Painting a '75

[VolVette]

I have recently bought a flame orange '75 as a project and for the learning experience of restoring it. (Not to mention the joy of owning and driving it.) One of the restoration jobs that I know would be best done by a professional is the painting. I wish that I didn't have to lose the original paint but the fiberglass is splintering on the rear quarter panel and the paint is cracking and coming off on the hood. I have not yet begun to search for a qualified place to paint it and before I do, I would greatly appreciate any insight that you experts can provide.

I have read before that your best bet is to find a paint shop that will also repair the splintering on the body, paint the Vette, and guarantee the job for years to come. And I have also heard that "Emron" (I think is what the guy called it) paint is probably the best for the job? I am a college student and Corvette'ing is all new to me, but I sure love it... Also, what is the typical range in costs for such a job?

I really appreciate your time and help.

[Joe L.]

Re: Painting a '75

"VolVette"-----

Paint is not one of my areas of expertise, but I'll offer a few comments:

1) You are correct in that your best plan is to find a shop that can repair the body deterioration/damage problems AND paint the car. This is the ONLY way to go to avoid "cross-finger-pointing" later. Also, you DEFINITELY want to select a shop that is EXPERIENCED WITH THE REPAIR AND PAINTING OF CORVETTES. This type of shop, with a good reputation, is not necessarily the easiest thing to find.

2) Imron might very well be a good paint choice if your car is to be a driver and not an NCRS Top Flight candidate. Imron paint is VERY durable and a very good choice for a driver. It is one of the paints of choice for use on aircraft. If you plan to NCRS Top Flight your car, you may be better off trying to find a shop that will do a single stage acrylic lacquer paint job, but finding one may be especially tough and the materials are becoming harder to find. Acrylic lacquer is NOT NEARLY as durable as Imron or other modern paints. Also, you may be able to find a shop that can paint the car using a modern multi-stage paint and make it look identical to lacquer. That's the best choice.

3) As far as cost goes, make sure that you're sitting down before you read this. You are going to find that a high quality, factory-type(not custom type) paint job is going to cost in the $5,000 to $7,500 price range. Plus, the body work that your car requires will add to that cost. For a car suffering from the finish problems that you describe, a complete paint stripping to bare fibreglass is absolutely essential to a decent finished product. If anyone quotes you a price significantly lower than the prices I have mentioned, I'd look at what they are actually going to do and their references very carefully

[Jeff Gunn]

Re: Painting a '75

I definitely have to agree with what Joe has said, except on the price. Alot of that depends on what part of the country you live in. You MIGHT be able to get it done for a little less, maybe $4000, if you strip it yourself and the car doesn't need too much body work. I suggest that you not bother trying to do any of the bodywork yourself, I found out the hard way that this is a bad idea. Most bodyshops won't paint over your handywork, and if they will paint it they won't guarantee it, so don't waste your time like I did. Some will let you strip it, which I did, and that will save you probably close to $1000, but only if you do it right. It's pretty easy. I would suggest that you get your mechanicals straightened out first, if possible, so you don't risk your new paint. I am having mine painted while totally disassembled, but that is because everything is going back in new or restored, so I don't plan on alot of ongoing work once the car is "finished". Are they ever really finished? You can check out my web site for info on my paint and bodywork... Best of luck


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