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time for a facelift

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Alphonse

Alphonse

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I have an 89 Esprit that has reached the point where some cosmetic surgery is a must. Like any old Hollywood starlet that has long since seen her prime the old girl is in need of more than a smearing of face wax to still wow the crowd.

I've been able to keep a handle on the mechanical end of the deal and keep her running stronger than her years would allow, but I have no skills in the "pretty" department and have had to turn to the professionals.
Took her in for an estimate on a proper strip down to the skivies paint job and interior redo.
106+ thousand miles, mostly on Houston roads has done a heck of a job on the paint and interior, and the not so great original paint, has not helped. No Mercedes of Rolls paint job here.
Basically I'm looking at about 10 grand and 2 to 3 months of work by the time all is said and done. I don't think you have the proper smiley face thingy to cover my feelings about that.
It's only 6:30am here, but I really could use a beer right now.
The wife is sort of okay with the idea of the redo, but how to get the redo and maintain a full race season is going to be one heck of a hat trick. I've thought of bribery, but right now the only thing that would do it would be a supercharger for her Elise, a new house, and a maid.

I'm screwed!

Okay, that's my rant for the moment. I'll keep a running account of how the remake saga develops. Or I'll just be running to escape a shooting.

al
 
Al -

Tough call to make, I know. Have you investigated body shop schools in Houston? High school/trade schools? May catch a break there, if you're willing to be a guinea pig.

Mickey
 
Ooofff. I better re-examine my choice of crafts. That seems a bit high, even for a Benz. Checked with any local Corvette club members? Mebbe they konw a guy who knows a guy...

I'd hand ya a beer if ya were closer.
 
Alphonse said:
Basically I'm looking at about 10 grand and 2 to 3 months of work by the time all is said and done. I don't think you have the proper smiley face thingy to cover my feelings about that.
Click to expand...

How about this one... :pukeface:
 
That covers one end. It's the other end that I think will feel the pain.
 
Alphonse said:
That covers one end. It's the other end that I think will feel the pain.
Click to expand...

Your right - we don't have a smilie for that one! :jester:
 
I, too, am in the process of a minor re-do, primarily in the interior leather department. Which I am NOT finding much support for, Alphonse.

On your issue, have you considered looking at paints shops that re-do older Corvettes. They may be better equipped to handle fiberglass cars.

I'd certainly, for that kind of money, insist on seeing other cars which the shops had done, and even getting names and addresses of recent customers that you could contact to see how their paint jobs are holding up. Of course, the other issue is WHAT KIND OF PAINT. One part, or two part?

My "other" car, a 1979 MGB, was recently re-painted in Broolands Green using two part Dupont paint. And meticulously stripped of all trim and carefully prepared prior to the paint being applied.

The name of the game in auto painting is the PREPARATION. Actually painting the car is almost an after shot, in my experience. Having had some experience with aircraft and yacht painting, I can tell you that the professionals in these areas spend 95% of the time on the prep. So your quote of %10,000 plus while high does not seem unreasonable. An aircraft re-paint, even for a Cessna single engine job, is usually around that much.

You must really like your car to spend that much on her. Probably can't count on getting much of it back if you were to sell her. But I certainly understand that it feels good driving a car with a new paint job, and that's worth it.

I am presently shopping around for a piant job for my plane, so I know about sticker shock when it comes to these upgrades.

Good luck in finding a good one - inyour (urban) area, it should not be too hard.
 
The paint shop that gave me the Kings ransom quote is, unfortunately, one of the best in town when it comes to exotics. The cars that were being worked on made for a show in itself. A vintage racing Porsche, a Vanquish, two F-cars, a gorgeous better than new TR-6, a Maseratti, and a V-8 Esprit.
Even though the quote is up there, the level of work to be performed most likely justifies it.
After last Thursday however, the facelift may have to wait a bit. On the way home from the office the right front outer wheel bearing discintegrated.
By the time I managed to limp the car home the dmamge had been done.
Front vertical link (ie: spindle) became one with the outer bearing race. I was able to remove the race but it scored and gouged the axel. Also, bits of the bearings had welded themselves to the shaft. It was not pretty.
While pulling the whole thing apart I also fgound that the lower front shock bushing had parted company at some point.
Talk about a disaster!
Fortunately all the parts I need to make repairs were available and are now on thier way so the ole 89 should be back up and running shortly.
It's always something when your daily driver is getting on in years. I am refering to the car here.
 
Hey Alphonse,
Am also looking for a restoration body &
paint shop in Houston. Restoring a street Triumph.
You and Al need to stop by and see the race-prepped
7. Best in the country !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harry
 
I would think that 10k for trim and a full body strip/spray job would be a bargain...if the quality of materials are to the highest standard for the cost.
Paint work on the left coast is in the $65.00 pre hour range. If the trimmer uses the correct materials, the trim/rugs would be in the 3k region.
Just my 2p.
Cheers,
D.
 
Most of the effort is in the prep work before the paint ever touches the car. A paint finish is only as good as the sanding, blocking, filling, eyeballing, taping, talcum-powdering, sighing, filling again, sanding again, etc. That's a lot of labor - very skilled labor - and consequently a lot of money.

If you spend less on the paint job, the two or three thousand dollars you "saved" won't be worth the disappointment. As a professional detailer, trust me when I say that there is only so much magic I can work with a buffer and some product.

Just my $0.02. Good luck!
 
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