GTO body work

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I have a 72 GTO, am looking for a GOOD, honest competent shop to restore the body. I have a certain amount to spend, not a limitless account.Can anyone recommend someone in the Toronto area?

-- Mike Crnkovic (csmith121@yahoo.com), January 31, 2001

Answers

Hi Mike (we meet again!),

Funny, you are running through all the things I have when I bought my car 9 years ago.

This is a tough one, as I have had a few body shops look at my car and I have gotten some pretty wild estimates. I had the 'Guild of Automotive Restorers' in the Toronto area look at my car and their cost would have been well over 10,000 (and that was in 1995).

I then had Davies Corvette look at it and to sandblast/repaint it, they quoted me about $5,000 (that was in 1997).

I then had the fellow from HOK (House of Kolor) and one of his bodymen look at it and the paint/bodywork would be about $9000 (using a really nice custom paint from HOK).

However, I have not moved forward on any of these, as I am really not ready to spend that kind of money. I think I may end up trying to tackle some of the 'rough work' (i.e. replacing panels and getting it basically ready). Then when I have it the closest I can to ready, I will probably take it somewhere to get it finished. If you work with whatever body shop will ultimately finish the car and prepare the body with the correct fillers/primers/etc., then you should not be in too bad shape, and you will save some money. Otherwise, you are looking at 5K for a reasonably good paint job, or upwards of 10K for an awesome one!

The question I have to ask however, is if you have not done the underneath (i.e. frame/undercarriage/running gear) then don't even bother to start worrying about body-work. Deal with those first and sort the car out before you worry about the body/paint.

Cheers, Brian '72 GTO.

P.S. I replied to your VIN question, but noticing your email address has changed, the BBS-poster returned my post (sent directly to you). You may want to return to this BBS and check your post under 'Do I own a GTO?' at http://greenspun.com/bboard/main-frame.tcl?topic=Pontiac%20GTO.

-- Brian McColgan (bmccolgan@home.com), May 26, 2001.


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