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  Mustangsandmore Forum Archive
  '64 1/2 to '68 1/2 -- The Classic Mustang
  body work

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Author Topic:   body work
KSHANHOLTZER
Journeyman

Posts: 7
From: THURMONT,MD US
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 05-05-2004 06:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSHANHOLTZER        Reply w/Quote
need to find someone to body work that you can trust for a reasonable price for my 69 mustang sportsroof

SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 05-05-2004 06:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere        Reply w/Quote
Me too.

------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip

1969Fastback
Gearhead

Posts: 184
From: Eugene, Oregon USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 05-05-2004 07:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 1969Fastback        Reply w/Quote
Reasonable price? I think that is a bad word in the boby business. Good luck in your search.

------------------
69 Sportroof 351W 4V FMX Chrome Yellow

whiteknight289
Gearhead

Posts: 1391
From: Wheaton, IL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-05-2004 08:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for whiteknight289        Reply w/Quote
I've been involved with bodywork for almost 20 years. By no means an expert on the subject, but at least its an educated opinion. managed a Maaco for a couple years and have done restoration work the last 15 years. I've got some questions to ponder and I offer them in the spirit of one enthusiast to another. If it sounds preachy it isn't meant to be, sometimes cryptic writing via the internet can be mis-construed. Whatever you decide, keep moving forward with your project and don't let it sit idle in the garage!

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"

------------------
MCA Certified Judge, 1965-1966
66 GT coupe A code, Silver Frost
65 coupe modified - the White Knight
66 convert being restored
95 GT convertible/Cobra clone - black with white leather

SteveLaRiviere
Administrator

Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99

posted 05-05-2004 08:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveLaRiviere        Reply w/Quote
Very right. I thought I had a line on a bodyshop a while ago when I remembered an old friend that I used to go racing with had a body shop. I called him expecting him to say "Sure, bring it on over!" but instead he told me "Sorry, but he'll never do another older car for anybody again." He said he was tired of working his butt off and having people never satisfied and at the same time complaining about the cost and the time involved. He said to make a living he had to only accept collision for the average joe that doesn't care if the jobs aren't 100% perfect and drive newer cars when he can just bolt on parts and not have to wait six months to get a rear quarter. He told me good luck, because everyone he knew in the business is the same way.

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

------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip

whiteknight289
Gearhead

Posts: 1391
From: Wheaton, IL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-05-2004 09:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for whiteknight289        Reply w/Quote
When asked what type of job is wanted, the usual response is "Well, I don't want a show car, but I want it to be NICE".

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.

Steve,
I can see why your friend stopped doing old cars. Myself, I will still do the work but only if they are reffered by people I've already worked for.

Fastback68
Gearhead

Posts: 4511
From: Sucat, Paranaque, Philippines
Registered: Jul 99

posted 05-05-2004 09:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fastback68        Reply w/Quote
Exporting the labor, like everything else - that's the future! As I write, I am in the process of converting my four-year-old garage-based "body shop" into a real commercial enterprise, but not for local customers. The folks here are the same as folks in the US - they want top work for bottom dollar. I'm now negotiating with my buddy in Australia who will arrange for cars to be shipped up here, have all the body work done, and then shipped back to Oz, and still get it done much cheaper than it can be done over there.
This is not a trail-blazing venture. A guy I know who sells restored classics in Norway has been doing this for two years. He goes to America, buys his rust buckets, ships them to the Philippines, has them fixed, then ships them to Europe.
The curious thing in all of this is that shipping - by ship, that is! - is still cheap.

KSHANHOLTZER
Journeyman

Posts: 7
From: THURMONT,MD US
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 05-06-2004 06:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSHANHOLTZER        Reply w/Quote
i think apprx 5000.00 to 6000.00 for paint and body work
one shop i talked to said 12000 to 15000
and i dont the car is worth that muh thats my problem
thanks for the advice

whiteknight289
Gearhead

Posts: 1391
From: Wheaton, IL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-06-2004 07:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for whiteknight289        Reply w/Quote
For $12k - $15k the car should come out really nice, almost ready to hit the car shows.

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.

------------------
MCA Certified Judge, 1965-1966
66 GT coupe A code, Silver Frost
65 coupe modified - the White Knight
66 convert being restored
95 GT convertible/Cobra clone - black with white leather

MidLifCrisis
Gearhead

Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 05-06-2004 06:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MidLifCrisis        Reply w/Quote
Try New Windsor Automotive. They are between Fredrick and Westminster. Just up the road from Taylorsville. You are north of all that. Talk to Barry, and let him know exactly what you want. Be prepared to spend alittle more, because there is always a surprise to be found in a 35-40 year old car. And you might as well fix what is found while the car is being worked on. A month afterward, I was mailed photos documenting the work that was done on my car. Nice guys and nice shop. Also, tell him that Charlie with the yellow '67 convert. says "Hi!"

whiteknight289
Gearhead

Posts: 1391
From: Wheaton, IL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-06-2004 08:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for whiteknight289        Reply w/Quote
I dont' think you can get a better idea than Charlie's recommendation! The shop apparently did a good job for him and they should be rewarded with repeat/referral business.

Big D
Gearhead

Posts: 6843
From: WELLS, NEVADA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 05-06-2004 09:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big D        Reply w/Quote
Whitenight..

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

[This message has been edited by Big D (edited 05-06-2004).]

MidLifCrisis
Gearhead

Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 05-07-2004 08:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MidLifCrisis        Reply w/Quote
Good point Big D. I was mislead (lied to) by two other body guys as to when they could get to my car. Then I asked every owner of a nice Mustang who did there car, and I heard New Windsor Automotive more often than not.
When I went to them they did tell me they couldn't get to it for a year. I was dumbfounded, but left my name and number anyway. The guys told me that they had two Mustangs, a Shelby, and a 'Cuda ahead of me. BUT GUESS WHAT! They did call me a year later, almost to the day. That in itself impressed me. The fact that I needed only floors and rockers, got me out faster than the Boss 302 that was a frame-up next to mine in the shop. Also, being a rural shop, they charge less than the shops in the Washington DC metro area. Charlie

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