How much does a restoration really cost?

[skierkaj]

Hey, havin a few beers is no problem, OOPS, it slipped! Seriously guys, what do you think most kids do for fun in college anyway? I've had my fair share of "beverages" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[skierkaj]

I'm pretty sure it's dupont. I think that's all that the bodyshop uses. Not 100% sure, but I seem to remember seeing a Dupont label on some of the cans in the mixing room. I wish it could've been PPG, but I wasn't gonna pay the extra price. It's not easy repainting a car on a very tight budget, while still getting a quality job, but I think I did the best that I could. Time will tell!

[68l30]

I'm just finishing the assembly of a Camaro now...just for paint I hit $3000.Good materials are not cheap.....Throw in labor and other expenses and the paint/body cost can hit 16 to 20k alone.Now replace NOS parts and finish the job correctly and 40k and up is not totaly insane for a resto...I had several people wonder why I ripped my car apart...To them it looked fine.To get to a level where you are happy is what's important.The next step up is always a killer. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Just remember to do it because YOU want to!Don't do it to make others happy and you will always enjoy it no matter what the cost.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Steve

[DjD]

There's a shoe box wagon running around here that has a $500 macco paint job on it that would knock your socks off!! The owner did all his own prep work, had the base coat shot, took it home air brushed the flames on in his garage and took it back for the clear coat... It's been published in several mags and gets lots of attention where ever it's parked.

Micky touches on it with restoration vrs rebuild but there is so much more too it. The orig question was "frame off" restoration so that means (IMO) the car taken apart and every piece cleaned, plated, polished or painted as well as making sure it's structurally like new. Every piece and part or as someone said already one old unrestored part mixed in with a bunch of like new ones will stand out like a sore thumb. Mind you, you will pay 3 times for the end results, once to take the part off the car, once to restor or bring it back to new and the third time to put it back on the car...

All that said if you are mechanically inclined you can see how you can reduce the overall costs by quite a bit... This being the supercar site that it is most of the time we are talking about high end collector cars and to spend $40,000 on a car worth $100000 or more doesn't shock and isn't out of place... To take your typical $10000 camaro project car and pour $30000 into a frame off there is going to be some sticker shock... There are much less spendy ways to have a very respectible, showable car... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[skierkaj]

I was thinking of redoing the plastic panels by covering them with some white vinyl. How do u guys think that would look? The panels don't like to hold paint, and I know that it's probably just an issue with the prep job before-hand, but I just don't like the plastic. How would you go about fastening the vinyl to the plastic? I know to use a super-duty adhesive, and use a heat gun to slightly heat the vinyl to form to the panel, but what kind of fasteners could I use from the back side, without them poking through the front? I know yearone sells the vinyl (i might be able to get it cheaper than their price), and I have some Super-Strength 3M adhesive, and a heat gun, just need a method of fastening the vinyl from the backside. Opinions?

[MosportGreen66]

[ QUOTE ]
My friend was quoted $9000 to paint his 71 firebird. With a 9 month waiting period. The car would be completely disassembled, cleaned, painted and re-assembled.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know this is not exactly what your asking but my buddies 1965 Corvette Big Block was primed - sealed - painted for $21,000. I have never seen a mid year Corvette with better paint. I will send anyone pictures, this is a car!

Corvettes are always more expensive because of the fiber glass. The resto on my car took a sweet penny, but my car is so original, it would be a waste not to restore an example like it. I have a friend who restored a 1972 Grand Prix SJ and he only spent $25K from start to finish. It matters who you bring the car to and what resto you want. Kevin McKay of Corvette Repair will not do a restoration for less than $85K. Hope this helps.

-Dan

[Chris396]

labor labor labor good craftsmanship doesn't come cheap.

[Salvatore]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif[/img]it doesn't [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Pantera]

I would not cover them as they will get hot in the summer and sag. Try taking the panels off the car and wipeing them down secveral times with Laquer thinner and or acetone and then spray them with "Marhide" or other interior specific paint. I have done seats this way and they looked new for years. This paint is flexable and will color the parts you want and it is easy as long as you have a spray gun or you can get it in spay cans from a profesonal automotive paint store. Just be sure that you use 2 or 3 light coats so it will flex and not come off. Too heavy and it will crack just like a regular paint.