Paint Quotation

[GN-231]

I have two quotations on a full paint job for my 87 GN and I wanted to see if someone with more painting experience feels that they seem out of line? I have been quoted $4200 and $4000 for completely repainting the car. I know from examples that both of these shops will provide a great paint job and I wouldn't have to worry about quality.
The hood, front driver's fender and back fender would have to be taken to the metal for the job, all the rest of the car could be sanded and used a as base. These prices don't include door jam painting. The body requires a lot of smoothing from some repaired hail damage a few years ago, plus all the usual dings over the years, and some "outty" dents in the trunk from a tool chest when the car was getting sideways. The paint is original and the car is basically an every other day driver.
Does this estimate seem too high? I was told the price was higher due to the body work associated with getting the car to look new again on all the surfaces.
Anyone with paint expierence, your opinion would be extremely valuable for my decision?
Thanks,
Tim

 

[AsphaltAnihil8r]

Originally posted by GN-231
I have two quotations on a full paint job for my 87 GN and I wanted to see if someone with more painting experience feels that they seem out of line? I have been quoted $4200 and $4000 for completely repainting the car. I know from examples that both of these shops will provide a great paint job and I wouldn't have to worry about quality.
The hood, front driver's fender and back fender would have to be taken to the metal for the job, all the rest of the car could be sanded and used a as base. These prices don't include door jam painting. The body requires a lot of smoothing from some repaired hail damage a few years ago, plus all the usual dings over the years, and some "outty" dents in the trunk from a tool chest when the car was getting sideways. The paint is original and the car is basically an every other day driver.
Does this estimate seem too high? I was told the price was higher due to the body work associated with getting the car to look new again on all the surfaces.
Anyone with paint expierence, your opinion would be extremely valuable for my decision?
Thanks,
Tim

Local guy here in Chicago quoted me $2500 to do just that ,,but my car is white...

Ohhhh Noooooo big mistake asking here,,buick guys paint with 24carat gold paint that looks black,,they will tell you,,,we could do the front half for $4k and the back for $5k

 

[OneLethal87GN]

I've only had one car painted and it wasn't nearly that much. I had my 85 GN painted and had hail damage on the hood, and dents here and there fixed for @ $1100. It all depends on quality though. My job was a simple fix the dents, sand, and repaint with single stage black paint. It didn't come out perfect, but I didn't want perfection. Mine was a daily driver and not 2 weeks after getting it repainted the state started fixing the road in front of my house. Needless to say the paint chipped all to Hell from the loose gravel covering the road. For a decent daily driver a paint job shouldn't run more than 2 grand. BTW, for my $1100 I also had a stock GN spoiler put on ( car had been wrecked before and cheaply fixed ), new bumper fillers installed ( I bought ) and all trim sanded and painted to match the body. Like I said though, you're paying for quality and you usually get what you pay for.

 

[Just a Six??]

This is Canadian Money but here we go! My friend who gave me a quote to do my 87 LTD which is in very good condition. No dents, no bumps but the edge of door is slightly scratched. Inside of door jambs included. This is for a quality job that is not for a daily driver but a sunny day cruise vehicle. Remove all chrome & bumpers etc. He said $5000. In US thats about $3500 I guess.
With the work you have I think $4000 sounds fair for a decent job! Black is hard to paint as I also spray many objects in my work. Just not cars as you need a Proper Shop Setup to do it well & that costs money!

 

[GN-231]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I think I will try to get a few more quotations and find a better value since the car is not going to be a show car, I would be much happier with a 2 to 2.5k job, since I will be spending extra cash getting all new badging after the paint job anyway.
Tim

 

[zam70]

There arediffering opinions on what good paint and body work is...
That being said - if you have confidence the shop will do the job you expect for the quoted price, it's a good price.
You might need to new seals so don't forget to factor that in....

 

[GN ERGY]

I paid 4 grand to have my car painted.
Stripped the whole car down to bare metal
Removed all trim, door handles, window mouldings, locks, bumpers, bumper fillers.
Took header panel off and all the T top trim.
Stripped header panel and the bumpers.
Used the DuPont 4 step process, metal prep-veraprime-primer-black-clearcote.
Came out really good.
I helped the guy and it took us 5 weeks. ( Lot of work, it was a Beech. )
Tarey D.

 

[olds443]

My Cutlass was $2800 to get painted. Filled seams from removing vinyl top, small dings repaired and trunk an jambs painted. Two tone paint.
My Girlfriends Camaro was $1800, small dings, nothing really, big dent in quarter and finish work on urethane bumpers. Both cars look pretty good although I feel the Camaro could be better it was a good price in this area and it is a daily driver car so it will get dings, scratches, etc. A friend of her family's painted it. Helps to know someone in the bus.

I was also quoted $4000 "and up" for the Cutlass by another shop. It would have been show quality I am sure but I couldn't justify the extra expense.
It all depends what you expect, don't go to Maaco and expect to win a car show this summer at the same time for 4K do expect excelent work an service and they should paint those jambs too At that price don't let anyone try to do half-ass work.
As someone said earlier, I think around $2500 is a good price for decent paint job for a driver.
Good luck!

 

[jy211]

I paid $1800 for the paint on my GN...I switched balck to original black. Car was blue. This included the jams and everything.

 

[Loosenut]

Just remember, with a paint job you get what you pay for.

My paint cost a little over 4200 by the time it was all said and done. He had to fix a dime size rust spot, and a little repair on the rear quarter from where the wheel fell off in tow.

That price did not include media blasting, R&R all body panels, all new moldings and t-top seals.

I do have detailed pics of the complete job, see link in my sig.

Andy