Reply to "My Pantera Got Wrecked"

Adams,
This is just my 2 cents (maybe 10 w/inflation!)But if your main concern is maintaining your car's originality than do not re- paint the entire car.

I disagree with some over the statement that you can never blend a proper match. This may be true of the average high volume body shop. It should not be a problem for a shop that specializes in high end exotic/classic vehicles.

I have friends that are mangers at the Lambo store here in Atlanta. A metallic yellow Murci ran in to a deer. The damage was minor to the front bumper and a slight crease in the leading edge of the hood. It required blending and I could not for the life of me tell where it had been painted/blended.

Personally I would pay more for car with a perfect repair than a total repaint. It is more likely that you will find new issues with a re-paint than you originally had. Expect to pay a minimum of $6K-$8K for a paint job equal to the not so great original paint job by "Tony". The body shop you select will most likely need to start with the original color code formula and than hand blend to match the exact shade now on your 30+ year old cat. I have seen this done with a red classic Jeep CJ and the match was perfect. It just takes finding the right shop.

Do NOT forget the diminished value component. You can get estimates from classic car appraisers and shove this on the adjuster. The diminished value can be highly subjective
(= grossly inflated for your benefit). It may be capped by your state law, so check with your insurance commission.

Take lots of digital pics of the damage for a future owner.The originality issue should not be a problem. It is not like the car was in a major chassis bending wreck !

Good luck and take your time with settling and selecting your shop.

Jeff