Let Down by Restorers and Panelbeaters

[scoupedy]

So been trying to restore my Ford Landau and have been royally screwed. The Car has actually gone Backwards. The Panel beater who did a rubbish paint job left it out in the rain, and covered everything in dust.
Took it to a restorer to finish some mechanical work and put trim back on. he hung onto it for a year and left it in a leaking shed.
Removed it to the guy who has it now, find out that he has done nothing and its been out in the weather for gods knows how long.
I have had this car since 1996, since 2003 I haven't let a drop of rain on it. these idiots leave my pride and joy out in the rain with no rear window and drivers window and no seals.
The rain and weather has ruined the once perfect rear seats and parcel shelf the $10000 engine has water pouring over.
Never again will I hire a Panel beater /Restorer.
Will never rebuild or do anything with cars again the industry is full overcharging scam artists.

[buggerlugs]

I'll take it off your hands for a $1000..................cash of course..
I got done with my first paint job on my mustang. Terrible job, then the guy went bust. Had to take it back to bare metal then do the whole job again. The joys of restoring a car. When do you want me to coma and grab it ??!!

[4vxc]

where you making progress payments?

[Express]

Three times?

You should have been more diligent after having a problem with the first repairer.

[Pedro]

You say you dropped it off to the first guy in 2003 ... so you checked it a couple of times in 13 years??? Come on!

[Spurious]

Originally Posted by Pedro

You say you dropped it off to the first guy in 2003 ... so you checked it a couple of times in 13 years??? Come on!

Love you guys for making assumptions. Can't you read?
He said he hasn't let a drop of rain on it since 2003!

I've had a similar scenario pan out just recently.
I had a minor fender bender resulting in an insurance claim & 3 days at the smash repairers.
Brand new front bar fitted, onto which the painter left 3 paint runs & chipped the new paint whilst fitting it.

Now in their defence, I did say "don't do a mirror finish on it 'cause I've painted the whole car previously & it's not perfect".
But I tell you what, I've never had a professional auto painting lesson in my life, but when I sprayed the car there wasn't a paint run in sight.

I can only presume the shop put the apprentice to work on it as his first job!!!
Pathetic way to represent your business really. Am I going to say good things about that workshop...NO.

[zoesgift]

I have a coupe myself so I sympathise however your opening post leaves many questions to be asked and that's what the guys are getting at

[Jacko*]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

So been trying to restore my Ford Landau and have been royally screwed. The Car has actually gone Backwards. The Panel beater who did a rubbish paint job left it out in the rain, and covered everything in dust.
Took it to a restorer to finish some mechanical work and put trim back on. he hung onto it for a year and left it in a leaking shed.
Removed it to the guy who has it now, find out that he has done nothing and its been out in the weather for gods knows how long.
I have had this car since 1996, since 2003 I haven't let a drop of rain on it. these idiots leave my pride and joy out in the rain with no rear window and drivers window and no seals.
The rain and weather has ruined the once perfect rear seats and parcel shelf the $10000 engine has water pouring over.
Never again will I hire a Panel beater /Restorer.
Will never rebuild or do anything with cars again the industry is full overcharging scam artists.

Sounds like you're over it. What are your plans? Sell it or fix it up yourself?

[scoupedy]

Originally Posted by Pedro

You say you dropped it off to the first guy in 2003 ... so you checked it a couple of times in 13 years??? Come on!

No I just never let it get rained on always in storage since 2003.

[scoupedy]

Originally Posted by Express

Three times?

You should have been more diligent after having a problem with the first repairer.

Both have high internet profiles and reviews.

[scoupedy]

Originally Posted by Jacko*

Sounds like you're over it. What are your plans? Sell it or fix it up yourself?

Just loosing sleep over it atm.
Such a shame their are people out there that treat your business and pride and joy as rubbish.

[ratter]

Been there, done that :(

[gcg2503]

Sorry to hear.

Colour and trim on Landau please.

