buggy painting ...shell only

[herkster]

Anyone have an idea what a shell only...thats the cowl and the rest of the body only (full length car) should cost to paint? I know body work varies but just the shell and off the chassis after all fitting is completed. Just trying for a ball park.

thanks all!

[jspbtown]

I guess it depnds on the rate, the amount of body work required, and your expectations.

I used "less expensive" paint (about $120 a sprayable gallon) and clear (about $60 gallon), and then probably 2 gallons of hi build primer ($150), then sandpaper, guidecoat, filler, resin & matt (probably $150) so I have close to $500 in my own supplies. That doesn't include my labor.

I have also seen paint go for $200 a quart so that will make a big difference.

I did just get a quote to have the front bumper cover on my SC430 repainted and that was $400.

I guess $1500-$2000 would not be unreasonable.

[68Kghia]

Just got my body back from paint today. I did a lot of work on it my self (sanding repairs, ect) it cost about 900.00 and looks great. The used a special primer to start (fiberglass primer) a couple coats of paint and I went with extra coats of clear coat. They also did some more repair work ( i'm not that good at fiberglass repair)

[bornred62]

Just pulled my manxter apart for a repaint 6 pieces all together. Paying 3000.
It's all about the quality of the job. Single stage, base coat clear coat, Hopefully you get what you pay for.

[EMPIImp69]

$500 at Maaco

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1963 Ragtop Bug
1966 Vert Bug

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[herkster]

I must say that paint at maaco looks good. I assume you did all the prep and body work? I plan on that and just need it shot well....All fitting will be done prior...

[didget69]

[EVfun]

I've used Maaco before. I may do so my wife's '79, after removing the top and doing the bodywork. One thing, the quality varies from Maaco to Maaco, so check for the ratings of your local ones.

I've let them do some bodywork, but you should handle heavier work yourself, they are production shops not detail shops. I recommend you strip layers of old paint yourself and that you sand everywhere you want paint to stick. They will rely to much on feathering and etching agents.
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[EMPIImp69]

[slalombuggy]

Yes, check the work at the Maaco shop you might use. I saw a car come out of the local one that looked like they sprayed it with bedliner, then paint. Me and a buddy did a better job in his garage when we were young and had NEVER painted anything before. It was the worst job I had ever seen.

My paint was $160 a litre but the results are well worth the expense and Sickens will last FOREVER



brad

[jspbtown]

Never trust a place that steals shopping carts........

[Rathbone]

Silver tends to show 'mottling' so that's a fantastic job.
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(o\_i_/o) what you've just said ... is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul - Mr. Oblaski, Principal

[EMPIImp69]

Here's a little closer

Here's the side pods they did for me. Same silver on the insides.

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1963 Ragtop Bug
1966 Vert Bug

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[jeromevw312]

The MAACO by me shoots great paint, but there bodywork and prep is horrible. We've ran a few cars through there that needed a quick coat of color, but after we sanded / stripped / disassembled. The paint they use is decent quality (better than the crap some private shops use), and the painter there shoots all day long, there's always something to say about experience.

If you do the prep yourself, you will be very satisfied with the results.

[gr8cobbler]

[ElijahTurtle]

[EMPIImp69]

Same place did my other cars too. I did all prep on them.

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1963 Ragtop Bug
1966 Vert Bug

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[firepainter]

As a professional painter you also need to factor in that some colors cost more, red is the most expensive color, adding mica, metalflake, pearls etc adds to the cost. Clear comes in all kinds of quality from cheap to very expensive, paint work is all based on the base the more time spent block sanding while no one will see it pays off in the final product.

[drs1023]

Paint work passed me by many years ago when fenders were $20 apiece from the VW dealer, and Sherwin-Williams automotive acrylic enamel and thinner was still under $50 a gallon. 2 shopping cart scrapes and a ding on the front fender of my Mustang GT a few weeks ago was $1400 at the Ford Dealer's body shop. But, I believe I got what I paid for.

I always had a few ounces of paint left over after 3 good coats and a buff shine on a Beetle. After 15 or so cars, I had mixed all the leftovers into about two quarts in a single can. Yellow, white, blue (all shades), red, orange, black, grey - 4 ~ 6 ounces of each,and I got the weirdest, shiniest, neatest looking , uhhh, errr, "color" '69 auto-stick on Staten Island.

[didget69]

You could also consider using gel coat to cover the body. Vince down in OBX has done a bit of gel coat 'painting' on buggies, as have a few other people here. I'm planning to gel coat my buggy when the bodywork is completed.

bryan
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.