Get your car painted before shipping

FLORIDA. There are plenty of horror stories circulating out there. A full American paint job for 99 dollars. Chicken wire and bondo. Swedes shake their heads in disappointment and beats their own drum. A “real paint job” in Sweden costs about 7300 $. We tried out one of them in USA before shipping. You be the judge. By Lars-Åke Krantz. Translation Ellen Kay Krantz.

The Salvation Army in Naples receives donated cars from the public to the church. They are fixed, served and sold. The profit goes to soup kitchens, day centers, food and clothing.

 

Krantz bought a Dodge pickup from 2000. Daughter Ellen Kay in Sweden loves short beds.

It was ugly as hell but with only one previous female owner who used it as a backup.  The Dodge had a five geared manual box and a short bed. That will make an okay truck for Ellen Kay to play around with.

No attempts were made to find a backyard painter. This because the readers should be able to replicate this if they want to, without “getting lucky” or having a friend who knows a guy. Straight over the counter, no discounts, just a regular purchase.

We went for the street in Fort Myers with all the body shops, speed shops, off-road companies, classic car dealers and looked for a paint shop.

Soon Maaco showed up on left hand side. Maaco is a chain shop that does paint jobs all day, every day. We rolled in.

– Good day, can you paint the pickup over there?

A young guy stood from his seat with pen and pad in hand. He took two laps around the car taking notes. Back inside by his desk he calculated, pointed to a chart and wondered, what level?

Kind of like when you go through an automatic wash. You choose a price. Are you selling the car so it’s all about shining it up or do you want something more long lasting? I pointed to the middle of the chart.

-Yes, sir. That will be 1679 $. You have chosen a finish that will last with shine for about ten years. You have five years guarantee on the paint job. It will be ready in a week. Bring it by the day after tomorrow, 7 AM.

I was standing out on the slot again. Glanced at the watch. Only 16 minutes had passed since we rolled in.

The day came to turn the car in. The gates were already open. Banging sounds and grinding noise came from several booths at the same time. I had purchased new headlights. The old glass were tanned and faded.

– Can you put these in when you’re done painting instead of the old ones?

They didn’t respond, threw the lights on the seat and nodded.

After three days we couldn’t stay away any longer. We made a lunch visit. Body work was ongoing and they had started grinding. Dents were corrected and irregularities straightened.

 

 

 

 

 

Maaco called after five days.

– The car is ready for pick up, sir.

I went to the shop, walked one lap with the salesmen who explained what corrections had been made, swiped the credit card and.. Goodbye.

All and all it took six days. Easy – like everything in USA.

20 inch rims with tires was purchased off Craigslist a week later.

The interior ceiling glue detaches in the hot Florida sun which makes the fabric drop. Gluing it won’t work as everything is powdered between ceiling and weave.

We went to upholsterer Mike in Cape Coral. He put in new ceiling interior in one hour. Price: 100 dollars.

Everything works, simple mechanics, no fuzz, no rattling. The only thing missing was a shinier surface. Was it worth 1779 all in all? You tell me.

Spring in Sweden. Ellen is rolling home to Sala. Cyklon in Ludvika, which we covered a few issues ago, took care of all papers, registration and inspection. Just pick up the keys and drive. No pain.