Good paint shop in So Cal

gdizzle said

Thanks for the tip. I seem to be running into a problem. These shops want to strip down to metal and start from scratch. My best estimate is $10,000 to start, and other shops wanted $15,000. No one seems to just want to paint it and do some minor prep. I actually had one shop tell me to do my own prep and go to Maaco. I guess I didnt realize painting old cars is a $$$$$ expense. obviously spending $15,000 on a car that cost $2500 is not gonna happen.

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Yes, $$$. Do your own prep, and do it really well, then go to MAACO or equivalent. The real expense is in the prep. BUT be ready for "surprises" that pop up under the old paint. The really best quality job for a driver that won't totally break the bank, is take off all the trim, bumpers, light housings, then have the whole care soda blasted to metal (that is when the surprises show up usually), do the repair and prep work, then have the less expensive paint shops lay on the primer & paint. Don't forget that MAACO does lots of new car dealer paint work in most towns. Their paint is decent. It is usually the lack of prep work that shows up badly, not the quality of the spray work. FYI I owned a resto shop in the 1970s.