are being dollared out of the hobby. Even rattle can paint has gone from $1.00 to close to $8 or $10. Pass the paint roller and Rustolium Bubba. We've got work to do!

 

Does anyone else notice lately (in the past 5 years or so) that these days if you own or drive a "classic" car it's assumed you must be just oozing with extra cash. In my recollection of the past having a nice old car was something ANY man could enjoy growing up. Even someone with a small budget could have a great car, with motivation and a few handy friends you could drive your dream. Cat's right, this has become a wealthy mans hobby to some degree.

 

I know you didn't ask, but I think I would buy a green 76 wagon for the money before changing colors on the one you have.

I like your yellow car!

 

Find a nice green car for 7500 and have a matched paer.

 

Have bookend squires.

 

I have about $3K in the engine and transmission -- don't think i didn't consider buying a nice chasis and doing a powertrain swap.

I guess i am just going to have to suck it up

 

And so you know I have had quotes as high as $16,000.

 

I should do onsite painting. With 2 stage paint it's easy as you sand and buff to perfection. Will weather strip etc. be removed and replaced with "factory" quality rubber.New rubber on mirrors?
Will fenders be removed for detail w/ correctly coated replacement hardware,
(you might do similar w/out removing to maintain your alignment)?
bumpers removed?
When I do a frame off I save on paint because everything is easy to paint when it's apart.

Check out a show. See what people are paying.

 

I know it's not gonna happen. But this makes sense! I love your wagon like it is.
Also consider if you decide to sell your wagon later. You might get $7500 if you're lucky.