[xk] 140 FHC HOME At Last

XK
1

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints. This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

2

You did just fine.

The only thing you missed out on were real horror stories to pass on in
your golden years. Like…after 8 months you went to the shop and the
place was abandoned and your car was gone…or the painter sold all the
parts off your car…or after 5 years he still hadn’t even STARTED the
job…or he did the job in 12 months and told you it was really going
to cost $12,000.

See what I mean? You did fine.

Tom Carson
1954 XK 120SE OTS S674946
1962 3.8 Mark 2 MOD, chrome wires
Juneau, AlaskaOn Friday, October 24, 2003, at 06:09 AM, Richard Greene wrote:

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home
in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints.
This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal
for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a
paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

3

Richard

Don’t worry about the the time it took, the
good news you got a good job for a bargain price.

Gordon 120 dhc----- Original Message -----
From: “Richard Greene” greener@edgecombe.edu
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 7:09 AM
Subject: [xk] 140 FHC HOME At Last

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints. This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

4

Richard,
Can’t really comment on the time frame, but the cost is almost exactly
what I would have expected.________________________________________________________________
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5

Richard,

I agree with Tom Cason. A good paint job, a very subjective call, for
$2,500 it is a bargain. 8 months seems a bit lengthy but good shops are
often overbooked because of the quality of their work.

My E Type took ove 2 years (much more than a paint job) and I have no
idea what it cost. I refused to add up the bills and there were lots.
The end result was spectacular, and I was very pleased indeed. I don’t
think any of us own Jaguars to save money. The reward is in the driving.

Cheers, John M.

6

Richard,
The price is HALF of what you would pay in Atlanta.

James S.
1955 XK 140 MC DHC----- Original Message -----
From: “Richard Greene” greener@edgecombe.edu
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 10:09 AM
Subject: [xk] 140 FHC HOME At Last

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints. This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

7

Tom…I forgot to mention I decided on the color “linen cream” which is
almost
exactly the same as your 120. It was your pictures you sent several
months ago that made me decide to use the cream. The interior will be
palamino. I thought about red, but my Mk 2 has the red and I thought I
try something different. The 140 was originally OEW with a black
interior. I do need
a few things; if any list member has these, I would be interested:

  1. trunk panels (around the sides)
  2. metal cover in front of the tire (the curved piece)
  3. wood piece (on drivers side from the windshield to the headliner)
  4. jack
  5. tools

Other than these, the car is complete. After reading Tom about the
possible
problems I could have had, I think I will definitely be in church
Sunday!

Thanks.

Richard Greene
1956 XK 140 FHC (Automatic)

tcarson@gci.net 10/24/03 10:24AM >>>
You did just fine.

The only thing you missed out on were real horror stories to pass on in

your golden years. Like…after 8 months you went to the shop and the

place was abandoned and your car was gone…or the painter sold all the

parts off your car…or after 5 years he still hadn’t even STARTED the

job…or he did the job in 12 months and told you it was really going
to cost $12,000.

See what I mean? You did fine.

Tom Carson
1954 XK 120SE OTS S674946
1962 3.8 Mark 2 MOD, chrome wires
Juneau, Alaska

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home

in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints.
This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is
back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal

for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten
aOn Friday, October 24, 2003, at 06:09 AM, Richard Greene wrote:
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a
paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

8

Richard,
That’s 1/3 of what I was quoted for paint and body on my TR4A in excellent
body condition several years ago here in Seattle. For a Jaguar, anything
under 10 you begin to wonder about the quality. Where are you located? It
might be worth it to ship a car to that shop.
Jerry Oliver
Olympia, WA

9

Richard;
I think you got a bargan in dollars. I too have had problems getting things
done in a timely manney.
Dave

10

I paid $2,500 to paint an MGB 14 years ago and I brought them a
rust-free bare-metal body.

You got a deal!-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf
Of James Strickland
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 11:02 AM
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xk] 140 FHC HOME At Last

Richard,
The price is HALF of what you would pay in Atlanta.

James S.
1955 XK 140 MC DHC

----- Original Message -----
From: “Richard Greene” greener@edgecombe.edu
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 10:09 AM
Subject: [xk] 140 FHC HOME At Last

After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home
in
my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints.
This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal
for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten
a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a
paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

11

Richard:
Cynical old fart that I am, you got a bargain! Time might have been a
consideration here:
USD 2500 eight months
USD 5000 you might have had it back in 4 months
USD 7500 back in 2 months
USD 10,000 back in a month
You did get a fantastic price!
The color is of great interest to me as I love Carson’s 120 but with a
little more cream, which yours seems to indicate by description. Could be THE
color.
What chart and number if you don’t mind. Would like to see a picture of the
car too!!!
I assume you are in contact with The Viking up in CT who also has a 140
FHC with automatic MC configuration?
And I don’t want to hear any BS from out there about “get it running
first”
I know that but like to plan ahead. Way ahead!!
Mad Ludwig

12

What color is it!!??

Gary
55 140 FHC S814148

13

I had an estimate from my favorite shop of $8,000 to paint our 120. I think
you got a good deal.

