Paint Job?

I'm going to start looking into paint jobs for my speedster. It is currently red and I plan on keeping it red. I was wondering if anyone knows the paint code for ruby red 1957 356? And can anyone give me an idea of what a decent paint job would cost? No body work is needed and I plan to take everything off before I take it in. I was quoted $2800 from my first inquiry. After I regained consciousness I told him I would get back to him. I thought that seemed a little high being that I'm not looking for a "show car" finish. I just want a good job with paint that will last.

Keep shopping!!! If your car truly nds nothing (or very little) than I'm sure you can get it done
for half that. Stay away from the high volume insurance repair guys. They don't want to do your car anyway. They throw out a number, if you bite they'll paint. A paint shop makes more money repairing a door or fender at a time. Keep shopping, you'll find someone.
Good luck.

P.S.---Don't turn your nose away from Maaco. Stop buy from time to time, check their work
and strike a deal. They paint all day, lots of practice!!! The old joke of $29.99 any car any time, Leave the windows down and the interior is free( does not apply here).

I took my car apart when it was time to go to paint. Windshield off, seats out, carpet out (too the floor), lights off, (you get the idea) and it's is real easy to take apart and put back together. It saves a ton of time and will help you get a bottom price and better job. Just tell them you'll drive in with one seat and drive away with that seat. $1500.00 should be great with tons of clear.

I have an accurate paint chip for the Porsche Ruby Red. It cost me $30+ from Wilhoit. I would be willing to part with it for $15.

You can save a lot of money by doing the prep work yourself and paying someone to spray the paint, then do the color sanding and polishing yourself. It's a matter of time vs money. I hate to pay for other people's time when I can do it myself. It took me an entire summer to prep and paint mine, but I was able to use first rate materials for the cost of a cheapo paint job. I get more satisfaction in doing it myself rather than writing big checks.

Chuck

Some of you may get night sweats over this but....

Maaco does do a decent job if and when, the guy with the gun has an interest in what he is doing.
Some of my past replica resto's, I would go in to Maaco to get a firm written "estimate" for their top of the line $389.00 paint /clearcoat.
Followed by a walk into the shop, find the paint guy who will be doing the actual job. Tell him what you have and when it will be in the shop and ask that he take a few extra minutes shooting the color on, then hand him a $20 spot. You instantly have a new friend in the body business. The return on your "investment" is well worth the initial $20 investment.
I would pull the bumpers, windshield and various trim, then give it a good cleaning with 3m Prep-Sol to remove wax, followed by soap and water wet sanding with 320 paper. Then, take it into Maaco.

As Chuck mentioned, you can use his paint chip sample for matching with a different paint. (Your Speedster looks very nice Chuck, I like the addition of Hives.) The Glasurit Ruby Red Code is : 5702.

Alan,
I'm afraid I will have to disagree with you on the MAACO paint job. The first thing that throws me on the MAACO jobs is the cost. Less than $400. With our body-shop discount, we spent close to $600 on the material for the spyder, and there is much more expensive paint available than the moderately high quality stuff we chose.

MAACO uses really cheap paint. They put it on very thinly. It will be single stage paint (not basecoat/clearcoat). That is how they make a profit at $400. I would use MAACO for a car that I was going to sell but for no other reason.

The best way to save money on a paint job is to save the painter labor. Bring your car in nekkid. I mean flat out nothing anywhere. No top, no interior, no weather stripping, no door handles, no grills, no bumpers, no lights etc. Everyone "says" they will bring the car in like this but most people do not. Car rolls in with lights, mirrors etc., on it and the owner says they were too hard to remove etc. IF you want to save money - take it off and reinstall it yourself.

Color changes are $$. They involve changing the color under the hood and bonnet as well as door jambs and in the case of thise little cars the dashboard etc. Same color - big cost savings. If you are bent on changing the color - here's a way to save money. Find out what paint the chosen painter uses and have him obtain enough to paint the ENTIRE car. THen you do the prep and paint for under the hood, door jambs etc., and shoot those areas yourself This is called "jambing" the car. Then when you bring the car to the painter, he is prepping and painting the outside only. As you are using "his" paint, there will be no product compatibility issues.

angela

Just my opinion . . . everyone has one, but . . . . mine's SO much better ! ! !

I have to agree with Alan, when it cones to MAACO. We ALL use the MAACO in the next town over. The manager is willing to work with you and get the results that you want, and the painters are also more than willing to make sure that things are right. It DOES cost more than the standard deal, but the costs are always less than what a small shop would charge and the end results are terrific.

If you're worried about too thin of a color coat, just say so. They'll write up the work order for extra coats, extra clear, more hardener or gloss additive, wharever you want. For sure, give the painter some extra $ and if you LOVE the results, throw him some more.

