So, I have this series one 240z that I should start to think about painting..... Last paint job was back in 1995, and the hood was repainted in 2010. The car looks fine from a distance, but I have been hit by foul balls at a softball game, scraped a few times when unloading out of the hatch, etc......

I have "some" rust ( I think they all do by now) bubbles that have shown up over the years in the lower fenders, rockers and well arches, but nothing too crazy... at least I like to think that.

Last time I painted it, I took it all apart and took it to a local body shop and they sprayed it, and I put it back together. Went ok, but wondering what I should do this time. MOST of the body shops I talked to locally won't touch it unless it's an insurance claim. I get it, no one wants to go down a rabbit hole with an old car........ when they can make money working on stuff that insurance will cover.

I would love to hear from those that have had there car painted, I want to take it back to original silver, as the motor compartment is correct original color. I don't think I want to do a bolt off restro on it, that might be for the next guy that has the car...... Any thoughts or advice is appreciated. Need to start thinking of a budget for this project.........

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by 70z4fun

Where are you located?

It can be difficult to find someone to paint an old datsun. Better now that the values have risen but tough to avoid paint jail. Where your car is stuck in a shop for a year or more.

If I were looking for a painter, I would ask my local automotive paint shop. The jobbers who supply paint shops with materials. Ask when there aren't other customers around!

I ended up painting my own because I couldn't find anybody reasonable to paint. It's been a long road with mixed results...

I have no idea what current prices are for full paint.

The rust needs to be dealt with for sure!

I'm sure there is more there than the little bubbles. Take the glass out for the respray and strip as much as possible for improved results.

Don’t just go to the first body shop you can find. Most of the insurance painters and repair shops don’t really care as long as they get paid which leads to orange peel and miss matched paint. Like Patcon sad, ask the local automotive paint supply stores or classic car dealers (doesn’t matter which make).

Had a big scratch on the passenger door of my 2008 VW Polo thanks to the previous owner (my sister’s husband). I found a local paint shop that was recommended by the dent removal guy at work (worked at the BMW motorcycle dealer for a while as a part time job). He resprayed the entire right side of the car otherwise you would see the difference in color (light grey car). All in all it cost me €600 cash and the result was perfect, you could not see the difference at all.

My ’77 280z will also need some rust repair and painting within the coming years. I’ll probably take it to that guy as het specializes in high end BMW and Audi’s and rare classic BMW’s. He had a BMW 2002, E30 M3 EVO 2 and a first gen 6 series in the shop at that time for full body restauration. That and he accepts cash jobs which save me some money.