A man took his classic car to a repair shop in Texas to have it restored, but five years later he discovered that the mechanic had sold it and disappe
- Thread starter Lord Sparky
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The feel for the poor saps who bought parts and or cars from this guy.
A member here recently recounted a similar story that happened to him.
I know of a guy from New Hampshire/Florida that did the same thing, ripped off a lot of people, and got busted and put out of business. But to get around it he changed his name and opened up the business again. I was following him around the country because he ripped off the previous elderly owner of one of my exotic cars. If this story sounds familiar to anyone here and you're missing a car, IM me and I can give you his contact info if you want your car back.
I have a Dodge truck body in a body shop right now, and am getting the same feeling. I have been to check on it lately but as of a couple of weeks ago no action at all in so far 4-1/2 months. And I gave them 40%if what they estimated down, in cash.
I would take it and the $$ back before it's too late.
I brought my Porsche Weissach Edition to a mechanic to get some work done. The car sat outside for 1, 2, 3, 4 months. Finally in the winter I dug it out of the snow pile and took it home. Boy was I pissed...
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
Its too expensive paying people to do the work. That in itself makes no sense. If someone could afford that, theyd buy a turn key car.
Problem is I'm a mechanic but I ain't no body man. And I don't want a newer truck. My current 2012 is way too new for my liking plan was to send that in n down the road when I get this one back together I knew it would be a while but I expected to see "some" progress on it by now
IMHO get an escrow company ( it's not just for houses) the builder will know he has cash at the end of the rainbow but he can't get any till he reaches verifiable milestones, perhaps a small upfront payment.
70SwingerGuy
Long Haired Freaky Person
Happens here too. A guy from my area took his hemi cuda convertible to a shop to be restored, and was tipped off that the shop was parting out his car. Luckily he got back the majority of the parts and then begged, borrowed and mortgaged to the hilt to take it to a reputable restoration shop for complete restoration(out east in Ontario I think it was).
Turns out it is one very rare car(one of only a few I believe) and this was quite some time ago. Im sure it was finished a long time ago and sold to some richie rich, as it was the guys plan to have the car be his retirement fund.
If I recall correctly, I think it was a '70 hemi convertible metallic blue, cant remember trans type. I used to work with a previous owner of the car who sold it for 18 grand before the market went stupid. D'OH!
Turns out it is one very rare car(one of only a few I believe) and this was quite some time ago. Im sure it was finished a long time ago and sold to some richie rich, as it was the guys plan to have the car be his retirement fund.
If I recall correctly, I think it was a '70 hemi convertible metallic blue, cant remember trans type. I used to work with a previous owner of the car who sold it for 18 grand before the market went stupid. D'OH!
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At first I was in there about every other day after I dropped it off, as it's rare I pay someone else to do anything for me, my kid said I was in there too much... I've been trying to get by there ever week and a half to 2 weeks to check out progress to which so far there has been none.
I know most of the people at this shop so that's why I went there. But lately every time I go by there's different people there vs last time, I ask about the guys I thought were on my project and "they're not here anymore". These are the guys I talked about details of exactly what I want in this build. I took everything in freshly sandblasted bare, even. Of which I paid for myself before I brought the truck in
And I brought duplicates of some parts as I have several doors, fenders etc and I want the best of what I have in the build and the "not quite as good" for future spares or trade bait. As soon as I discovered a problem with the driver fender and passenger door I went thru my stash and found that I had better which I was hoping would equate to less time and a lower bill at the end.
I know most of the people at this shop so that's why I went there. But lately every time I go by there's different people there vs last time, I ask about the guys I thought were on my project and "they're not here anymore". These are the guys I talked about details of exactly what I want in this build. I took everything in freshly sandblasted bare, even. Of which I paid for myself before I brought the truck in
And I brought duplicates of some parts as I have several doors, fenders etc and I want the best of what I have in the build and the "not quite as good" for future spares or trade bait. As soon as I discovered a problem with the driver fender and passenger door I went thru my stash and found that I had better which I was hoping would equate to less time and a lower bill at the end.
first red flag
second red flag with blaring sirens and flashing lights
i'd roll over there and talk to whoever is in charge and see what's up and get the expectations set immediately with the understanding that you'll be back to check in on the progress at [blank] date.
return at set date and if no progress pull the project. no ifs, no ands, no buts. get the project and take the L on whatever you put down otherwise you risk never seeing it completed or even worse it just vanishes.