You'll be bound to get chips and road rash later while driving and parking the car. With the money saved you can get it painted again, and the MAACO guys will remember you.

One paint job for $2,000. or four for the same amount spread over the life of the car. You decide. If you're gonna DRIVE it, go with MAACO.

OF COURSE, save that fourth paint job for just before you sell it, it'll ALWAYS raise the selling price.

Luck,

TC

TC, you're close with your quote, my Dad would often say:

" You have your opinion and I have mine...however, I'm right! "

Mickey mentioned that he would be keeping the speedster red, hence my Maaco suggestion.
Maaco's two low end jobs are single stage, their better quality jobs are base coat/clear coat. As TC mentioned, if you're going to drive it, pay them extra to save you big bucks. There's no reason why you cannot get what you want for 50% of a high end job.
Yes, I'll agree, if you want a show quality finish, high end paint is the way to go but can cost an arm and a leg especially red, due to pigments just price a gallon of Glasurit red ....whahoo!
Color changes are expensive with the added jambs under the trunk and hood area.
The two local body shops that I recently used, ran in the neighborhood of $2,800 inclusive of medium to light blocking , to me that is a hell of a deal for what was done.
The "trick" to this and save mucho funds, select a color that can be purchased off the Dupli-Color rack, clean, de-wax, scuff with 320 paper, prime and shoot your favorite color with a rattle can.

As everyone knows, labor costs money and the majority of the labor is
during the prep. work. Skimp on the prep and it'll show!!! A paint job is an investment and it can be paid two different ways, time
or money. If you have the money great, if not invest your time. I've block sanded numerous fiberglass cars (220 then 400 wet/dry), days and days were spent in order to flatten the waves (waves I couldn't even see but I knew were there). I hated every minute. Dropped them at Maaco, paid my $400-$500(with tip of course) and drove home a beautiful paint job. I don't go to "show" any of the cars I've had but I attended one meet. My car was the straightest, nicest there.
I cursed my friend (body prep coach)every minute of my sanding but
in the end it was all worth it.

Angela,

I realize the costs involved of a good paint job. At work we have poly paint thats $600 a gal. While spraying with this level of quality you can see the difference as soon as it hits the metal.
When it lays out==Wow! But I've amazed myself (sometimes) with what we have been able to do with a cheap gal of Omni brand and some
rubbing!!

Yeah, we've used Omni also with good results but never on a "keeper" car. Did a VW cabriolet and an MX6 as I recall. Good prep work is good prep work and Omni looks very good if the body man has done their job.

Now: Regarding the better $500 x 4 versus 1 time at $2000. Wrong.

A proper paint job involves taking everything apart to bare car. It would take me estimated 20 hours to R/R the spyder bits for said paint job. Let's use that figure and a paint shop rate of $50 an hour. My time is of value and the work I do is at least as good as the paint shop (for this type of work anyway)...

$2000 = good paint job
$1000 = 20 hours x $50
$3000

vs.

$ 500 = Maaco
$1000 = 20 hours x $50
$1500
Now multiply $1500 x 4 = $6000!!!

For that kind of money, you could have had the GOOD paint job twice. Another thing you are not factoring in. Every time you take a car apart TRUST ME on this you will BREAK SOMETHING. You will tear a piece of weather stripping, break the emblems etc. Add that in too. Painting a car many times over does NOT increase its value. It lowers it substantially. One very good paint job or a maybe a 2nd very good paint job is fine. Multiple layers of cheap paint is a disaster waiting to happen.

angela

But in the second example the $1000 labor is $0. It is a labor of love.
It all comes down to time/money

1.My "landscaper" (read: grass cutter)charges $40 per cut and $50
per man hour for spring/fall clean up work. I begrudgingly pay the $40 per week because I'm lazy and it's nice to have done. When fall
comes I drag my lazy $%^ out there because I'm not going to pay $50. per man hour to have my yard raked.

2. I built my whole house; electrical, plumbing, a/c, heat etc.....
I saved a ton of money and I enjoy doing it. But there is one job I hate, reroofing. Can I do it=yes, will I do it=no. At any price it sucks.-I pay.

"Now: Regarding the better $500 x 4 versus 1 time at $2000. Wrong."

Obviously this poster is wrong . . . 'cause she doesn't share MY opinion . . . wihich, in the land of Teecee is ALWAYS the correct one ! ! !

Ah . . . It's good to be King in the Land of One. Every decision is the right one, and every edict is obeyed to the letter. As a matter of fact I believe that I'll go order myself to do something wonderful for myself and my opinion on the results will be the right one.

