Paint Cost

[macloft]

Just curious. How much for a reasonable paint job (not show quality) on a Cobra in Texas. The car is still gell coat so needs to start from scratch.
Thanks

[Roush #1]

The good paint jobs I have seen start at about $7,500.

The guy that painted my car mainly paints Cobra replicas and has been doing that for about 15 years. He says it takes a minimum of 150 hours of labor to do the body and paint work.

I would think that where you are in Texas would make a difference as well.

Hope this helps!

Jody

[emberglo66]

Contact David Elms at Signature Collision in Magnolia Texas. He did all the repairs on my car and installed the ArmorCoat. Great guys and the work he does is outstanding.

[macloft]

I am in Texas. McAllen actually. My Cobra is in Australia unpainted but otherwise finished. However i know of a container of furniture that will have enough room for a Cobra going to Texas shortly.
We know out of the 28 most deadliest snakes in the world 20 of them are in Australia and one is about to move to Texas. I am thinking easy to compliance in Texas even with right hand drive. No emmisions check, side pipes, plus a little nos or a blower all quite legal then ship back to Aussie in 3 years with a Texas VIN. Big debate is is my Harrison chassis and body any worse than a USA car. Who knows.
Cheers
Bruce

[james-w]

How much does paint cost is like asking how much is a car. (It depends) The answers for paint vary from $2K to the left and right "arm". It all comes down to how much work has to be done and how hard is it to get it down to the point that it can be taped off. (removal of windshield, wipers, lights, doors, etc) When i had my factory 5 painted I took them the body shell sitting on the body buck (wood frame with wheels) I had also done the majority of the body work, including smoth sanding the gel coat, primering and scratch coat sanding the body. They basically worked with what i had done and improved some parts that I as an non-professional body man had not completed to their standards. So long and short it depends on how close to paint ready your car is. I can easily see the 150 hours mentioned by Jody above.

James

[Rogelio]

Also depends on where you are in Texas. In South Texas its about 4 to 5K for a custom paint.
Roy

[Excaliber]

I'll be getting mine painted within the next year or so, good thread. Good chance I'll be in Texas as well, Montgomery County area (North of Houston).

...might follow Flip out there from Hawaii.

[Barnsnake]

You can get a nice custom paint job with all the body prep (making doors, hood, and trunk flush) and stripes for $5,500-$6,500.

[macloft]

Thats good enough. $8000 aus I have been quoted. Probably be damaged on the way over in the container so bugger the paint I will get it done when I arrive.
Thanks
Bruce

[scott black]

4M Auto Body in North Texas does good work and is reasonably priced. You can contact Jano @ (972) 219-0349.

[427 S/O]

If you deliver just the body you should get a fair price for not having to mask. Around here a top quality is about $4K.

[Excaliber]

My plan is to strip my car before paint prep begins. Remove roll bar, head and tail lights, sidepipes unbolt at the collector, windshield, etc. etc. I had the hood painted some time ago and come to find out the guy did NOT know how to deal with fiberglass. The paint is in terrible condition after only a couple of years. THIS time I will be sure to find someone that knows and has worked with 'glass' before.

Burning question:
Should the stripes be level with the surrounding paint or should you be able to feel the edge of the stripe? I've seen and felt it done both ways, not sure what is best in that regard.

[Joe Wicked]

I have always felt that stripes that you can feel the edge on are an afterthought, or a poor paint job. The best stripes I have ever seen were masked off, car painted, paint was masked, stripes unmasked, and then painted. All masking was removed, car was wet sanded, and then the clear was applied at once. No edge felt, and there was an illusion of a gap between the stripe and the rest of the paint if you looked closely.

[tgitchel]

4M Body works said they haven't done anything like a cobra before and quoted $8-12K if the car was completely stripped. Any other sugestions in North TX?

[puppster]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

I have always felt that stripes that you can feel the edge on are an afterthought, or a poor paint job. The best stripes I have ever seen were masked off, car painted, paint was masked, stripes unmasked, and then painted. All masking was removed, car was wet sanded, and then the clear was applied at once. No edge felt, and there was an illusion of a gap between the stripe and the rest of the paint if you looked closely.

I bet the original race cars (which are the only original cars with stripes) were pretty crude. I know what you mean though. I saw a SF coupe in which the paint looked like a pool ball, absolutely seamless, and mesmerizing.

[TXWOOD]

All the Vette guys in Houston swear by Richie Collision on Veteran's Memorial.

281-893-6341

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by puppster

I bet the original race cars (which are the only original cars with stripes) were pretty crude. I know what you mean though. I saw a SF coupe in which the paint looked like a pool ball, absolutely seamless, and mesmerizing.

True, and if the car was going to be used as a race car primarily I would probably do the same. I was just commenting on what I saw and what I liked. IMO it was the best I ever saw.

[trularin]

$6k is reasonable. If you upgrade to show, $10k is minimum.

There is a lot of prep if you want to get the car ready yourself.

[Tugboat]

Joe,

I have a new Ford GT (2005) White/Blue and you can feel the stripes. Yikes!
Guess I need to wait untill ford figures this out.

Larry

[jdean]

It is normal to feel the stripes on factory paint jobs, and this is key point for those doing a true restoration. For a "custom" paint job, you dont want to feel it though.