$3k vs $5K paint job
 

I have an 83 thats pretty clean with a few light rust spots. My looking to get it painted and I have two quotes for body work and paint including the bed with has a lot of surface rust. One for $2,800 from a guy that seems kind of drunk but came recommended from the old car guy in my neighborhood and another for $4,650 from a well rated guy. Both wanted 2-4 weeks so not a rush job. Who would you go with?

No doubt, bodywork and paint is expensive. After doing mine myself, i see why -tools, supplies, paint itself, it cost me at least $2500 and all summer to do mine.

I would probably go with the more expensive vs drunk guy in the hopes of getting what you pay for. Unless you were doing it to flip it. The drunk guy may wind up costing more than quoted after all is done.

$2,800 is too cheap. Are they vehicle body paint shops? Or guys working in their garage?

Go with as much as you can afford, it will be worth it in the end. I want to paint my truck a cement gray with duplicated factory stripes, body work, one rust spot, really good paint with lots of wonderful clear, my quote from a good shop I’ve known for years is 12k…….
Now this is for an amazing job up there with restored classics but still isn’t upper end, I have seen 30-50k paint jobs and that’s some concourse stuff, it isn’t 1998 anymore;)