useless comments:

 bought a '67 Checker in '77 as a winter beater  (GREAT car:  civilian
model, 327, ps, pb, cruisomatic, tinted, AM-FM, & air, 6 new tires -
paid $200))......filled the holes with bondo and did some crude prep
work.  back then, Earl Schieb would "paint any car any color for
$29.95".......since that was too much, I waited for a special and got it
done for $19.95 - including the jams.

 not too many years ago, had a Buick Elektra for a driver......paint
was faded and took it to Maaco.......not a bad job, but they lost the
fender skirts.  a couple weeks later they found some and painted them to
match.  always wondered where they got them!

as with any franchise operation, it comes down to the local owner,
manager & employees.......but any detail prep that worries you is best
done by you.  it then becomes a matter of are the Maaco prices worth it
compared to a known independent shop.  Last year I had a local shop
repaint my '57 Clipper........no rust and minimal prep needed......I
took all the chrome off except f/r window moldings which they masked.
$2000 for a two-tone basecoat/clearcoat job matched to the factory
colors.  I'd call it show quality and certainly a bargain compared to
what Maaco would have charged.

I had my 86 Jeep Cherokee painted at the local Macco Shop.  They broke
my windshield, didn't put the pieces back together, and went out of
bussiness.

No matter who you are, bad business practices will do you in.  The
problem is the bad feelings that are left toward the franchaise.  I'll
never use another chain shop for body work or paint.

Geno

64 R2 Avanti

64 Daytona Convertible