Okay, I'm getting frustrated. I had thought there with the handful of body/paint shops in Gretna, NE that there'd be a place interested in some minor body work and painting of a stripped-down '55 Ford hardtop. Guess people aren't too hungry as everyone I've approached has turned down the opportunity to work on it ("we don't do restorations"). Well, F them if my money isn't good enough! Now I'd love to do it myself, but I'm more than willing to "help a brother" since my workshop's a long ways from being set up to paint (dirt floor, no welder, etc.). So, all you Omaha/Lincoln guys, any recommendations?
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, there is a con****ous lack of custom shops in Omaha.....So, somebody prove it is not so.
You will find thereare very few shops around Omaha that will do your car. Theres Bruno, JimmyV, and a coupla others that do what you want. None under 10K for minimume body work and good paint job. And probably a min 1 year wait to get in. A collison shop works on valume. Generaly not qualifiedto do your car.
Better they turn ya down then to get your car in & let it sit for a year. Most production shops only want insurance work since thats what pays the bills. We have several guys around me that do a hell of a paint job but don't want anything to do with bodywork. Any chance you could get someone to do it on the side for a little $ ?
Yutan Flash, eh? Is this Al? If so, PM me and I'll talk to Jimmy V for ya...no promises and he ain't cheap but he's good. Rocky
My brother lives in Gretna. He still takes his stuff to Ord where our friend Trent Proskocil does his work. Look up Valley Thunder in the yellow pages. I will recommend him without reservation.
Other than a basic cleanup/ make shinny, shops Maco quality. These cars average about 3 shops before their shinny. A shop with a rep. Wont do this car without it being a clean canvas. Whatever is under that primer desides the quality of the finished product. They will want to strip it back to clean canvas (bare metal) and start from there. Gets time consumable = Spendy, You want to suppot a bodyman/painter for several months? What do you have to take home per week. Body shops have that plus payments = overhead besides their home bills
One thing to keep in mind, YF, a collision shop can't afford to do custom stuff, and a custom shop can't afford to do collision work. They are two totally different animals. It's not that your money "isn't good enough" or they "aren't too hungry", it's just that you don't go to McDonald's to get a good prime rib, and the best steakhouse in town just doesn't offer cardboard burgers. People ask me all the time to paint their Z-71 or Camry and I tell them that I just can't do it. I'm swamped doing the $10,000+ custom stuff, I can't stop and be compe***ive with the body shops in town that can knock it out in a week or two. Best bet is to find a shop that does quality work, wait to get in and pay the price. Good luck!
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