Fresh Paint - How important to work with a Porsche specialist?

[J Schiavone]

likely a lot, in my opinion--there are a million little details to get right, and many of them change year to year. even a very good shop will have a hard time getting these things right if they aren't familiar with these cars.

now, if you already have a comprehensive list of 'this should be black, this should be body color, this should be unpainted, etc.' and are doing both disassembly and reassembly, then I'm sure a good shop could follow your list and do a nice job.

I did most disassembly and reassembly on my car, but I sent the car to an early911 expert for the actual paint and body work so it would be done right.

I second what NP says -- hopefully you are physically close to the painter, but there are many details that need to get communicated, which he may or may not want to deal with

[Bahman]

The easiest paints to use are single-stage urethane, such as Imron. Very frogiving, and imperfections (e.g., sags, ripples, etc.) can be easily sanded and polished after curing.

Fine-grade metallics are the hardest to apply, requiring much experience, refinement, and familiarity with paint chemistry on the part of the technician doing the actual spraying. The paint chamber quality is also super critical insofaras controlling temperature, humidity, ventilation, cleanliness, and much more are concerned.

Regardless of the above, the painter is an artist, and quality of the outcome is very dependent upon the talent, skill, creativity and caring of the person doing the actual spraying. It's critical to meet, interview, and ask a lot of questions from the person who will be actually spraying the paint.

Having experienced all of the above personally (not fun), I have resorted to painting my own cars using single-stage urethane paints. The results are superb. See my 1972 E black targa pics in the registry here.

[bob joyce]

it would ultimately come down to how well you know your car
the years are painted differently.
but if you can give the painter a drawing detailing what and how to paint and come to an understanding that your description would be the "contract"
i think it is doable....

[np]

How much would I be sacrificing by going to a standard body shop with a good reputation but one that does not necessarily know these early cars? The car is fairly clean. No rust to speak of but I'm sure there will be some surprises once we get the paint off (there always are).

likely a lot, in my opinion--there are a million little details to get right, and many of them change year to year. even a very good shop will have a hard time getting these things right if they aren't familiar with these cars.

now, if you already have a comprehensive list of 'this should be black, this should be body color, this should be unpainted, etc.' and are doing both disassembly and reassembly, then I'm sure a good shop could follow your list and do a nice job.

I did most disassembly and reassembly on my car, but I sent the car to an early911 expert for the actual paint and body work so it would be done right.

[flatsixer]

A good painter is a good painter as long as he knows what, where and how to paint. Are you giving him a bare car, or will he take it apart? That would be my only concern.

[dogleg]

So, I'm about ready to paint my car and I want it done right. But word on the street is that the best Porsche specialty shops are booked up solid with extensive waiting lists. How much would I be sacrificing by going to a standard body shop with a good reputation but one that does not necessarily know these early cars? The car is fairly clean. No rust to speak of but I'm sure there will be some surprises once we get the paint off (there always are).

Anyone gone this route? I'd appreciate opinions.