Cost of painting??

[67CamaroLSX]

Hey guys, pretty new to this forum. I've gotten a lot of good info from this site. I'm working on my 67 Camaro. Getting close to being ready for body and paint. My question is what are you guys paying for your paint jobs? I've talked to a few shops and getting some prices. I been quoted anywhere from $7500 to $28K. Obviously not going to pay 28K for paint. My car is not going to SEMA or anything. I plan on driving it often but I want something that looks good. Car is an original triple black RS car so I will probably paint it black. Car is pretty straight and I will have gaps fairly close before it's sent out.

[slimjim]

I'm at the same point in my build, looking for a painter. it's next to impossible to compare dollar figures between quotes, I find a better comparison when looking for a shop is labour hours involved, but it seems the minimum good paint job comes at 200 hours of labour, and of course, I always try to see some examples of previously owned cars. I would certainly love to pay 7500 but I haven't been quoted anywhere near that for a nice result.

[glr0212]

I would say 13-15k for a good paint job assuming you don't have much metal work to do. like almost zero. Where are you located? Maybe people can give you recs.

I would also see how long it takes the painter to finish cars before you give him yours. Turn around should be 3-5 months. If he has cars sitting around for a year or more don't give him your car. Even if he sweet talks you.

[CSG]

I would not expect the average car to get any where near SEMA quality for 28k. If it is a total job from primer up then that is not a bad price.

[parsonsj]

"SEMA" car paint jobs start at $50K. $28k for a full on paint job (down to bare metal) is about right.

[SSLOW6.0]

Dare I say this... But why not do the paint work yourself? I honestly didn't find it that hard, but the prep is a lot of work. Granted advanced techniques are an art, but doing the body work and fogging a car black isn't an art-form.

[T/A Addict]

Dare I say this... But why not do the paint work yourself? I honestly didn't find it that hard, but the prep is a lot of work. Granted advanced techniques are an art, but doing the body work and fogging a car black isn't an art-form.

Agreed..... and save yourself a small fortune. The money spent towards equipment is very small comparably.
The cost is all about the labor..... some just can't stand the boring, dirty, repetitiveness of painting, sanding etc.

[CSG]

While I agree I would add that you need an experienced person to help out. Most people will have no idea what will show up under a black paint job that has been wet sanded.

[SSLOW6.0]

For sure experience helps. Your first car will be a learning experience, and the best advice is when you think you're done blocking... do it for another 20 hours. Shooting the paint is the easy part lol.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Eh, I wouldn't outright recommend someone doing their own paint and body without knowing the person's skillset, and equipment/garage first. There's a LOT involved, and it's very easy to get one little step wrong and ruin the entire paintjob. It's easy for those of us that do it, but most of us that are good at it learned from people that knew how to do it. I grew up in a bodyshop practically and learned a lot of little tips and tricks from years of helping out in my youth.

As far as what it costs? That's VERY wide open, and hard to judge without seeing the car. I'm sending out an 86 Chevy K10 for paint this week to get shot in red for $1400 including materials, but the bodywork is done, and it's wetsanded and ready to go. If there's no rot or damage, just a block, prime, and paint, I'd expect around $10-15k. You don't need to spend over $20k to get an amazing paintjob if the car is solid.

[minendrews68]

A good paint job is expensive either way you look at it. The materials alone are ridiculous!

[67CamaroLSX]

Thanks for all the replies. I had thought about painting it myself but really don't have the facility and equipment to do it. Time is also a factor. Little hesitant to paint an entire car especially black. It's hard to find shops now days that even want to paint an entire car. Most just want to do insurance work.

[dhutton]

I painted this car for Kevin (qnitro on here) for less than $10k and he loves it. Bare metal frame off with epoxy and bedliner on the underside, quality SPI paint. Is it perfect? No, but that was not the goal. Nice clean driver was the goal and he won’t be crying every time he gets a stone chip.

Don

[slimjim]

I painted this car for Kevin (qnitro on here) for less than $10k and he loves it. Bare metal frame off with epoxy and bedliner on the underside, quality SPI paint. Is it perfect? No, but that was not the goal. Nice clean driver was the goal and he won’t be crying every time he gets a stone chip.

Don

This is perfect, I'd be very happy if my car came out looking like this. Those S71's look great.

[minendrews68]

Dang Don, A painter too. That looks excellent! I bet he's happy!

[BlackHD]

Looks great Don!

[SD67]

12-15k is about right for a driver without a ton of metal work, get a recommendation and visit the shop several times. If projects in the shop don't progress after 3 months, get another recommendation and repeat. Its called paint jail for a reason.

[67CamaroLSX]

Don...that car looks good, I would be happy if my car turned out like this. I like the deep black look. Been calling around and going to visit some shops and get some idea's.

[boss_hoss]

My paint job is going to run me 5-6k. I chose to go with a small local painter that I was able to get to know and see some of his work so I know what hes capable of. Ultimately It all comes down to time and materials. I stripped my car down to bare metal and got a lot of prep done myself, that in and of its self saved my painter a week or two which all translates to money I don't have to pay. I also stripped and painted engine compartment, and painted then undercoated the underside of the car myself. My car should be out of the paint shop in the next week or two. I'll post a picture when its done so you can see what my results are for about 5k.

[MuscleRodz]

I painted this car for Kevin (qnitro on here) for less than $10k and he loves it. Bare metal frame off with epoxy and bedliner on the underside, quality SPI paint. Is it perfect? No, but that was not the goal. Nice clean driver was the goal and he won’t be crying every time he gets a stone chip.

Don

Looks awesome Don for the money, but your also not feeding a shop. SPI materials will help on cost definitely as well and a good product. Today, to use Axalta , PPG, or equivlent your going to figure $3500-$5000 in materials start to finish and 300-400 hours after colorsand and buff. Just insert hourly rate and that will be a ballpark cost for a reputable shop NOT including any metal repair.