I have a decent 4-speed consolette. Freshly painted, intact top and bottom, cleaned up as best as possible, has pits and a scratch here or there. But perfectly presentable if not concourse. I know someone who has what he swears is an absolute mint mint mint consolette, no pits, no scratches, just beautiful. So if we traded bare consolettes -- no tachs, tach cups, boots, rings, etc -- how much cash do I need to ship his way? I am unfamiliar with the cost for rechroming one of these pot-metal contraptions -- I know it is a labor-intensive process to deal with each individual pit -- so if anyone knows what such an endeavor would cost, I would love to know that for reference.
I had R&D rechrome one I had a few years ago and mine was really bad. Cost me $160 and it turned out a lot better then I though but not perfect by any means. Your consolette is in such nice condition I don't think it should be a TON difference but it really depends on what they mean by MINT MINT MINT. I would have to see both to compare and give a est. on value difference.
I agree with Ryan. Would have to see differences. I would have to see exactly what I have in mine total for chrome work but I would estimate $300-$400 for top bottom, cup and ring. I have never seen a used mint mint mint one that has not been re-done. IMO spend the money to get yours chromed and it will have no scratches, pits etc. get the cup and ring re-plated and you have a new consolette.
Who says mint mint mint, anyways? If somebody told me their part they want to swap me was mint mint mint, I'd be very wary, wary, wary!!!
I have a rough one I wouldn’t mind getting rechromed if only $150. Ryan, do they just rechrome over the craters, pits,scratches etc for the 150? Also wondering if the entire top,bottom etc is buffed and rechromed and if you lose any top plate grain detail in the process? If the consolette is real rough otherwise seems better than nothing. Wondering the cost to professionally grind down and fill in all pits & other common pit issues in top painted simulated grain area,reproduce the correct grain and then chrome? Either way the consolette pictured looks pretty darn good to me to worry about replating or buying a “mint,mint mint”one (lol) especially since they’d probably make the tiny blisters into chromed craters once the buffer ripped them open. Good topic though,been wondering how much a no frills rechrome was or if it could even be done decently.
John, you need to call and talk to them and get a firm quote. As best I recall I thought they did a good job for the price that they charged me.
I hear ya Ryan,will do. Each consolette is gonna be different. Did you just have the top done? Thanks
John, the is no way that I know of to reproduce the grain. It will be plated but no hand work or polishing will be done on the top (grain). They will remove pits etc on the smooth edges and hand work them. Costs will depend on the amount of pitting since it has to be drilled out and filled before plating. I would estimate $400 on average depending on where you go to get one chromed now days that includes the cup and ring. Best thing to do is take it or send it somewhere to get a quote. They will tell you what and what can’t be done.
I'm guessing the question here is what is the difference in value between your nice console and the alleged mint mint mint console? Yours is damn nice, bet you might get 800 for it if you listed it, maybe more. They have been selling for crazy money lately. I wouldn't ship it anywhere without a better one in my hands. Not saying your friend is dishonest, but maybe he has a different opinion of mint mint mint than you. I'm trying to understand why someone would want to trade if they had a super nice one unless they have a crazy high value placed on it.
I would definitly get a quote. I showed a chromer a 70 to 72 automatic console top chrome and was quoted $600 so that was a no for me . I also know I have gotten pot metal back from a re-chromer and was not happy with the results. Good Luck!
