Aspen White Paint Job Cost

[Michael Vogler]

I know I've been asking a lot of questions lately, and the advice here has been outstanding, especially from Jason.   Than you all!

I want to have my de Ville repainted in the original Aspen White paint color. It needs it.

I got my first estimate today from a recommended paint shop (along with some minor body work to take the dings out) in Aspen White (no clear coat) for about $12,000 (which will take about three months).

The shop owner explained that clear coat was not generally used in 1964 and clear coat can peel over time (i.e. "car cancer"), and did not recommend that I put clear coat on the car.  (Years ago, I had a black Yukon with clear coat which came off in places after about a decade).

The shop will take it down to primer level or metal (as necessary) and take off much of the chrome trim, head and tail lights, bumpers, etc. before painting.  Because I am painting the car the same color, I am not having the door jams, inside the trunk, or inside the hood painted. 

I have never had a car painted before, much less my Cadillac!  I am unsure of the cost, though, and would like to know your thoughts about the costs and time.  I live in Southern California (Huntington Beach) and expect the price to be a bit higher than what it might be elsewhere.  Also, I'm not looking for a "Concourse" show car paint job, but a very nice paint job on an every weekend driver.. 

Thank you all, again.

Mike Vogler

[Michael Vogler]

Tony,

Well that figures!  Nothing is easy.  Thanks for the heads up.  Do you have a paint recommendation?

Mike

[Jason Edge]

Perhaps the shop will work with you and do sections of the car at a time tackling the worst sections first.  I have a fantastic local shop but as Mark noted insurance work is their bread and butter replacing plastic parts with plastic parts on newer cars after a quick spray.  That is sad because my guy is really good with the old metal bodied cars ... but he had to make a living and fully understand. With that he agreed to break my car down and do it in about 4 different sections. This took about a year and a half. I also agreed to pull all the trim and bumpers off that section as needed except the window reveal trim.  With that approach I would usually have the car to shop on a given Monday and pick up that following weekend.  While it took about 1.5 years it worked out great by spreading out my expenses, and allowing my guy to really concentrate on a specific area as we can. We are current doing my 2002 Escalade EXT in that manner. He recently painted the hood and the top and waiting for a call to bring in for the next state.  The EXT is black which is an easy match. The Sierra Gold took a few trial runs on the 1st attempt but once they had the formula down pat it was easy going for remainder sections of car.

With daily driver accidents most people want their car back ASAP, but if you explain to painter you are not in that big of a hurry, they might agree to paint in stages as they did mine. Of course you don't want to use a here today, gone tomorrow operation and want to use a reputable established paint shop. My shop has been in business since 1958 and run by original owners son for the last 25 years.  
 

[Rob Barker]

Mike

I also live in Orange County, CA and will be looking to have my family's '64 Sedan DeVille to be painted in the coming years. It still has the original Aspen White too and is finally showing rust (garaged most of its life). Piece of information for ya, a body shop in Long Beach, CA (8+ years ago) told my dad that if he still wanted the original lacquer-based '64 paint he would have to either get it himself from Arizona, for example, or have a relative bring some out this way on a trip. My dad really wanted it to be the original lacquer even though the body shop owner said that today's enamel (mineral spirit-based) paints are so good that all that effort getting the out-of-state paint likely wasn't worth it.

I'm hoping you post follow-up information as you progress through your paint process. Curious who you end up using and what you experienced with that shop.

Rob

[Michael Vogler]

Hi Rob,  I’ll keep you posted.  Love to see your SDV and say hello.  Let’s meet at Donut Derelicts sometime.

Mike

[Rob Barker]

Hi Mike

I’ll PM you sometime and yes let’s make that happen. My SDV will be heading into the shop soon for some carb tuning and a few other issues. 
Rob