Just go to a local car meet and start talking to people about getting a Maaco paint job you’re likely to get one of two responses. Some will openly sneer or show distaste at such a thing for even a remotely collectible vehicle. Others might be polite and not say much while screaming internally. And while there are enthusiasts who have had good experiences with Maaco or at least known someone who has, there are likely more who have a poor opinion of the brand.
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So when a YouTuber decided to have a 1953 Pontiac Chieftain he bought painted at Maaco for the low price of $2,500 it caused some controversy. Considering the guy did this for his channel as much as for his business of flipping cars, we’ll just say his intentions probably don’t line up with a gearhead who loves his ride and wants to keep it for the long run.
In other words, if you have a classic or even more modern car with paint issues, and you want to keep it for years to come and take it to shows, etc. you might want to do some serious research before hiring a professional. We’ve seen many who have gone to Maaco or other body shops only to have issues with orange peel, crackle, bubbling, insufficient coverage, etc.
What’s more, the video doesn’t show every inch of the Chieftain in great detail. Most freshly painted cars look amazing from a distance. The difference between an excellent paint job and one that’s sloppy is in those fine details. This car could be a Monet where once you get up close in certain areas it looks splotchy.
On a side note, this guy picked Plum Crazy for this classic Pontiac. For some that will be like fingernails down the blackboard. Others won’t care. We think it’s definitely a curious decision and tells you something about car flippers.
Cutting corners when restoring a car can come with serious consequences. There’s a big difference between learning real skills and doing the work yourself and finding cheap services to provide cheap results for a quick flip. Do you think that’s what happened with this ’53 Chieftain?
Images via Auto Auction Rebuilds/YouTube
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