Paint advice needed….

KS93Cobra · Post by **KS93Cobra** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:09 am

Thinking about having the Cobra repainted, it will need a complete paint job along with some minor dent repair. The car still has all the original VIN tags, can they mask over them so they stay intact? I have $2K-$3K to spend is that enough to get a quality paint job? I’m not looking for a show winning car but don’t want a Maaco job either.
Any advice would be appreciated, such as questions to ask when choosing a good body shop, dos and don’ts etc.

Thanks

WillyB93 · Post by **WillyB93** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:48 pm

The VIN tags can be taped off, it will leave a raised section so it will be noticeably painted. With material added in the total amount you are looking to spend, might make it kinda hard to find someone to do it. If you find someone you may have to disassemble the car for that kind of money.

buddha · Post by **buddha** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:54 pm

Pretty much what Willy said. Your going to have a hard time finding a shop to touch it for $3k. You may however find a shade tree painter who works out of their own garage for that kinda coin. Even so, you probably have to do some of the work and pay for materials.

cobra0393 · Post by **cobra0393** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:11 pm

Im currently restoring #464 and its gonna cost me around 3000-3500. I was wondering if a person should try to match the factory peel or make the paint as slick as possible?

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:35 pm

You should absolutely be able to find someone to do a good paint job for 2-3K. It won't be a "factory" job but that's not what you are looking for. Do your research locally. Inquire with car clubs etc.. I have seen some incredible paint jobs for what you have to spend.

aaronlstiles · Post by **aaronlstiles** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:02 pm

Im not quite sure who you guys are finding to paint a one of these for 3K, possibly 5K. I have done a few in my time, and to remove all skirts, remove all trim, door handels, locks, emblems, and remove front cover from light bar, only way to do it correctly. But even at 5K is a far streach. I know doing it myself, by the time I pay about 2K for materials, and that is no streach, my white 93, I paid 1000 for Paint and clear alone! If you can find somebody to do a 3K paint job, I can guarantee you it won't be much of a paint job.

aaronlstiles · Post by **aaronlstiles** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:06 pm

cobra0393 wrote:Im currently restoring #464 and its gonna cost me around 3000-3500. I was wondering if a person should try to match the factory peel or make the paint as slick as possible?

Did you buy the Teal one in Owensboro? Had my brother look at it for me. I don't know of many reputable shops in Owensboro, or Fordsville that will do a show car paint job for that price. Mayfield Hodges would charge you about 8K Cambrons won't touch one, they do insurance work only. Maybe take it to DCHS and let the vo-tech guys do it. Old Clyde will do a pretty good job, and they have that Binks Downdraft booth.

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:14 am

Again..OP is looking not looking for a "show quality" paint job. For 2-3K he should absolutely get what he is looking for. Will all trim be removed? Not likely. Will the end result look much better than the "before" pics? Most certainly.

aaronlstiles · Post by **aaronlstiles** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:18 am

Sorry but on a Cobra why Settle for a not so good paint Job! Just my opinion on that, I know not everyone can afford a SHOW quality paint job. But save up, and have it done right the first time, you will be glad you did in the long run. And even at 2 to 3K, the person doing the job is not making much money with the price on materials, so he is going to cut any corner he can. So it may not be Quality job which is what he wants.

pete3323 · Post by **pete3323** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:00 am

Not all cobra owners are able to afford to bring it back to perfect original condition. Much as we all appreciate the ones that can. The OP can have a nice ride that he can be proud of for what he can pay for. I would urge him to keep within his budget and not get carried away with perfection he can't presently afford. What he said was "not looking for a show quality car but not a Maaco job either". I'm just saying 2-3K will get him that.

buddha · Post by **buddha** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:22 am

I'm with Aaron on this one. For $3k, all that's going to happen is everything is going to get taped off, and they'll shoot the car that way. That's not show quality, nor is it even factory.

At the very least, the moldings, trim, locks, and emblems need to come off to make the car look decent.

A true "show quality" paint will run you in the $10k range at a shop.

93#2837 · Post by **93#2837** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:51 am

Last summer I went around town and priced paint work on my cobra. With me removing everything from the car, the prices ranged from 4k to 6k which I thought wasn't that bad. For them to disassemble the car was around $1500 more.Then all the hail storms came through my area now all they are interested is insurance work. Most told me the car would sit outside and they would work it in around the insurance work. That's why I am doing it now.

aaronlstiles · Post by **aaronlstiles** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:58 am

And that's kind of my point, no Good shops want to touch all over's anymore. They make more money replacing a fender or a hood. And to find one that will do it for 3K is just about impossible. I think I have said not everyone can afford a show car paint job, and I get that,. But have a half assed one done is probabbly worse than the original paint job he has.

dbrennancobra · Post by **dbrennancobra** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:28 am

I agree with Aaron, i worked in a body shop, and he is 100% accurate!

Post by **BrettT** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:30 am

If, you can do some disassembling yourself. You can save a lot. A freind of mine got a quote for over $9k for painting his car. That included disassembling the whole car down to the shell. He ended up taken the car apart himself and getting the whole car (engine bay included) painted for just around $2k. Just the shell of the car.

I have gotten prices from $300 to $1,400 to just paint my front bumper and hood. The guy who quated me $1,400 explained to me everything he was going to do to the car and even knew what METTALIC use with the paint. (There seems to be different types of mettalic.) He seem to be very knowledgeable in the different types of mettalics and paints to use. My passenager side fender has been replaced and painted before sometime ago. THIS PAINTER said if the previous painter who painted the passenger fender would of use the RIGHT mettalic flake it would of been a PREFECT MATCH. He said the paint color match really good. But, the mettalic flake gave it away. It was the wrong flake and was a little to heavy in the paint mix.

So, you definitly get what you pay for. For $300 it was just bring me the parts and I'll paint them. For another $900.. I got a full explaination of the job and how he was going to go about do the paint work.

I even had a REALLY high end painter who paints Classic cars, Porsche's, BMW, Benz's, Lambo's, etc etc. SAY HE WON'T PAINT THE BUMPER AND HOOD OF MY CAR UNLESS I LET HIM PAINT FROM THE FIRE WALL FORWARD OF THE CAR. He states.... for him to have his name on the job. For the best match and result. He will want to paint from the fire wall forward. His reasoning for doing so... is to blend into the doors. Just painting the hood, bumper and blending into the TOPS of the fender will not get the best result no matter what.