Respray and Rust repair...how much?

Hi,

I am aware this is a near impossible to answer question but though I would ask to gauge some kind of ballpark figure or range.

I have a 1989 Clipper that has a great interior and is reasonably mechanically sound (and I'm happy to tinker) but the main issues are the roof and bodywork. I am not entirely sure the level of the rust but know that there is a reasonable amount of surface level rust spots and then where the roof attaches on one side was completely rusted away and has fibreglass/filler that would want to be replaced with metal. I think the bottom of the doors is also rusted (cheaper to buy new doors?). Unfortunately I have not seen the car up on a lift so am unaware of how the sills are looking!

What sort of price range would I be looking at for some rust repair, new roof and a respray?

thanks for the help!

how big is your wallet and determantion
to follow it through good luck hope to see
the final out come

I'd budget 5k if it were me. 

But I'm not actually mad, so I'd cut and run… unless you're really attached to it. 

you probaly know your self
once you are into mega bucks
where do you draw the line
it becomes one thing after
another probaly that is why projects
carry on for years then parts are
harder to source  but you are that
far in you cannot bail out

Yeah  I have been assuming £3-5k before any modifications or wheels, was hoping it would be down the £3k end to get body and roof sorted but worry that's optimistic!

Pictures please

Car currently in my parents garage in Scotland (I live in Oxfordshire), moving into a house with garage in a week and the car is coming down in 2, hence wanting to do the work now. Will post pictures when the car is down! 

depending on workshop theres prices of 2k to 4k for spray, the more you can remove before taking the quicker the job i guess, if your roof needs replacing then its better to remove it and get seal repaired prior to paint. plus bearing in mind the plastics  are 30 yrs old you need to take into account some spares. handles, side trims, decals, rubbers seal between skirts,

Id put 1500, for roof and parts , on top of the paint.  carl chortle chorley can check roof for you prior to any work.

Would like body work done for £3k which sounds doable. Then I can relax a bit about rust. Only drive in good weather and get roof done at a later date. 

 Then eventually get into the tweaks and modifications I want to do! Had the car since I was 15 and spent a lot of time with my dad so pretty attached. Otherwise I think I'd sell and move on!

Hi - My 1984 GTI Cabrio is currently in the workshop having a complete bare metal respray.  I am paying £65 per hour and the complete job should come in at around £6k.

It has had a complete strip down.

Hope this helps.

Good luck there. Labour of love. Some great advice there

All depends on how far u want to take it mate
If it was a mint car colour change around £2k

Or like me you send your car to be stripped for paint and all the gremlins show there self

Im nearly 2k in
and I’m not even finished with metal work and prep

So unfortunately there’s no ball part figure

You can always be wise and set a budget and do your best to stick to it

If you plan on keeping  the car then I’d just do everything u can to have a solid base before you think about paint

Good luck with the project



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Being a Newbie and only having read a small amount on the Forum but have noted a few comments that later cars are not too prone to heavy rusting so you might be lucky. Mine is a 1990 Cabrio Gti and it's pretty solid all round. Did have a bit of rust on near side rear quarter that was also, unbeknown to me, repaired with filler so I had that properly repaired and the back (damaged) rear done for £450.
Had a new roof done for £840 at South West Auto Trimmers. I'm not sure it's as good as what I've heard Chortle does them but it looks pretty good to my old eye. See it on the Newbies bit. Finally back on the road.

Should have said damaged rear bumper!!

Lets hope that's the case! Car coming down this weekend so will try to get so pictures up next week.