Oh, yeah?
I took my car to a reputable paint and body shop and spent $3,200 for my silver job. It was done wrong, looked good and wasn't prepped right. I didn't get my bumpers back, my windshield got busted, my wires were all cut, the painter lost his job and I didn't get to machine-gun anybody in return.
Cost in total:

Paint: $420 for the "right" Porsche Racing Silver.
Clear: $200 for the material cost and "something else."
Prep: $900 for dis- and re-assembly, primer and wire nuts
Labor: $800 for spraying over partial primer and roughed gelcoat
$400 or so to take off the bumpers and cut my wires
$400 for wet-sanding and clear
Misc: $80 for new rubber seals which I never saw

... And this time, I'm going to paint it myself. Learning that lesson the hard way? Priceless.

...and don't forget, Cory, the money you save on ammo for that 50-calibre!!

Peace - Out!

Cory, You're not far from Delaware............

If you apply the same effort to the paint as you've done with your car=all will be fine. I'm sure you will amaze yourself with what you turn out.

Ok, Ok I get it! You guys crack me up! I talked to the Maaco guy today and between me doing the prep and him doing the paint (poly with 4 yr warranty) I think I can get what I want for a price less that I expected. I wouldn't hesitate paying $5000 for a paint job if it was on the right car. My car is old and would need WAY to much work for an expensive paint job to be done justice. I have no idea what the future holds for me except that I will always have a Speedster in my life. Whether it's this one or not who knows but I can tell you if I ever go THAT far the only thing worth saving on my car would be the trim and the body. I should have it all pretty and nice in a few weeks so I will post pics then. One more request - Input on painting the wheels to match the body - I think it looks a little "Old School/Bad Ass". Thanks for all your input - Mickey

I like that idea. I like that a lot, especially if you go with Baby Moons.

"One more request - Input on painting the wheels to match the body - I think it looks a little "Old School/Bad Ass". "

Total agreement ! !

>delete<

Mickey, Go to "autobody101.com" forums area. There is a thread about a guy who painted his speedster by himself-"my paint job-356 replica".
Well documented, lots of good pics. Great job. He was brave enough to
attempt black. Take a look........

I painted my CMC myself. Not amazingly hard, but I have gotten alot better from the first one I did. No training, no experience, just more guts/less money than brains.

And it looks as if you did a very nice job, post pics when its back together.

Oh it is all back together...and unfortunately sold. New project is an original early Meyers Manx.

Got my Speedster back the other day from Maaco. $350 and it looks pretty good. I say pretty good because as to be expected there are some minor flaws here and there. All in all I am very happy with the job. I just finished putting everything back on. All that is left is the chrome side trim (I haven't decided if I want to put it on?) And I have to paint the wheels to match the car. Thanks to all of you for your help and advice. Mickey

Wow Mickey; that's a long way from the $2,800.00 you were quoted originally...score that one!!

Mickey,

Post some good photos, l I bet it looks decent for a driver

Okay - it's time for me to 'fess up. You know my feelings about maaco... We had a car painted by them and were quite happy with it (in the price range of the paint). We bought the car wrecked at auction. Very nice 1985 Honda Accord. Gorgeous little car, light hit in the front. Steve fixed it and intended to just paint hood/fender/bumper. Then our daughter who was about 10 at the time decided to help with the body work... She took a small hammer and tap-tap-tapped down both sides of the car. That car was perfect and straight with glossy paint. Steve fixed the little hammer dings and by the time that was done the whole car needed painting. So he removed trim, sanded it, back-masked it and dropped it off at maaco.

They did a great job for the price. We sold the car, the new owners loved it. About six months later, a driver failed to yield right of way to them and the car was totalled. The insurance company gave them MORE than they paid for the car - citing the excellent condition and glossy paint...


Enjoy your car - post pics for us!
angela

OK - her she is!! I still have to paint the wheels and decide if I'm going to put on the chrome trim. I have a million little details that need to be attended to like putting the ignition switch in the correct place etc... but for the most part I'm pretty happy with how she has turned out to this point. I can't thank all of you enough for all the help and guidance you've given. I can only hope she gets to the point where many of you have taken your beautiful cars! Thanks again - I will post more when I finish the odds and ends. Mickey

Mickey,

Geesh it looks good! I always call that color Re-sale Red.
You will be the test of time as I have never owned anything long enough to know how well it holds up.
Make sure you make a big deal out of your substantial savings and take you better half out for a nice dinner This as we know it, is also is a long term investment. What the heck, throw in few misc speedy purchases while your at it :)

Looks great but the photos are a little small; could you try and upload them larger? From the looks of it the paint job looks great.

now you can go away for a few days with the savings(or fill the tank of your suv).
looks great.