The Cost of Paint Jobs

CFM · 12-22-2007, 12:01 PM

Where have all the hand lettering guys gone? You dont see them like you used to.

Jason Oldfield · 12-22-2007, 09:35 PM

Well, my last paint job was about $2,000 on my Corvette. It didn't require any major body work, and it was only one color (red if you couldn't guess). I'm no collision guy, so I don't know everything that was required, but I'm guessing it was primarily a sand, paint, and buff (admittedly, the mask job that was done wasn't that great because there was overspray on some of the trim, aluminum, and frame).

I'd have a hard time justifying a $10,000 circus paint job (but man I would LOVE to have one on my car.) So, I generally try to look for an up and comer that is hungry. I'd love to find somebody to do it for free (with me supplying material), but I'm not sure that you can find that anymore.

If there are any good painters out there though looking to showcase their work for free on an original '63 Corvette, let me know...

Oh, and as for the hand-lettered cars, they are still out there. You just have to look for the guy that takes extreme pride in his vehicle, and can afford it (it seems that most of the hand-lettered cars I see nowadays are gold leaf.)

Bud Lefevre · 12-23-2007, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFM

Where have all the hand lettering guys gone? You dont see them like you used to.

http://www.dansignman.com/

Jason Oldfield · 12-23-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Lefevre

http://www.dansignman.com/

Dan's the man. He does great work, and he gets it done when he says he's going to. I don't even know how many cars that he's done have won best appearing awards, but I've got to guess it's 8 to 10. He's lettered my car at least 4 times...I just can't afford to give him carte blanche to win one of those awards. Maybe one of these days though.

More impressive than the lettering that he does is the airbrush work. I swear half the time I see one of his headlights I think they're real...

a2race · 12-23-2007, 11:32 PM

I have a street car ( 69 nova) that i took apart (interior,motor,trans,removed the front clip) and had a close friend install 2 half quarters, 2 outer wheel housings, and 2 rocker panels. then sprayed the car and hung the front clip back on after i installed the motor/trans. In total (paint, supplies, and labor) i have $5000 invested in it. It's a solid color (69 dusk blue,no stripes, ect.) I think i got a good deal...adam

12-22-2007, 12:01 PM	#1
CFM Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clinton, NC Posts: 226 Likes: 18 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: The Cost of Paint Jobs Where have all the hand lettering guys gone? You dont see them like you used to.

12-22-2007, 09:35 PM	#2
Jason Oldfield Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 619 Likes: 1 Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Re: The Cost of Paint Jobs Well, my last paint job was about $2,000 on my Corvette. It didn't require any major body work, and it was only one color (red if you couldn't guess). I'm no collision guy, so I don't know everything that was required, but I'm guessing it was primarily a sand, paint, and buff (admittedly, the mask job that was done wasn't that great because there was overspray on some of the trim, aluminum, and frame). I'd have a hard time justifying a $10,000 circus paint job (but man I would LOVE to have one on my car.) So, I generally try to look for an up and comer that is hungry. I'd love to find somebody to do it for free (with me supplying material), but I'm not sure that you can find that anymore. If there are any good painters out there though looking to showcase their work for free on an original '63 Corvette, let me know... Oh, and as for the hand-lettered cars, they are still out there. You just have to look for the guy that takes extreme pride in his vehicle, and can afford it (it seems that most of the hand-lettered cars I see nowadays are gold leaf.) __________________ Jason Oldfield S/G & S/St 1838

12-23-2007, 11:32 PM	#5
a2race Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portage Lakes, Ohio Posts: 38 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The Cost of Paint Jobs I have a street car ( 69 nova) that i took apart (interior,motor,trans,removed the front clip) and had a close friend install 2 half quarters, 2 outer wheel housings, and 2 rocker panels. then sprayed the car and hung the front clip back on after i installed the motor/trans. In total (paint, supplies, and labor) i have $5000 invested in it. It's a solid color (69 dusk blue,no stripes, ect.) I think i got a good deal...adam