Search "Extreme Motorcar" in Clearwater, Fl. I actually know that guy. He's the brother of a now deceased friend of mine. He always came off as a slickster. Sorry Bobby, I know you're seein me type this, that's just the truth man. That's ok though, cause his own brother knew it too.
melcardona
Well-Known Member
yah 5 yrs ..does the car or money being spent even matter??...who in there right mind is willing to wait 5 yrs for a stinkin car..or house for that matter....unreal..
ha one of my body guys i do work for him on his cars
my truck is done ,but too cold to put back together ,been asking how much for 8 months ,guess we are even
so shop down the road ,would take $$$$ from his customers ..(i know a kid that got scammed) kid would go back a couple of weeks later not see much if any work done
and say i need more $$$$ ,guys would work for him and he would say i can't pay you right now ,and he always had 2k in his pocket
he did some nice work when he did it,dead now burning in hell i would guess
my truck is done ,but too cold to put back together ,been asking how much for 8 months ,guess we are even
so shop down the road ,would take $$$$ from his customers ..(i know a kid that got scammed) kid would go back a couple of weeks later not see much if any work done
and say i need more $$$$ ,guys would work for him and he would say i can't pay you right now ,and he always had 2k in his pocket
he did some nice work when he did it,dead now burning in hell i would guess
nothing can prevent that. but frequent in person check-ins will help.
AND GET IT ALL IN WRITING!!!! and bring a camera and video tape the interaction
Verbal is great BUT it will NEVER stand up in court.
I do have a computer generated receipt with a company letterhead that shows estimated cost (I'm embarrassed by the number they put on that) and estimated time of completion 6-12 months, of which it's been 4-1/2 has passed. I told them I wasn't picking anything up in salt season, when I took it there. But id like to see SOME progress when I go by
I'm busy today, have to go up north and shovel out my mother in law after work but I'm going by there tomorrow. It's been a couple of weeks.
I figured I'm paying them, I don't want to bug them (but it appears I'm gonna have to) I figured I'd do what I wish my job would do for me... Leave me alone and let me work
I'm busy today, have to go up north and shovel out my mother in law after work but I'm going by there tomorrow. It's been a couple of weeks.
I figured I'm paying them, I don't want to bug them (but it appears I'm gonna have to) I figured I'd do what I wish my job would do for me... Leave me alone and let me work
MOPAR4Me
Well-Known Member
Really sorry to hear this all too common story happening to you.
I agree with your work philosophy, but unfortunately unlike us there are too many out there that don’t work better or at all when left alone. They need to be continually watched/pushed/and even forced to do work agreed, but have no desire to do.
Wishing you luck.
The worst part of my situation is that I worked with the shop owners dad and Grandpa for years at a past job. Of all of them grandpa would be the first to give you the shirt off his back, although grandpa is the only one of the bunch I haven't seen at the shop.
My son went to school all the way from k-12 with shop owners sister. The mom was in the shop all the time with her dad and then boyfriend working there and her sister was a waitress for a place we used to go, for years.
I went straight to them because a guy a 1/2 mile down the road all of a sudden started driving a real nice looking (for a Chevy anyway) 80s square body and I stopped by and asked him about it and he told me who painted his truck and its the same place mine is at.... I've seen some of the work that came out of there, and knowing the people in and around that body shop as long as I have I figured I was more than safe. I guess not. I figured "keep it close to home, use the guys I know"". Well they forget how many people they know that you also know.
My son went to school all the way from k-12 with shop owners sister. The mom was in the shop all the time with her dad and then boyfriend working there and her sister was a waitress for a place we used to go, for years.
I went straight to them because a guy a 1/2 mile down the road all of a sudden started driving a real nice looking (for a Chevy anyway) 80s square body and I stopped by and asked him about it and he told me who painted his truck and its the same place mine is at.... I've seen some of the work that came out of there, and knowing the people in and around that body shop as long as I have I figured I was more than safe. I guess not. I figured "keep it close to home, use the guys I know"". Well they forget how many people they know that you also know.
I have a 1940s JC Higgins 12ga double barrel coach gun that can stop it.
If they are a busy shop
They might be using the job as fill in
They might be using the job as fill in
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