14

Jerry…I am in Eastern NC, about 40 miles south of the Va/NC border.
The
gentleman who painted the car has done 8 for me. These have all been
Mercedes or Jaguars. It is a small operation with only 2 people. The
guy
who does all the body work has been working on Rolls, Jags, Mercedes,
etc. since he was in his teens. On all my other cars, they did the
paint work
in about a month, but I am thinking they wanted the 140 to be just
right. I agree it would be worth the time to ship it in. As I said
earlier, I just was not
use to waiting so long (contrast to my other cars). The fact we have
only
50,000 in our town makes a big difference too: news travels FAST when
a crook is here. The color is linen cream and was a Chrysler color
from
about 1979. I can get the exact # for you. It has slightly more cream
in
it than Carson’s 120, but it would be difficult to tell the difference
unless you
parked both cars side by side. I say this in comparing the pictures
he
sent me. I came by the color because one of my best friends has a 120
DHC that is painted linen cream. Once I get mine completed, he will be

driving up for a photo session for a local magazine. Anyway, I am
sending
you in a personal e-mail pictures of the car in the paint booth. I have
not
taken any since being in my shop at home. If you should decide to ship
it
here, I would be happy to “manage” it here taking pictures weekly,
etc.
Again, the ONLY negative I have is the time it took to get it back.
After
reading of other body shop stories, I need to repent for feeling ill.
Thanks.

Richard Greene
XK 140 FHC

slantws@comcast.net 10/24/03 11:25AM >>>
Richard,
That’s 1/3 of what I was quoted for paint and body on my TR4A in
excellent
body condition several years ago here in Seattle. For a Jaguar,
anything
under 10 you begin to wonder about the quality. Where are you located?
It
might be worth it to ship a car to that shop.
Jerry Oliver
Olympia, WA

15

In reply to a message from Richard Greene sent Fri 24 Oct 2003:

Richard,
Congrats on passing another hurdle.
I think the price was more than fair, more like a great bargain.
8 months was a bit long, however, at least the shop didn’t do what
many do and put your car, half finished, in ‘‘paint jail’’ and then
extort more money out of you to finish it.
They usually have reasons like ‘‘it was more work than we
expected’’, ‘‘the guy that told you $2500 and 1 month doesn’t work
here anymore’’ or ‘‘OH! you wanted us to Paint it TOO!!’’
Been there, done that!
Can’t wait to see the photos,
Rich–
The original message included these comments:

Again, the ONLY negative I have is the time it took to get it back.
After
reading of other body shop stories, I need to repent for feeling ill.
Thanks.
Richard Greene
XK 140 FHC

–
rich neary
perrineville/new jersey, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

16

Richard,
Thanks for sending the photo (off list). Looks really really great. Makes
me want to get my FHC done, that’s for sure. Good luck on the rest of it.
Jerry Oliver
Olympia, WA

17

Richard G;
When I was working at a “Tri-Five Chevy” restoration shop
the time to paint a car beginning with sandblassting everything, to finished
paint job ready to be reinstalled on the body was just over six months.
I’m currently painting a '67 Mustang (not a total resto) that I
have removed the hood, trunk lid, front fenders, front and rear valance
panals, etc., sandblasted them, repaired several areas of rust-thru, not to
mention dealing with several hundred pounds of bondo from a previous bodge
paint job, and the car in now in sanding primer, awaiting “slicking out”
before the second coat of sanding primer, and I’m two years into this
project… The paint alone, for this job, has passed the $1000 mark…
Figure labor accordingly.
Back in '78, a friend of mine had his '70 XJ-6 Ser I completely
hand-sanded to bare metal then painted in BC/CC Metalic Silver… his paint
job took a full year at a cost of $1000 (that was a lot in '79)… but it was
“glass slick” perfect… a few months later he fell asleep at the wheel and
rear-ended a parked eighteen wheeler… He was in the hospital for six
months, the Jag was totaly destroyed…
Hope that gives you a rough idea of how long paint jobs can take…
Charles #677556.

    Now the car is back,----- Original Message -----

From: Richard Greene

the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal for
a paint job?

18

Richard
Where are located, I have a car I would like to get new paint on and I know
I can ship the car, be happy to leave it for a year if necessary, and come
out way ahead of what I can get it done for here in Atlanta.
Skip Smith

Richard Greene wrote:> After 8 months and 4 days at the painter, my 1956 140FHC is back home in

my shop. Happily, the paint is excellent and I have no complaints. This
was a
job that was promised to take only 1 month. Luckily, we found rust
only the
size of a quarter on the entire car (after stripping down to bare
metal). The shop
owner has to come out to install the windshield and rear glass…he
wants for
the paint/clear to cure before the installation. Now the car is back,
the questions will begin! I am wondering if the 8 months is normal for
a paint job?
It took me visiting the shop weekly, pushing, pulling to get it done
within even
the 8 months. The total cost was $2500.00. I feel I wouldn’t gotten a
quality job for less? Any comments about the length of time for a paint
job/
cost for the job would be interesting from the list members.

Richard Greene

19

Mad
We just finished Wanda’s 140 in Tom’s color, why don’t you take a trip here
again, spend a day or so riding around the warm fall sun in her car, and see if
the color is what you are looking for.
Skip Smith

Fhc12001@aol.com wrote:> Richard:

Cynical old fart that I am, you got a bargain! Time might have been a

consideration here:
USD 2500 eight months
USD 5000 you might have had it back in 4 months
USD 7500 back in 2 months
USD 10,000 back in a month
You did get a fantastic price!
The color is of great interest to me as I love Carson’s 120 but with a
little more cream, which yours seems to indicate by description. Could be THE
color.
What chart and number if you don’t mind. Would like to see a picture of the
car too!!!
I assume you are in contact with The Viking up in CT who also has a 140
FHC with automatic MC configuration?
And I don’t want to hear any BS from out there about “get it running
first”
I know that but like to plan ahead. Way ahead!!
Mad Ludwig

20

Skip:
Send me a PIX of “Tom’s color” on a FHC. Please
Really looks nice on the OTS and Richard’s color looks super too. Interested
to see how they would with the chrome and goodies back on.
Might even look good in that color with WWW. “Oh no Mr. Bob, not that”
Mad Ludwig