Full Nut and Bolt Restoration

[mhm1966]

Can Members please post some dollar figures on what a full nut and bolt restoration would cost on a 1969 Camaro. The car needed just a shoe box full of sheet metal to be replaced. The shop rate is $75 per hour. The restoration figure includes parts, materials, and labor. Thank you.

[dykstra]

Whatever figure you get, triple it.

[mhm1966]

Thank you, but I am looking to get some dollar amounts. I would like to know if I am getting taken advantage of.

[njsteve]

Are they doing just the body? Maybe around $50K...or the entire drivetrain and interior? Maybe $100k? Does it involve dated-coded correct original parts? $150,000. Does the car have it's born-with drivetrain still in it If not, add in another high 5 figure amount.

Unless you've endured the experience of restoring a 1000-point car and had it judged at a national level, you won't have a true concept of the amount of cubic dollars it takes to get to that level of service. It is well into the 6-figure ballpark. And the vast majority of the cars that go through this never even come close to recovering the restoration costs for their owners when they go to sell them.

For example, any time someone says I want a "BaRrEt JaCkSoN" level restoration, that usually means a slapped-together paint job, full of body filler and aftermarket reproduction parts that look shiny under the lights at an auction but when you wake up the next morning and see it in the light of day, you are really made aware of the term "buyer's remorse."

You also need to get the entire estimate IN WRITING before you hand over the car. You do not pay them for the job beforehand. You pay maybe a 20% deposit so they can purchase materials but then you pay as the work is done and they show you proof and invoice you for the exact labor and materials costs. Otherwise you'll get taken advantage of when they say you'll be paying a set amount each few weeks. That's called Body Shop Prison and they hold your car hostage and keep billing you for ransom $$$$ until you have to repossess your own car from their (probably now out-of-business vacant) shop.

Look around the shop. Are there several dozen cars covered in dust sitting around not being worked on? Or only a couple cars and each one is progressing rapidly with actual people working on them.

[bergy]

Use a shop near enough to you that you can check on progress frequently. I prefer to agree on price & then establish progress payments at milestones. Hours are kinda irrelevant to me because some restorers work more efficiently than others.

[Canuck]

Unless the restoration shop does the same type of car over and over,let’s say a 69 Camaro, an estimate or quote cannot be given. Too many variables car to car,even if identical models.
Has it got Ohio rust or Arizona Rust, if it comes in boxes, is everything there. How much will the resto shop have to farm out?.
I just visited a Mercedes Resto Shop, probably the best in the World, work runs from $150,000 for a paint refresh and chrome to $1,000,000.

[mhm1966]

I purchased this car because it had the original drivetrain and all the original components. I did all the rebuilding on the drivetrain and restoration on all the components. The shop got the body, suspension, and all the glass. They disassembled the car did all the body and paint work. I have been restoring Corvettes for over 40 years and I got to a stage in my life where I didn't want to do another restoration. The car has been at his shop for almost four years and most of the work is completed except for the front and rear glass, interior, wire harnesses, radiator and shroud. It just seems like the amount of money I paid this shop the car should have been finished long ago.

[bergy]

[QUOTE=Canuck;1681397]Unless the restoration shop does the same type of car over and over,let’s say a 69 Camaro

That’s the restoration shop that you want - the one with a lot of experience restoring your model car. Otherwise, in the absence of an up front estimate, you risk paying extra for someone else’s learning curve. As the disassembly progresses there will be unforeseen issues that surface & extra charges will be discussed.

I’ve certainly been on the receiving end of “body shop jail”. My 69 Pace Car was a prime example that was discussed on this forum. In that case - the community agreed that it was time to cut my losses. I retrieved my car - licked my wounds - and had a local shop make repairs & finish the restoration (which I’m now very happy with).

[R68GTO]

I had roughly $50K in body/paint in my 69 Camaro. I dropped the car off as a roller with interior stripped out. They disassembled, stripped, very minimal sheetmetal work with all GM panels, primer/paint, re-assembled and set gaps on body. I did the rear end, subframe, interior, wiring, trim......really everything but the body and delivered them restored components when needed. They were local to me so I could keep an eye on their progress. They had the car roughly 18 months.

[Too Many Projects]

If it's that close to done and they are dragging their feet, it's time to either strap on a safety harness and start riding their ass to finish it or take it out. 4 years is 1-2 years too long already for a "qualified" shop to have completed the work.
Too many stories the same as yours about this situation. I got caught in one several years ago too, but after 9 months of him screwing up all the metal work I did to get it ready for him, I showed up one Saturday morning with my trailer and loaded it all up and left.
Give them a timeline of when you expect it done and be there ready to take it out in whatever condition it's in.