It cost me about $600 to do it myself and it included having another fun
video to post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHVckUBCUgw  . You get what
you pay for. :)   $6,500 seems a bit high for what others have paid to have
a nice job done in the shop. Seems the rate for what you want to do should
be in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.

If I spent $5,000 to paint my '83 I'd have a van worth $4,500 when I was
done. :)

Bryan

-----Original Message-----
From: Troy
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 7:41 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Van painting cost

I just got back from the body shop with an estimate of $6500 to repaint my
van. For this price, I was going to completely remove all the moldings,
poptop canvas, side windows and rear, bumpers, utility outlets, door
handles, etc. and also reinstall. The $6500 does not include any new rubber
seals. I'm guessing a good $1200 for a complete set of rubber seals to do
all the doors and windows, pop top, rear hatch, etc. I do have some rust
around the rear window, and side windows, and in one of the rain gutters,
and one dent on the passenger side.  I really wanted to change colors, but
that would add an easy $1500 to the price. So, I guess I was thinking in the
$4000-$5000 range with me doing part of the work, so was a little surprised.

I'd like to get some feedback from others who have their vans painted, and
what they spent, and was was done for the cost.

Troy