Hi All, I am in the SE QLD area (Ipswich) and I am wanting a paint job done on my WB Statesman. I am not really wanting to spend more then $3000 $4000 but when I walk into a shop without even looking up at you from the counter the reply is always $10 000. I had a guy lined up that actually came and looked at the car and said that he would do it for $3000 but his shed got wiped out in the floods. The car is straight with two small patches of rust, it has had a spray job for the car yard from the body moulds up and they have not rubbed the primer back flat so you can see a peely effect when you look plus the paint has got no depth. I can have as much of the car dismantled as required (It is pretty well pulled apart now with doing engine and interrior work) and I can rub back/sand blast bits before coming to your paint shop, I can even come and help if it helps keep the cost done. I am at the stage of putting the car back together after getting it and deciding to do a few tidy up jobs ( A/C under the dash not operating correctly, doing the heads up to suit unleaded, front end rebuild etc) and the paint job is just not up to scratch and will always annoy me if it is back on the road. I am just after a job that is done nice by someone who seems to give a stuff with what they do and is not out there just to get the money. I have had numerous jobs done by shops for parts on my bikes (Tanks, guards etc) and they are always taken back because of just slack work practices and rush jobs......and don't say you get what you pay for because these were not love jobs and I have seen plenty of 10 grand paint jobs that I could of done better in my back yard. At the moment I have a headlight housing for a Triumph bonnie at a painters I thought I would give a try...$165.00 to paint and the end result is 4 weeks and still not ready...first attempt they had not painted right up to the front edge because they just sat it done on the bench and sprayed around it and there is a sticker that is to put on top declaring the bike as the "world speed record holder" which they managed to put on upside down and this was after much discussion as to how it is to be fitted and was also noted on the job card........I could write a book on hopeless painters and their so called million dollar paint jobs. I forked out over $8000 grand in 1990 to have my GT painted by the then awarded Australias best painter Peter Zorge only to never get the car back after three years of it sitting in primer and an in house fight going on between the painter and panel beater as to who f***ed up the body work to eventually the car was burnt in a fire and then sold (that was over a period of three years so DON'T SAY you get what you pay for!!!!!!. If anyone is interested and is interested in doing decent work please give me a call Lee (07) 3389 8049 Cheers

I have estimated prices for car restorations before, and if I ever get asked

"Is that your best price?"

I answer with

"No, I can go much higher"

I know of a case where a panel shop did bodywork and paint on a car. We're not talking big dollar concourse, just a neat job. The owner took the car home, cut a hole in his chassis rail and promptly took the panel shop to court because they didn't paint INSIDE the chassis. No-one needs that kind of headache.
They also get people coming in with their car, saying it's got no rust and wanting a firm quote. Then you get into the job, find rust and the owner doesn't think that should cost any extra. The shop then has to either fix it at no cost properly or do a quick job and take a chance that that the owner isn't going to go nuts in 2 years time demanding it be done again cause the rust has come through.
Add on insurance, cost of tools, rent, plus you have to pay big dollars to get the good tradesmen and it's not worth it. Insurance work is easy, regular, you can get the parts, and the insurance company will pay for extra repairs if needed.

the paint and primers thinners etc etc alone on my car cost just under $3000 do the sums

Take some courses and do it yourself , go to your local paint supplier and ask for some prices on materials, 4 lt of solid paint acrylic on non metalic around $300 -400 buy a 20lt drum thinners 4lt clear, primer, you should have all your gear for about a grand unless you want fancy colours etc, I repainted my van about 6 years ago for about $500. in acrylic and in its original white colour. I had a mate with a mig welder to do some rust patches, the van is due again after some time in the weather but hey 6 years for $500. and it still looks okay from 10 feet away ..lol.