What do you consider reasonable? Most reasonable is to do it yourself. Lots of people think you shouldn't pay much for bodywork, and yet they don't think they have the skills to do it. If it shouldn't cost much, shouldn't just about anyone be able to do it? And if "just about anyone" CAN'T do it, doesn't that make it a more valuable skill?

Ask yourself if you are more interested in price or in good quality?
If more interested in price, a vocational school, a Maaco auto body, or a skilled 'hobbyist' would be the way to go.

Also ask yourself if you are willing to accept a finished job "as-is" or will you need the bodyman to stand behind his work?
Once the vocational school is out you won't be able to go back and have them fix things, and Maaco is usually "what you see is what you get". If you need a really-really good job and you want the guy to stand behind his work, you might have to work with a professional shop.

How much time do you have to devote to the project? I've been watching a new show call "Overhaulin'" where they re-do an entire car in one week. Of course, they are working on only ONE car and they have 35-50 guys working 24 hours a day. The comments at the end of the show usually are like "it would have taken me 2 years to get this done". Keep the time frame in mind.

Like the saying goes, "Cheap, Good, Fast...pick two"

I guess in the body shop business, we car nuts are known as 'Pains in the ass.'

Real World Translation: I'm only willing to pay a couple thousand dollars but you better put in at least a couple hundred hours making my car match my dream of what it can be. And if you miss the tiniest flaw, be prepared to re-do my entire car without charging me extra.

For $5000 - $6000 you should get a fairly nice paint job with body work, something you would be proud to show your neighbors.

Of course these costs depend on what raw material you are starting with and whether your car needs new fenders, quarters, hood, etc. Extra costs would be the new parts you should replace when doing a full paint job, such as trunk weatherstrip, door weatherstrips, door handles, bumpers, etc. WARNING!! although door handles will interchange between 65/66 and 69/70, you need to re-use your old door handle hardware inside the door! 69/70 is unique becase of the contour inside the door at the door handle, and they don't reproduce that part. Don't throw out ANYTHING until the car is complete and back on the road.

I think you are Right On.. Once you dig in and do a lot of the work yourself you start to appreciated the time,, labor and effort that goes in to doing a quality job..

A good body man is worth his weight in gold.. It takes talent,, and amazing touch,,and patience to get a job straight.. And if it's not - the paint will let you know.. If the prep aint right,, YUK..

Almost to the Tee,, anyone that I know that can afford to send a car out for a complete restoration,, is NEVER satisfied with the outcome.. Yet,, never gave instructions as to EXACTLY what was expected..

Then they want to turn around and tell everybody and there dog about the piss poor job this guy did on there car.. Instead of taking it back to the shop and going over the flaws with the restorer..

If you want it done right,, let them know what you expect and expect to pay for it..

One other note is.. Time Management for most body shops is not one of their strong suits.. If you tell someone you can have it done in 30 days.. It should be done in 30 days,, not a year later because we only work on it when we can..

Don