'59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:23 pm
'59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
I am restoring a '59 356 conv d. My father bought is new in '60. I am doing the mechanical and I sent the body to a shop to do the metal and paint. It was in poor condition and had a lot of rust. I paid a lot of money and after the car gets delivered I make closer inspection and find many imperfections in the paint and the bodywork in the rear of the tunnel is not right its missing some anchor points. And the heater ducting was not repaired just covered over. The shop I sent it to had another shop that does their paint do the metal work and paint. The certified Porsche guy they have was sick and never even saw this car I was later told. The second shop moved location while working or after it was complete and lost several parts that were on the car when I sent it out. they lost the windshield and the windshield bracket, bumpers, pedal assembly, sway bar and links, they cut the rear torsion bars out for no reason. All original to the car parts. The owner says they wont run away from this and they cant believe they lost parts and to send the car back and they will make it right. I am in Maine and I sent it to a shop in new york. The owners have been unresponsive during the whole process. They don't return phone calls and emails go weeks unanswered. I cant trust them to redo the car and they basically have to start over. What are my options here? they owe me full refund for unsatisfactory work and incomplete work at that and they owe me irreplaceable original parts that they lost. Do I just get a lawyer? What kind of grounds do I have to sue? Any one have any experience in something like this? any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Nathan
Thank you
Nathan
- Jules Dielen
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:25 pm
- Location: Arizona
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Sorry to hear this happened to you with such a special car. Have it inspected by a 356 restoration expert and have him give you an estimate for what it will cost to do it correctly to a high standard. Take that to the shop that screwed up (the one you paid) and ask for a solution. They will probably not step up, then the lawyer sounds like a very good option.
Jules
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
Water pumps are for windshield washers only.
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:31 pm
- Location: Boulder County
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Time to lawyer up.
- Adam Wright
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 10320
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:00 am
- Tag: KTF
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Before you lawyer up you might want to name the shop, someone probably knows the owner and might be able to talk sense to him and find a solution. But once you call a lawyer this will probably be out the window. Lawyers usually don't work for quick solutions, which is why is takes years to settle stuff through them. I understand, it's their process, but it isn't always the best plan as the 1st option.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 11621
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
- Location: SW Los Angeles
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Nathan, did you get a recommendation for these shops?
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Wes Bender
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 4927
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:54 am
- Location: Somewhere in the Gadsden Purchase, USA
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Where'd he go? Made this one post and gone. Must not have liked the responses. Really good advice from Adam, and might have gotten some results. A shop can't stay in business if they get a reputation for work like this.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 11621
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
- Location: SW Los Angeles
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
He has a contact button. Anyone want to pose the questions to him?
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Brian R Adams
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 3328
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:34 pm
- Location: N. Nevada
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
I'm sorry to say they can and do.Wes Bender wrote: ↑Fri Apr 15, 2022 3:42 pm A shop can't stay in business if they get a reputation for work like this.
-
Welcome to the era of policy-based evidence-making.
Difficile est saturam non scribere (Juvenal)
Difficile est saturam non scribere (Juvenal)
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 11621
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
- Location: SW Los Angeles
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
I just sent him an email.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:35 am
- Location: Colorado
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
I've known about this car for 30+ years.
Unfortunately, when you send your car to a shop that is hours away, you often become "out of sight, out of mind" in the eyes of the shop owner, your car gets pushed to the back corner and only gets touched when work is slow or if you have thrown cash at the shop owner to keep things moving.
Being an unrestored, original car, I seriously doubt the missing parts were actually lost. My thinking is they were "donated" to another Conv D that was being converted from a racer back into a street car.
I also learned this the hard way and am still collecting parts to replace the ones that "walked" at the restoration shop 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, when you send your car to a shop that is hours away, you often become "out of sight, out of mind" in the eyes of the shop owner, your car gets pushed to the back corner and only gets touched when work is slow or if you have thrown cash at the shop owner to keep things moving.
Being an unrestored, original car, I seriously doubt the missing parts were actually lost. My thinking is they were "donated" to another Conv D that was being converted from a racer back into a street car.
I also learned this the hard way and am still collecting parts to replace the ones that "walked" at the restoration shop 20 years ago.
Jan Kolm
356 Registry #1066
1960 1600N Coupe
356 Registry #1066
1960 1600N Coupe
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 11621
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
- Location: SW Los Angeles
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
That is unfortunately a common story, Jan.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Brian R Adams
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 3328
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:34 pm
- Location: N. Nevada
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
Nathan, which State are you in? And in which State is the derelict repair shop?
-
-
Welcome to the era of policy-based evidence-making.
Difficile est saturam non scribere (Juvenal)
Difficile est saturam non scribere (Juvenal)
- Al Zim
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 4356
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:37 pm
- Location: FT.WORTH/DALLAS TEXAS
- Contact:
Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts
WAS YOUR CAR INSURED WHEN IT WAS AT THE BODY SHOP? If he answer is yes turn it into the insurance company. If not find another job that pay's well. Attorneys will treat you s badly as the body shop did...Shall I tell you stories? al
www.allzim.com
356 Parts and Services
www.facebook.com/ZimsAuto/
www.instagram.com/zims_autotechnik/
356 Parts and Services
www.facebook.com/ZimsAuto/
www.instagram.com/zims_autotechnik/