How much does it cost to respray a Classic Car in 2023?
Painting a classic car can be a costly exercise, however it can also reap benefits beyond looking fantastic. An example with a recent good quality paint job will obviously value higher than an example with a tired exterior and some surface rust. Whether it be for a profitable sale or for you own personal enjoyment, Peacock Prestige have put together somewhat of a guide to help you gain an understanding of what it might cost to respray a classic car in 2023.
The Size of the Car
The size and complexity of the car is obviously a major factor in the cost of respraying a classic car. This is due to the amount of time it takes as well as the amount of materials required. Simply put, it is generally cheaper to paint a smaller car because it will be less labour and less paint, and a larger car will be more labour and more paint. However, there are occasions when a larger car could work out less if it is an easier, less time consuming project and a smaller car be more if the job is more complex. Something like a Jaguar XK150 or Triumph Spitfire in a soft-top convertible doesn’t have a roof that needs painting so would generally be cheaper than a coupe.
Stripping a vehicle down and taking it apart can prove easier on some cars than others so this will all be factored into the labour cost. There’s less car to take apart on a Mini than there is on a Silver-Shadow. Some cars are relatively modular in their design and will dismantle simply, whereas some car components might be more complex; like an E-Type bonnet which is a huge area of the car made up of lots of different panels and brackets keeping it all together.
The Condition of the Car
Sticking with dismantling, how time consuming it is for a car to come apart is also down to the condition of the vehicle. A Mercedes 190E is only 30-40 years old, with good build quality, so should come apart easier than a 60 year old Morris Minor. Classic cars are prone to rust over the years so it all depends on what has rounded off or seized in its lifetime and the overall quality of the car in regards to how easily it can be dismantled for paint.
And then there are repairs that need to be carried out before you can start to paint. Any rust and corrosion will need to be properly addressed, otherwise it will just blister back through the new paint. Whether you choose to fibre-glass and filler areas of damage or do it properly by cutting and welding, these aspects take time and materials which are all factored into the cost of painting a classic car.
A bare-metal car with straight bodywork is an easier starting point for painting a classic car than a complete car in poor condition. If there is less components to take apart, less coatings to strip away and less repairs that need to be carried out then there will be a lot less labour needed on the project as a whole. Some classic car owners will strip the cars back to bare metal themselves to keep costs down when painting a classic car.
The Paint Required
As mentioned earlier, bigger cars will require more paint and automotive paint is charged by the litre. Just like anything else, you have cheap options and you have quality options. At Peacock Prestige we only use the best products on the market, whereas other bodyshops might skimp on materials to keep costs down or ultimately increase their profit margins. The quality of the paint used will determine the longevity of the work, the overall finish and the durability of the coating. Like when you see an old sun-bleached red Ford Ka with the lacquer peeling, that’s because of the quality of the paint used. A better quality paint and lacquer will provide better durability and stay looking good for longer.
Another factor of the paint, not just quality or quantity, is the type of finish. Metallic paints are more expensive than gloss finishes, and matte or satin finishes are even more expensive. A premium quality satin can cost as much as £1000 per litre, so combine that with the size of the car as well as the labour and you can soon get an idea of how expensive some paint jobs can be. Pearlescent finishes or TVR-like flip-tones not only cost more as material but require more time to apply.
The Hourly Rate
Most bodyshops charge an hourly rate for any works, and any materials will be charged on top. This is to ensure they are covering staff wages as well as facilities and overheads. An individual working out of their own shed might charge a lower hourly rate but they don’t have access to, or have to pay for, the facilities that a specialist bodyshop has. In the same sense that Gordon Ramsay charges more than McDonald’s; people might still love the taste of the food but the quality and environment dramatically differ.
At Peacock Prestige, not only do we have workshop space of over 7,000 square-feet with every tool needed for the job, we also have some of the very best technicians in the world working on your pride and joy. Some bodyshops will be transparent about their hourly rate if you ask them, but this is more likely for places doing bumpers and blow-in repairs as opposed to proper restoration work. We work hard to offer accurate estimates for projects so our customers have a good idea of how much it costs to paint a classic car.
How to Keep Costs Down
There is no such thing as a bargain when it comes to painting a classic car, and a lot of people can mistake fresh paintwork for good paintwork. The reality of it is that cutting costs is lowering quality, however there are a few methods you can use to bring the overall cost of a restoration project down but this will mean sacrificing your own time.
As mentioned, you can dismantle and strip the classic car back to bare-metal yourself with tools like spanners, ratchets and sanding equipment. Windows and glass can prove more difficult, depending on the vehicle, so we recommend you call in the professionals for this. We recommend you properly unplug any wiring harnesses to make it easier when re-assembling the vehicle, and be sure to make a note of what goes where.
If you don’t mind spending time and making dust, you can use an orbital sander and sand the car back to bare-metal. If you have experience with the safe handling of chemicals then you could possibly use some sort of paint stripper to help speed up the process. If you’re fully gutting the vehicle inside and out then shot blasting or acid dipping, whilst not a DIY route, are very effective ways of taking your classic car back to bare metal (although most reputable restoration bodyshops will offer these services themselves).
Another alternative is to have a fresh paint job over the top of what’s already there. If you’re confident the bodywork is in good condition then you can always save money by having what the industry calls a “blow-over”. This is the process of keying the existing coating and spraying a fresh layer of primer, top-coat and lacquer over the top, giving the appearance of a brand new paint job at a fraction of the cost. Of course this method does not prevent any existing corrosion from bubbling through at a later date, so is better suited to more modern vehicles or recently restored vehicles looking to change the colour.
Premium Classic Car Painting Services
Whatever your chosen method, Peacock Prestige offer a range of Classic Car painting services to suit your needs. Get in touch today via our email [email protected] or visit our Coventry-based workshop.