Maaco is underrated. They dont do decent rust repair, and they dont mask much beyond the big stuff, but the guys shooting paint do it all day, every day. They can lay down some nice paint. I'm writing up an estimate for a guy. He's used me before, we have a good understanding. It's a black '68 barracuda, that right now is basically 2-3 thicknesses of rattle can and primers. A color change on a Mopar done right is expensive. Because you have the trunk area and engine bay, plus the jambs. That's a ton of masking work and interior removal if the car is a running driving car. It's also the only way I do it. A scuff and shoot deal, using Napa or Sherman Williams materials will runn at least $2500 around here. A color change would come to about $1000 more, not including the engine bay. With the engine bay, add another $1500, because it has to be cleared of stuff, then cleaned, then prepped and shot, then all the stuff has to get back on there, no to mention the undersides of trunk and hood...Covered in grease and oil, and usually rust..yuck. In terms of materials. A friend had Spee(sp?) sprayed on his. The materials cost was $3000. And it was Limelight Green, not red. Material make s ahuge difference too. the cheaper paints and typical grey primers are cheap, but you need more material to get the right result. In terms of colors, cheaper lines may not be correct. My Swinger project, I had to make sure the Hemi Orange they mix has the correct metalflake in it. Not all specs call for it, but the factory color has it. It's much more than just "go cheapest" and anybody can shoot it. I've been doing it under the table for 12 years and I still consider myself barely marginal.
