'59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

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Nathan Cohn
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'59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#1 Post by Nathan Cohn »

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

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Jules Dielen
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#2 Post by Jules Dielen »

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

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Timothy L Schabacker
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#3 Post by Timothy L Schabacker »

Time to lawyer up.

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Adam Wright
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#4 Post by Adam Wright »

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.
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Mike Wilson
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#5 Post by Mike Wilson »

Nathan, did you get a recommendation for these shops?

Mike
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Wes Bender
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#6 Post by Wes Bender »

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.....

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Mike Wilson
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#7 Post by Mike Wilson »

He has a contact button. Anyone want to pose the questions to him?

Mike
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Brian R Adams
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#8 Post by Brian R Adams »

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.
I'm sorry to say they can and do.
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Mike Wilson
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#9 Post by Mike Wilson »

I just sent him an email.

Mike
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Jan Kolm
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#10 Post by Jan Kolm »

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.
Jan Kolm
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1960 1600N Coupe

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Mike Wilson
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#11 Post by Mike Wilson »

That is unfortunately a common story, Jan.

Mike
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Brian R Adams
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#12 Post by Brian R Adams »

Nathan, which State are you in? And in which State is the derelict repair shop?
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Al Zim
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Re: '59 conv d- shop did poor body work and paint, lost parts

#13 Post by Al Zim »

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
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