Cost of a single-color paint job?

How about $50? Nobody mentioned the post on moparts.com by 69ChargerYeeHa (or such) on the roll & tip method, the most read automotive post on the internet, I understand. Most there use Rustoleum, but I used much better Interlux Brightsides polyurethane (boat paint, ~$100/gal). I painted my trailer that way 4 yrs ago, and still looks shiny. So far I painted my 65 Dart's trunk, engine bay, and interior. Need time to work on the outside. Before fussing, look at all the car photos on that site.

Re Maaco, in 1996 I got their winter special on my 65 Newport, and picked the higher grade 2-part polyurethane ($250 I recall). It still looks fine today, even though I have mostly parked outside in GA & CA. There was slight "orange peel" from humidity (why winter is cheaper), but no worse than you see on many new cars. I did see a hair or two down low, but barely visible. That was after an accident required replacing a qtr panel and rear. Since then, I have had to replace 2 doors (driver & deer), plus qtr panel repair (another driver) and a roof dent (tree limb). If you drive it, the paint will get damaged.

I will never use metallic again. I sprayed one door while lying horizontal (less drips), but the paint looks different in sunlight, while another door that was sprayed on the car matches. The metal particles must be affected by gravity. I also read that they oxidize, which degrades the paint faster. I also would never do clear-coat since it is almost impossible to repair, and looks terrible when it degrades. After ~20 yrs, my Newport looks better than the typical newish car you see driving around with paint flaking off or degraded clear coat, and crazed plastic headlamps. I think people that say things like "a 20 footer" are idiots. I try to stay 20 ft from their trailer queens.