Paint job cost these days

[PreferVintage]

Hi Guys...questions...I have a 1969 280SL....only a couple minor rust spots...with all the environmental regs hitting the paint industry these days, does anyone have some recent figures on what one can expect for a repaint? The car needs to be stripped to base metal, having many layers of single stage paint. I can remove all chrome and trim. Is $10K enough to have a good job that is base coat - clear coat in white? Does anyone know what were factory white colors when these cars were made? I'd like to have a white that is mild, not ivory but also not arctic white. Appreciate any thoughts...thanks...

[BWhitmore]

$10,000 should get you a pretty nice paint job considering you are supplying some of the labor (hourly labor rates differ slightly depending on your location). It is well worth it to have your body shop re-install the trim as a new paint job is easily scratched if your are not super careful. The best way to find the proper paint for your car is to look at the trim tag for the paint code. Changing colors on a classic car can become quite involved and unless done properly will cause the car to lose value.

[Benz Dr.]

I wouldn't use base clear. It's water base and a 230SL I have here right now still doesn't have hard paint even though it was done last fall. I would use single stage urethane. That stuff hardens in days and is very durable.

There's a ton of chrome on a 113 plus blacked out areas around the car after it's been painted. 10K would be on the light side because you never know what you will find under all of that paint.

Car should be panel painted; trunk lid, doors, hatch cover, hood, with windshield removed.

[Tony H]

Rust spots that show are almost always an indication of holes once stripped. Body work might add some cost.

[97 SL320]

With many layers of paint you are bound to find more hidden rust repair / crash damage.

What do you want to do with the car? Sometimes making discrete repairs and blending in the spots could be more cost effective than a less than better overall repair / paint.

The car does have inherent value so spend $ wisely. If you put a $ 10 K body / paint repair on the car that is less than better, the cars value does not go up $ 10 K.

As for pulling the trim yourself: That is possible however if the shop reinstalls they are likely going to charge more than if they took it off in the first place as figuring out where stuff goes / tracking down missing bolts / fixing trim damage caused by the car owner leads to much more work.

[oldsinner111]

it was $29.95 years ago in L.A.

[Tony H]

Oh yea remember Earl Scheib? He would paint any car for $29.95.

[97 SL320]

I found an ad https://newspaperarchive.com/advertisement-clipping-may-07-1961-286062/ For the 29.95 in 1961 , that = about $ 260.00 today

[meltedpanda]

my guesstimate after some prep work done on your part - 5-7 K that is what it would demand around here

[Squiggle Dog]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

I found an ad https://newspaperarchive.com/advertisement-clipping-may-07-1961-286062/ For the 29.95 in 1961 , that = about $ 260.00 today

That's incredible, because even after adjusting that $29.95 for inflation to $260.00, you probably couldn't get a car painted for ten times that amount today. I just don't understand why the cost is so high now.

[oldsinner111]

I had a car painted in 75.at carcoa long beach. $160. they never sanded,at a car wash my old shiny paint underneath. I sanded,and had them repaint,fine then.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

That's incredible, because even after adjusting that $29.95 for inflation to $260.00, you probably couldn't get a car painted for ten times that amount today. I just don't understand why the cost is so high now.

There are a few factors why.

Factories and paint shops were not so environmentally conscious so solvents and other chemicals were dumped on the ground , stream or sewer. Now these chemicals must be disposed in a proper manner, this is more $$. Being enviro costs $ either up front or when a factory becomes a EPA Super Fund site.

Paint booths can't just exhaust to the outside anymore, they must have fiber filters or even charcoal to absorb solvents.

Paint is worlds better than in days past, so the chemicals are more $.

Word from decades ago was the Earl bought left over / off tint paint from car factories. This took his material costs to just over transportation costs.

According to Wikipedia, the Earl had his own paint factory selling to industry as well as his shops.

The base paint jobs were more or less a wipe down , sand , wipe down, sort of mask and spray. Paint from the 60's was pretty soft and I'm betting they used paint deglosser solvent rather than much sanding.


1975 $ 160 = 2019 $ 786
https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

[oldsinner111]

world's better? I sure would not go with water based crap,Hate it,clear coat destroyed by sunlight. Rather tractor paint,and buff to a shine

[rumb]

While it is your car to do with, You should seriously consider keeping it the original color. Huge discount for non original colors on value. Plus you would have to paint engine bay, inside of fenders, etc.

Are you pulling engine? stripping interior? If you are doing the work then wouldn't you go all the way?

[BWhitmore]

I concur on the change of color. In addition to painting the engine bay, the door jambs should be re-painted also. Most buyers of classic cars either will not consider a car with a color change or depreciate the value significantly. However, as previously said -“it is your car”.