Author |
Message |
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:08 am Post subject: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
I'm not sure this is the right place for this...
I'm in the process of getting a 1957 bug back in action and I have everything lined up except body work & paint. I'm not building a show car, but would like to repaint the whole car. All the body shops I've called in the Bay Area either start at $15k or only do collision repair.
My question is, does anyone know of Bay Area, CA body shops that do good work painting VWs? I'm not looking for a show car, but also don't want a crappy paint job that I regret.
Last thing, I've been out of the VW scene for the past 15-20 years (work, kids, life, blah blah...). The bug I'm bringing back to life was my first car 25 years ago and is largely how I met most my friends and even my wife. As I call around for parts and recommendations, I'm reminded how great the VW community is. Can't wait to get my bug going and hopefully meet some folks in person.[/s] |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rjroy5 Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2017 Posts: 1
|
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Following...This is something I am very interested in also. 87 Westy and 97EVC I would love to have some TLC. Don't plan on getting rid of them and anyplace on the west coast or even Mexico is fine with me. Has someone out there already done the research? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
BJL67 Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2021 Posts: 3 Location: Bay Area
|
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Subscribed, I haven't found any good shops myself. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Julio_Arcos123 Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2011 Posts: 52 Location: Los Angeles, California
|
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
There is a vw body shop in Hawthorne on Rosecrans and Prairie. It's behind a vw parts store called IPC. There is also a mechanic back there, both do great work. I can give you the number if you want _________________ 64 bug (o\ ! /o) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7389
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3833 Location: San Jose, CA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
I'd be happy to let Smitty's r&r the rear quarter on my '75 Westy. I even have the donor metal already, but I may have already done damage that requires extra work. It's a stalled project at this time, and I've just realigned my priorities. I have no idea where to even start with getting a quote. I'm sure he ain't cheap, and he's about a couple hundred miles from me.
It would be nice to find someone closer (and maybe cheaper).
It's funny, sometimes when people say Bay Area, others confuse it with the South Bay area of Los Angeles. I've even heard people refer to that Santa Monica Bay region as "bay area." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lingwendil Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009 Posts: 3988 Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tom snowden Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2015 Posts: 55 Location: San Jose
|
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:03 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
If you get Smitty’s to do your work, you hit the lottery. No body better in the VW business. I’m a customer for life. 😁 take the drive if he’s willing. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10997
|
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Tom snowden wrote: |
If you get Smitty’s to do your work, you hit the lottery. No body better in the VW business. I’m a customer for life. 😁 take the drive if he’s willing. |
Seen his work recently on BAT with that 21 window, he does beautiful work. If I lived near him I wouldn’t have bothered to learn how to do my own bodywork and paint. _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
|
Back to top |
|
|
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Julio_Arcos123 wrote: |
There is a vw body shop in Hawthorne on Rosecrans and Prairie. It's behind a vw parts store called IPC. There is also a mechanic back there, both do great work. I can give you the number if you want |
Thanks, Julio! But I'm trying to find a shop a little closer to me in the Bay. But if I strike out I'll def ask for the number. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Lingwendil wrote: |
What city, in particular?
It may be worth calling a place like Jansen Enterprises in Belmont and ask them who they usually refer people to. |
I'm in the tri-valley area Livermore/Pleasanton. I'll give Jansen a call. Thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Thanks for the great recco. Based on replies below sounds like he's great. I'll check him out. Thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Tom snowden wrote: |
If you get Smitty’s to do your work, you hit the lottery. No body better in the VW business. I’m a customer for life. 😁 take the drive if he’s willing. |
Rad, I'll give him a call. Fingers crossed he's open to taking on some work and is in my price range. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
wheel607 Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004 Posts: 1847
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:11 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
"in my price range" this needs to be posted first off. Tell what your price range is, what you expect for how much money. People are giving you some of the best and I bet you have much less in mind than the $25,000 a paint job alone can cost. There is NOTHING wrong with wanting cheaper...........but there is something wrong and a waste of time not devulging it. All or almost all the better ones want to do collision work only.....why? because they can always work with the insurance companies and two, the paint only shops dont care if they are working on a Porsche or VW as they get the same doing either. You decide, disclose your budget, and dont try to get a $25,000 shop to do a $5,000 job. It isnt worth it for them or you. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
justin57 Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2021 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area, CA
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
wheel607 wrote: |
"in my price range" this needs to be posted first off. Tell what your price range is, what you expect for how much money. People are giving you some of the best and I bet you have much less in mind than the $25,000 a paint job alone can cost. There is NOTHING wrong with wanting cheaper...........but there is something wrong and a waste of time not devulging it. All or almost all the better ones want to do collision work only.....why? because they can always work with the insurance companies and two, the paint only shops dont care if they are working on a Porsche or VW as they get the same doing either. You decide, disclose your budget, and dont try to get a $25,000 shop to do a $5,000 job. It isnt worth it for them or you. |
Yep, I'm seeing the same thing. Lots of shops just doing collision work, with some shifting entirely that direction...can't blame them.
As I alluded to in my initial post, I'd like to get under $15k. But that seems to be a starting point for most shops in my area. And totally hear ya - no way do I want to insult someone by offering to pay $5k for $25k worth of work. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike Fisher Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 17969 Location: Eugene, OR
|
Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 5:41 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Seems like you'd have to tow it to half a dozen Shops in your area to let them see it in person.
I wouldn't look/hope for a 'VW Specialist' as most all Body/Paint guys could handle your '57 if their interested in the job.
Spend a full day towing it to various Body/Paint Shops.
You haven't even shown us pics of your '57 yet! _________________ https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Clatter Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2003 Posts: 7533 Location: Santa Cruz
|
Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
If you live in the bay area $15K is a cheap cheap paint job.
That would be some filler/sanding only, no welding, no hammer work, no panel fitting, no disassembly, etc.
I just sanded off a $15K paint job because i wanted a better one a year later.
It's hard to get used to your car having a crappy paint job on it.
A good job on the same car was quoted at 40K by a shop that does really nice high-end work.
Fortunately, i lucked into a guy who does this work, and we were able to tag-team it at my place here for the straightening work then rented a booth.
It's not the $40K paint job but it's at least 3x as nice as the $15K one we sanded off.
15 large is the new Earl Scheib $59.95, sorry to say.. _________________ Bus Motor Build
What’s That Noise?!? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
swissarmychainsaw Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2019 Posts: 279 Location: San Francisco
|
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Try:
523Rods in richmond, ca -- they are an offshoot (sorta) of the Buslab in Berkeley.
Grand Collision in Hayward is where my hotrod buddy takes his 70 camaro racecar, they do great work
I have found they all the shops during Covid are slammed and have like a year wait list! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Robs54sedan Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2019 Posts: 48 Location: Walnut Creek ca
|
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
Has anyone used miracle auto body before? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7389
|
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2022 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: Bay Area CA body/paint shops |
|
|
They won't touch anything made before year 2000. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|