C3 specialist painters ?

[adventuresinavette]

My paintshop here are great but by his own admission he isn't used to working on 48 year old fiberglass cars ... has anyone any pointers of a specialist who would be working on them and do a full respray ? I'm based in belfast but car can obviously be transported
Many thanks in advance !!
Craig

 

[62 C1]

I haven't used them myself (yet) but when I was investigating this MechSpray in Kent kept getting recommended. They do a lot of Corvettes and GRP work. Their website is terrible mechspray.com but the gallery has some example of their work and contact details. Worth a chat. The Facebook might better but I haven't checked it.

 

[adventuresinavette]

Awesome thank you !!!

 

[Custom exotics]

We also do a lot of fibreglass body cars corvettes cobras optimas feel free to give us a call

 

[Mad4slalom]

I haven't used them myself (yet) but when I was investigating this MechSpray in Kent kept getting recommended. They do a lot of Corvettes and GRP work. Their website is terrible mechspray.com but the gallery has some example of their work and contact details. Worth a chat. The Facebook might better but I haven't checked it.

Mech spray have been around for 35 years plus as far as I recall. They were always known as corvette specialists and seemed to take best paint year on year. I have seen a recent 5k repaint on a lotus esprit which I always thought was way too cheap to be done right, it wasnt and is jumping out and peeling off already as the guy didnt know enough about prepping and painting fibreglass. I heard of a vette owner who was quoted 17 k by mech spray which is probably the going rate for a flawless job that will stand the test of time .I recently sold a Z4 M coupe that was factory paint except for f and r bumpers. The new owner just spent over 9k having a glass out , panels off repaint. Quality I am afraid does not come cheap

 

[sharrig]

My paintshop here are great but by his own admission he isn't used to working on 48 year old fiberglass cars ... has anyone any pointers of a specialist who would be working on them and do a full respray ? I'm based in belfast but car can obviously be transported
Many thanks in advance !!
Craig

There is a specialist called Amazing Auto's based in Llanelli, close to Swansea. Check their FB page which shows pictures and video's for further details.

 

[sharrig]

There is a specialist called Amazing Auto's based in Llanelli, close to Swansea. Check their FB page which shows pictures and video's for further details.

 

[Nassau65]

As mad4slalmon has said mech spray has been around for ever and has a very good reputation. However 17k for a repaint is hard to swallow. I saw a paint job on a C3 that was done by custom exotics and it looked superb but I didn’t know what it cost.

 

[Mad4slalom]

As mad4slalmon has said mech spray has been around for ever and has a very good reputation. However 17k for a repaint is hard to swallow. I saw a paint job on a C3 that was done by custom exotics and it looked superb but I didn’t know what it cost.

My previous toy was a z4m coupe , front bumper needed a refresh due to fine gravel rash, and it had a dozen or so stone chips on the bonnet, the purchaser spent over 9K having a glass out repaint with spike’s custom s in norwich . Excellent set up and quality of work. Thing is, it looked almost this good when I sold it. Also a pic to remind myself why I changed it for the 72 , no comparison in the head turning stakes

 

[Nassau65]

The Z4M looks nice, but the corvette nicer.
haven’t had anything painted in the UK for ages, got used to Florida prices which are very reasonable for good work.
could get a very quick blow over for $500 on a good day.

 

[Mad4slalom]

The Z4M looks nice, but the corvette nicer.
haven’t had anything painted in the UK for ages, got used to Florida prices which are very reasonable for good work.
could get a very quick blow over for $500 on a good day.

Agree, plus the m cost £580 to tax and I did 400 miles between last two mot’s. I used to paint cars back in the early 80’s , with prices ranging from 250 quid trade repaint on a golf or the like in sikkens autoflex . To a bare metal repaint on a 911T for £1500 in good old cellulose. How prices and systems have changed since then

 

[Nassau65]

Good old cellulose, now your talking. Those were the days.

 

[C1CKS]

Agree, plus the m cost £580 to tax and I did 400 miles between last two mot’s. I used to paint cars back in the early 80’s , with prices ranging from 250 quid trade repaint on a golf or the like in sikkens autoflex . To a bare metal repaint on a 911T for £1500 in good old cellulose. How prices and systems have changed since then

I remember Sikkens, such an easy paint to use back in the 2 pack days before crap waterbase came out

 

[Mad4slalom]

I remember Sikkens, such an easy paint to use back in the 2 pack days before crap waterbase came out

Yes, i had a 2k mixing scheme

Good old cellulose, now your talking. Those were the days.

The Z4M looks nice, but the corvette nicer.
haven’t had anything painted in the UK for ages, got used to Florida prices which are very reasonable for good work.
could get a very quick blow over for $500 on a good day.

Earl shide I think would paint any car sny col

Good old cellulose, now your talking. Those were the days.

earl schiebe would paint any car any colour for $99.95 in the states I read, god knows what the prep must have been like

 

[Nassau65]

Yes, i had a 2k mixing scheme


Earl shide I think would paint any car sny col

earl schiebe would paint any car any colour for $99.95 in the states I read, god knows what the prep must have been like

Actually it was very good. They came out really nice.

Late 70’s there was a firm called Texon, they were like Earl Shrib. They had a place in Stamford hill ( north London)
I took a 74 Camaro there for a repaint. They charged £59.95 all in. Well, they made a Fantastic job, not sure if it got more attention than the usual cars that they did, but WOW, it looked great. They matched the factory pale yellow real good. Once the go faster stripes went on, it looked the business. Sold it to a guy who shipped it to South Africa.

 

[Nassau65]

Anybody remember the late Barry Sturges? He was a very good painter. Lived at the top of our road, worked from his garage/workshop at the rear of his mums big house. G-Force was his 1970 mustang 428 cobra jet. I remember it long before it transformed into G Force. He was a real nice guy, passed before his time.

 

[Roscobbc]

I seem to recall chatting to him at a few shows - CJ was a rare beast then (as it is now)

 

[Nassau65]

Of course, one of the obvious people to contact is Corvette Kingdom.
they have been painting the “plastic fantastic “ for god knows how many years.

 

[Harry0075]

Hi all, sorry for thread hi-jack. I was just interested to learn about whether there is something specific or special to fibreglass painting compared to other classic car bodywork?

I'm due to get my C3 today! It will need a little bit of paintwork and was going to get it done pretty quickly but is there something specific about fibreglass painting that is different that I need to watch out for? Many thanks.

 

[Roscobbc]

The problem with re-finishing glass fibre cars is that the various stages in prepping and finishing differ from steel body cars.The traditional methods of wet sanding with water can create problems. Typically this can be some time after your typical warranty has expired. Raw glass fibre can absorb moisture (as can filler) - microscopic particles of water trapped under the paint can freeze if the car is left out in winter and/or try to evaporate if left in the sun on a hot day. Both can cause microblistering of the paint as the moisture underneath tries to escape. Leaving the car under a cover outside can also re-create these conditions. Moral is - use someone you knows Corvettes and only do it once.......