$7000 paint job
paying $$$$$ for paint is fine if you have it. Problem is, it keeps all the young ones out of the body shop. with the costs involved, most shops will only do insurance paid collision work. Resto work is TOO much for time and materials and people who pay out of pocket are often notoriously bad payers and unreliable. I'd really like to now how many cars have mechanics liens in the body industry!
Anyway, young'en are now doing alternatives to bodyshop work. Plasti-dip, chip guarding, or bedlining......even rat rodding (premature rusting cars). all low cost alternatives. If they paint? they try TCP global and paint in the back yard with a HF gun OR prep and let maaco shoot it. Can't blame them at all.....