OK please don't hate me for this , but i need a respray, but i also need a new engine and as the engine will probably cost me a few thousand, i am looking for a 'cheap' respray until i can get it done how i want it, with this in mind i am thinking of ..................MAACO, ok i know that is a dirty word for a Stingray, but at least i don't drive a mini van which could be worse, with this in mind does anyone have experience with Maaco and better still does anyone have idea of price.

I promise to keep your name a secret from the rest of the members !!!!


Gary

Consider this......... Most of us on here are doing our cars on a budget too. Go ahead with the engine work, while it's out, do a careful job of detailing the engine bay and other portions of your car while it's down. You'll have the satisfaction of a good start on a resto. Save the money you'd spend on a temporary paint job towards the finish you really want.
Without knocking a bargain paint job, keep in mind that extra coat of paint will have to be removed for the paint job you really want, it could cost as much or more to remove it than it did to paint it in the first place.
Just be patient and do it right the first time.

I had them repair a couple of rust areas on the rocker panel and had the car totally repainted the same color. Body work was fine and the overall job was fine. The paint did not fade or peel. Kept the car for two more years before I sold it. The car was a 1991 Nissan SE-R. I think I paid $350.00 for the entire job. Good enough for a 10 year old car with 120,000 miles. I suppose though it all depends on where you take it and who works there knows what they are doing.

|UPDATED|1/25/2005 7:01:50 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

i had may 76 corvette painted bby maaco back in 1994 they did a good job for $1150 took all the old paint off 60hr of repair had it repainted in 2003

Maaco can do a very good job. There is the standard job, and then the above and beyond you will pay a bit more for. Like any place, it depends on who is doing the work. Check out the work the local guy is doing. The Maaco close to me has had the same painter for about 14 years. He does a VERY nice job. The key is to make sure the prep work is right. Prep work make a bigger difference than the painter does, to a point.

If you want a better job than standard Maaco, most of them will charge a bit more, and do a good job. Perhaps not custom or show quality, but a good job. But then show quality can set you back several thousand.

As said above, what is your final goal. If it's show quality, or even much better than a good job, you may want to wait and do it right when you can. Even if Maaco does it.

What is wrong with your paint anyway? I've seen some amazing things done to bring back old paint jobs to look very acceptable.

Thinking back, Maaco reminds me of another place that used to paint cars. Let's see if any of you remember the name, the advertising slogan (in a very sqeaky voice) was:

"I'LL PAINT ANY CAR, ANY COLOR, FOR JUST $29.95"



|UPDATED|1/25/2005 9:21:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

While have seen some very good Maaco jobs, I have NEVER seen a good "Earl Schieb" job.

Ken, you are showing your age too. You are right, I've never seen a good Sheib job either. They painted right over bird droppings on a 65 Chevy panel truck I once drove.

Maaco could probably do a decent 20 foot paint job, but maybe a little work on his existing job could be at least that good as well...

You all should see Al Sheib's 49 Caddy fastback! (Al is Earl's son). I've seen it at many shows. Has one of the best paint jobs you've ever seen. And the license plate reads "29.95" the frame says "any car any color". Also, when I was in high school attending the street races in Van Nuys, there was a beautiful black 32 Ford coupe that was always there...belonged to Earl's grandson.
The key to a good job at Uncle Earls is to do your own prep. I have actually seen a few good paint jobs come out of their shop
But I agree, wait to paint. Check around with some local body shops, talk to people at shows and cruises. You might be suprised what you find as far as quality and price. I saw a 66 Vette at a show last month, the owner was bragging he'd paid 14K for the paint. I had just color sanded and buffed my paint (circa 1989) and honestly, it looked up to snuff except for road chips, parked next to him. And remember...You don't always get what you pay for when it comes to paint. You can enter body shop hell and not see your car for a long time.
Just some thoughts,

Reid '72 T-top

Earl Scheib? Now that brings back some memories! He had the worst color selection, some were almost hideous.