Paint shop spoiling chances at bring car to ZCon 2011

[240zdave]

Years ago I took an SVO Mustang to a body shop in Tampa for a repaint. It did not help that the shop's biggest customer was a local fabricator of AC Cobra kit cars. It sat and sat with nothing getting done until I showed up one day with enough cash to buy the Glasurit paint. I think they finished the car in about a week and a half. Money talks.

[jackneuf]

They must keep messing up and redoing the paint job, 1+ years that is crazy I would go to someone else your car is a classic and deserves first priority right................................. ahahah good luck

[71ZZZZZ]

I'm with Escanlon and Bonzi Lon on this...stay on the shop, if you get the run around, take it somewhere that values the business. I had 2 flake outs on my restoration (both referrals) and I'm lucky to have my car back at all. The longer your car stays away from you, more collateral damage will occur...good luck with it...

[hls30.com]

Let the shop know you will bring Larry the Cable Guys sister back from Savannah if you car is not there, and she(it?) will be living with them from then on...

Hooters Girls with the car Larry the Cable guys sister with out...you have exactly one month!

[bpilati]

I appreciate your thoughts. It'll be too late at this point for the Z Con.

[DougN]

I would not give up so easily. If the car just needs paint, that can be done in a week. When they actually work on the car, it goes pretty quick. However, if you really don't want your car back...

[mgmoreau]

Bryan,

I feel your pain. My car has been at the body shop since last November. I too was hoping to bring the car to Savanna next month. I have given up on that plan!. I am fortunate in that my body shop allows me to do some of the grunt work in their shop so that I can save on the hours of labor their men spend working on the car. While that sound like a great deal, the problem is they only come in for three or four hours on a Saturday morning to work on their own hot rods so that is the only time I have to work on my car unless I take a vacation day during the week.

You did not mention if they are giving you a break on the price since your car is a filler project like mine when they don't have collision work. They have my car on a time card and only charge me for the hours they spend working on my car or the paint and supplies they buy for my car. They have not gotten any new collision work over the last week or so and they finally finished another 64 Plymouth project car so they have been working on mine steady for the last week. It is amazing how much they can get done when two or three guys work on it at the same time. I have been showing up every morning since they have been working on it and I have been paying them in cash every Friday for the work they have done each week.

I agree with EScanlon, see if they will agree to a fixed price to complete your car within a certain time frame. Offer them a bonus if the complete it ahead of schedule and get them to agree with deductions if it goes past the agreed to finish date.

Either way good luck, you are not alone!

Edited June 21, 2011 by mgmoreau