What might it cost for a new paint job

[vwsplitman]

The last two VWs I sent out for paintwork were $3500. One was a 54 oval and the other a later convert. Single stage enamel on the oval and two stage House of Color candle apple red on the convert. These cars needed some finish work only, since I did all of the welding and sandblasting and some prepwork. Chuck P

[wheel607]

I spent more on sandpaper....close to $400.00 on the job I just finished...63 rag....than most people think they should spend on a complete job. Its a sad fact that most just dont want to pay for a great job. If you can get a great job for $4000.00 paint only no body work, consider yourself fortunate.

[MODIFIER]

23 years in the collision/resto business here.
I do this every day.
I never do paint jobs for people who bring in a car already "prepped" for paint.
reason? If the prep is lousy and I spray the paint on it,who do you think is going to be blamed for the crappy job?
ME!
Paint and materials is TERRIBLY expensive!
one gallon of DUPONT chroma premier one stage urethane cost over $750.00 in trooper red.
use extreme caution and a lot of research before investing in a shop to do your paintjob.
Reputation is all we guys have in the end and I wont risk mine for any amount of love or money.
pic of said trooper red paint.

_________________
Happyasshell
USC USMC DAD OORAH!
ASE MASTER TECH BODY/PAINT and MECHANICAL

62 Beetle
63 Vert
64 Beetle
https://www.facebook.com/SmartFarmServices

[Schnitzelfuss]

My how the years have passed so quickly.
After researching for several months now here’s what I have found in my area. I asked for quotes to include media blast to bare metal, skim coat filler, blocking, final sanding, prime and paint, no fancy pearls or metallics. I told them I had replaced all rusted metal. I sent pictures of the car when requested.
EDIT: I also informed each shop I would deliver the stripped body shell only, no pan. I let them know all thick filler had been removed, and the reason it was there corrected (I found the reason a half inch of filler had been slathered on here and there was often not doing basic metal work after a repair), all tar board had been removed, all door and fender seams were adjusted and aligned. IE all the tedious grunt work was done.
Also note with the exception of MAACO and the insurance work only shops, weekly progress payments were required. Gone are the days of dropping off your car and paying the agreed upon price at pickup time.
The few shops that remain can be broken down into four categories.
1. Insurance- funded collision repair of late model cars only (90% of the shops)
2. Show quality restoration work of very expensive classic cars valued far beyond what our bugs are worth (8% of the shops that remain in business)
3. “A guy” - the man with years of experience doing good quality body and paint work from his shop out back of his house. If you’re my age you remember every small town had one or more. Good luck finding one anywhere nowadays. 1.8% of the shops that remain.
4. MAACO or similar, 0.2%- if you even have one within 100 miles of your car.

So:
#1 will not accept your classic car for any paint or body work. Go away.
#2 will have a wait list of months or years, and will cost at least 4 times the market value your old beetle. Yes, even after they are done.
#3 if you can find one, will have a wait list of months, and will cost at least twice the market value of your bug.
#4 will spray paint over whatever you bring in, wont do skim coats, blocking, sanding, etc. The wait list is reasonable, cost is reasonable, quality is a gamble.

My references to market value are just the cost of the paint job. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of the necessary interior, mechanical etc. if doing a restoration as I am.

[2type2]

I went to a completely different school , I guess. I have painted my 65 Dodge van, '66 Chevy van, '78 Westy, 66 Westy, 71 bug and 65 bug myself. Needing a paint job to me meant buying a compressor and spray gun and finding a place to paint. I didn't know a damn thing about how to paint then, know even less now! One stage urethane on a wing and a prayer. Most I ever spent was about $800 with everything. Most certainly not perfect, some runs, a drip, or whatever. But then there is a cause and effect at play here. I can't grasp the idea that a paint job should be perfect unless it's on a trailer queen.
Does the car get driven- ---hard, fast, rough, slow, 6 mile only trips, hooligan weekend abuse, camping, daily, What?? I have freed myself from all of it by taking the approach that if I scuff the paint because I drove down a rough road to go fishing, so what! Nobody who has ever said anything like " you need better paint" and if they did I would suggest they do it. But having 3 and a modern daily means few miles per each car overall. The point is-- to put your priorities and wallet out and decide how one affects the other. Personally , just for me it's the drive it and enjoy it but "don't care so much" approach. Roll On!
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"A life of peace and happiness depends on your own gratefulness"

[OB Bus]

Our Bus was a mass (mess?) of old faded white, old faded yellow, lots of rust and accumulated moss, algae and grime. I wanted it to look a "bit" better.
The basic job of shooting the car in one color from a shop was going to cost me at least $8000. (Note I am in San Diego so everything is expensive.)
Roll and tip.
Top with Rustoleum marine topside.
Bottom with Rustoleum Tractor Paint in Kubota Orange.
Total cost of paint, supplies, bondo, tape, etc., under $1000.
It is truly a 25 foot paint job but I Do Not Care. It looks "better".

_________________
Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.
People deserve the Government they voted for.

[Bobs67vwagen]

I did similar to OB bus 25 years ago. My 71 bus lived outside in the northeast with rain and snow and served as my truck and occasional driver. To prevent rust I painted the top portion with rustoleum white with a roller and a brush. I did the lower portion the same way in a light beige. It looked good from 20 feet, stopped the rust and total cost was about 50 dollars. It worked well for me.