Repainting a Fiberglass Cobra?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by SP01715

Yep, For a complete body off paint job at a high end shop you are looking at 20k-25k.

I think that is the starting point (no body repair, only paint) for the high-end shops doing Pebble Beach-type jobs.

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by 62Cobra

I love the "full Race Trim" look!

Told you it was one of my FAVORITE pics!

David

[Andrew Teal]

Mark,
I spent a year painting my Cobra, boby work etc,etc, And my Cobra was built in 1992 when the bobys where strong but not as nice as todays Cobra"s.
One Fathers day several years back I had stop at Safeway to pich up some things for dinner and some one ran a shopping cart into the front of my Cobra knocking out several large chucks of paint. I think you should drive it like you stole it. They where made to be driven. All of us who can paint can almost always find a flaw in the best of paint jobs, so get one enjoy it and lay some rubber, pin your self in the seat, any Cobra is better than no Cobra

Andy

[Clois Harlan]

Gotta love that patina! To me every pit tells a story. I wish I had left mine alone last year with all of it's patina and battle scars. I will just have to make more.

Clois

[Ron61]

David,

Those are great pictures. Thanks for posting them. That front looks more like mine did than almost any I have seen around here. Although as I said, I did touch up some of the larger chips in the white, you could still see where they were. Heck I even had a ding in the side pipe on the drivers side where a wheel weight from a car in front of me came loose and hit it. I was just happy it stayed low and never hit me.

Ron

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Andrew Teal

Mark,
All of us who can paint can almost always find a flaw in the best of paint jobs, so get one enjoy it and lay some rubber, pin your self in the seat, any Cobra is better than no Cobra

Andy

AMEN!

David

[RedEsprit]

What a great FIA. The paint looks "perfect" to me.

Regarding the original thread, repainting the ERA with a high quality job "made for the street" really shouldn't cost more than about $4,000-$5,000 IF the current paint was applied properly, adhering, etc. Many shops will not warranty their re-paint job without virtually stripping the old and re-sealing, however, since it is impossible to know how well the old was applied and when you see your new paint "lifting" due to the prior job's poor application, it can really ruin your day. All things considered, the new paint may well turn out smoother than the old simply due to the added material and additional block sanding. What Bill says is gospel...this is an area where you absolutely get what you pay for. My additional comment is, in many cases, you don't get what you pay for. Ask to see some of the painter's work before plunking down the bucks.

ACs are much easier to do a color change on than a Corvette or most other cars simple because their is no painting in the engine compartment, door jambs, etc. After removing the hood, doors, decklid, windscreen, etc these are very, easy cars to shoot. I initially painted my ERA for street/track use with lacquer and have put about 4,000 fun miles on the car. Cost was about $1,000 in materials. It has some flaws now (lacquer is soft) due to some high speed bumps but in general is still of "good" quality. I'm adding an aluminum hood, doors and decklid and will be repainting the car with a a bit of a more of a "show quality" job when that's complete (with lacquer that is simply more color sanding, masking, and hand polishing) and probably will spend another $1,000 in materials. Investing $15,000 in paint on a car that (1) is going to be driven on the street and/or track and... (2) you are unlikely to be able to recoup the cost of a high-end paint job upon sale (just like you, a new buyer probably won't like your color), just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[1ntCobra]

Dave,

Is that one of the Anglis rebodies that is used as the basis for the incorrect oil cooler openings found on most FIA replicas today (including current Shelby CSX FIA cars)?

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

This is an original FIA car. I think the sandblasted look is really, really, cool. I even leave it on my brushed car. It shows the car has been truly loved.

[Snakebit]

An interesting quote from Jay Leno. "I like to restore a car to a 100 points then drive it down to a 70." These cars are meant to be driven. Don't draft tractor trailers carring a load of sand. There are ways to protect the front areas and rear fender flairs with clear 3M chip guard film. I painted my own car. The cost for paint PPG base and clear was over $1500, not counting body filler, sand paper, guide coat, Epoxy primer, High build primer, thinners, paint prep cleaners, spray guns, compressor, water and air filters. resporator, masking tape, paper, tack cloths, paint suites, and more. $5000-$8000 for a paint job is worth every penny!

For what it would cost you to buy a good ERA 427 and have it repainted, you could have ERA build you one in the color you like.