Looks like I might of finally found one....

[69bronzeT5]

I was looking through the newspaper today and something popped out. There was a picture ad for a restoration/body shop and it had a vintage car on it. So I check out their website and I think I finally found a body shop where I can send my car. On their site, it says they do restorations, body work, metal fab., paint and abunch of other stuff. AND the best part, they specialize in Mopars! They have a gallery and in the gallery, they have pictures of cars they have done. In it is a 70 & 72 Challenger, 70 Hemi Cuda, 68 Roadrunner, 69 GTX and a '68 Hemi Charger. I have seen the Hemi Charger at local shows and its beautiful! I'm sending them an email right now. I guess its not really that important or big yet but I'm excited.

[moparguy01]

might want to check it out in person, get an idea what they will charge you, and check out the contract you will have to sign. You just might want to do alittle more checking before rushing into it. Sorry to rain on your parade, i'm just trying to avoid the inevitable "the bodyshop screwed me" posts that we see all over the board.

good luck finding a good place though!

[69bronzeT5]

Well right now I'm just getting estimates. This is my first one by myself though. My dad got one a few years ago.

[Back N Black]

So, how much do you want the bodyshop to do on your car? Complete restoration or just send the shell back to you painted and piece it together yourself.
That will make a big difference in the cost.


Good luck.

[skip68]

The first thing you need to do Cody, is get those bucket seats out of the way so the body shop can do the job.  I can hold them for you.     Chuck.........

[69bronzeT5]

So, how much do you want the bodyshop to do on your car? Complete restoration or just send the shell back to you painted and piece it together yourself.
That will make a big difference in the cost.

Basically, I'd like them to do body and paint and then let me do everything by myself and with help from family friends of course.

The first thing you need to do Cody, is get those bucket seats out of the way so the body shop can do the job.  I can hold them for you.    Chuck.........

There already out of the way, there in my bedroom

[A383Wing]

I guess its not really that important or big yet but I'm excited.

It don't take much to get him excited, does it?   

Bryan   

[69bronzeT5]

I guess its not really that important or big yet but I'm excited.

It don't take much to get him excited, does it?   

Bryan   

Well theres a limited number of body shops here. And the main one is always full and charges alot. I'm excited because this is probally the only vintage car restoration place near me

[A383Wing]

Just be carefull....a lot of "restoration" shops will bait you into bringing yer car in, and then "bleeding" your wallet to death because they found "more issues" then was previously detected.

Bryan  (was just making a funny) 

[bear]

If I were you I would ask people where they had their cars done at and what their experience with the place was like. It is always better to go with places that people recommend then go through the phone book or paper and choose a place that gives you the lowest offer.

[skip68]

If I were you I would ask people where they had their cars done at and what their experience with the place was like. It is always better to go with places that people recommend then go through the phone book or paper and choose a place that gives you the lowest offer.

I agree 100%.    Now, about those seats.

[tan top]

If I were you I would ask people where they had their cars done at and what their experience with the place was like. It is always better to go with places that people recommend then go through the phone book or paper and choose a place that gives you the lowest offer.

  good advice

[69bronzeT5]

Now, about those seats.

I'm keeping em Chuck .

If I were you I would ask people where they had their cars done at and what their experience with the place was like. It is always better to go with places that people recommend then go through the phone book or paper and choose a place that gives you the lowest offer.

Well like I said, there is very limited body shops here. We only have a few. My dad had a guy (who privately restores cars in his spare time) give us an estimate for $1500 for body and paint but that was a few years ago and last time we talked to him (Summer '06), he dosent do it anymore. And regarding that Hemi '68 they did. I've seen it twice. Once at a car show completely done (it was flawless) and the other time, it was in progress and getting the sheetmetal done. If I remember, when I saw it in progress, they had just finished sanding everything after completing the metalwork and was getting ready to prime it.

[bull]

Well like I said, there is very limited body shops here. We only have a few. My dad had a guy (who privately restores cars in his spare time) give us an estimate for $1500 for body and paint but that was a few years ago and last time we talked to him (Summer '06), he dosent do it anymore.

If you talk to this restoration shop I'll bet you $100 their estimate will be roughly $1,500 x 10 + $5,000 depending on how much work you need done. I'd be prepared to cough up $10k minimum.

[Ghoste]

I'm happy for you too Cody but like everyone else is telling you, take a deep breath and go easy.  As much as we bust your chops here I think everone would like to see your car get finished and finished properly.  The 1500 estimate sounds unbelievably cheap just like Bull said.  1500 won't even buy much paint and supplies.
Call around and get those estimates and find out where the other car nuts are going and then come back to us, your virtual older brothers and sisters before you commit to anything. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

Your car needs a lot of rust repair. I'll bet you'll need 20K for a "resto" shop to get that car in primer.

 

[bull]

As Ghoste eluded to, I'm not trying to discourage you at all but like everyone here (including myself) it's always a big dose of realty when you finally get the bills for what these things cost. I paid more than $2k for sheetmetal alone to replace the rust so you can imagine how much more it costs to have someone do the work at various hourly rates. Most shops are charging upwards of $80/hr now. I don't even want to tell you the total of how much I've spent on my '68, in fact I don't really want to add it up but I've got a general idea and it's not something I go around bragging about.

[69bronzeT5]

I'll bet you'll need 20K for a "resto" shop to get that car in primer.

I'm screwed

[Daytona R/T SE]

I'll bet you'll need 20K for a "resto" shop to get that car in primer.

I'm screwed

Pretty much.

[Ghoste]

But don't let screwed morph into discouraged.  Might be a good time to think about rolling up your sleeves and learning bodywork the hard way.