[bionic2006xr6t]

You haven't restored a car unless you have been let down in some form.

Cheers Ryan

[thefargo]

I think it is a sad fact of life, when dealing with cars, that in order to get what your good money pays for, you have to distrust everyone, and never NEVER allow your self to be a nice guy.
This is the industry where nice guys do finish last.
I guess the fact is that we all see posts about someone who does a great job, basically because THAT is the rare event.
I too have spent too much money, wasted too much thought, generating too much worry, all because I thought (believed) that you generally get what you pay for.
it's sad, but that is the way it is.
Now, I try to do things myself. I usually get it wrong the first time, but I can live with that, as it is no worse than if I trusted a 'professional' to do it. Then I do it again, with the help and advice from these forums, and I get it right...I think

[tranquilized]

Like building a house I reckon. Lots of sub-par tradesmen out there and as the project manager it's up to you to sort through them and find the good ones. Definitely not easy, sorry to hear about your Landau and good luck with it.

[snowcone]

It's also up to you to establish a timeframe with the repairer.
If you say you are in no hurry or won't have the money to pay for it for another 6 months then your car will go to the end of the queue.
I have a mate that builds hotrods and the guy that comes in an pays the most gets his done first.
I would never leave a car with anyone for more than 2 weeks as the car is going to get moved heaps and will be subject to all the workshop dust and crap, and also risk being dented or marked as well.
The body/car business is full of cowboys but it is not rocket science so get onto youtube and learn how to do it your self.
It will be rewarding for you as well if you actually do it yourself

[Roninrhj]

Its an unfortunate fact of life in the automotive repair / restoration business. Having a flash website that promotes all they offer and with awesome pictures doesn't mean you will get a good job. Word of mouth is the best way…..

[Bill M]

A friend of mine had a WW2 jeep body built by a professional auto body builder in Castlemaine. He received regular email updates with comprehensive photos almost weekly and was encouraged to provide input into the detail.
To avoid disappointment it is advisable to keep in regular contact with visits to the business doing the work .
Sorry to read of your misfortune and urge you to continue with your project.
cheers
Bill

[Itsme]

Cannot understand how you can leave a car at a repairer/restorer for so long not being worked on or checked for progress, to be honest car should not be given until the repairer/restorer is ready to work on it then handed back in minimum time.

[73_XB_JC]

You have had a bad run of luck with the people you have chosen for your pride and joy. Your tarring all resto guys with the same brush (kinda like the qld government do with motorcycle riders in groups) I'm sorry that you've had to go thru this but we aren't all dodgy and I don't mean to be rude to qld panel guys but every state in Australia has there fair share of "cowboy repairers" and I have seen some **** (also had to repair it) on a monthly basis.
If you decid to keep going with the resto I suggest you go to a shop check there work or jobs (past and present) to see how they go about it and what kind of conditions they'll keep your car in!
The shop I work at (while small but busy) has car covers that each car is covered (when not being worked on) they are stored inside every night (this can be a ***** when they have no motors)
Really all I'm trying to say is you need to take the time to research your shop before you just drop the Landau there and fork over money.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by trublu

Cannot understand how you can leave a car at a repairer/restorer for so long not being worked on or checked for progress, to be honest car should not be given until the repairer/restorer is ready to work on it then handed back in minimum time.

Exactly this. All a car does is take up space in a workshop where space is at a premium. From experience your car just becomes a nuisance and gets in the way. It will either be driven in and out, pushed around or put somewhere that's not ideal.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

So been trying to restore my Ford Landau and have been royally screwed. [...]

I feel your pain, and it doesn't make it any better by being wise after the event; hindsight is a wonderful teacher.

I had a vehicle of mine in to a personally recommended panel beaters a zillion kays from my home to have its bonnet resprayed. Got it home and the following day the sun happened to catch it at a certain angle, and I immediately thought WTF?

Turns out this alleged top gun painter "forgot" to apply the clear coat LOL.

Problem is, once you've left your car with some of these cowboys, it can be awkward/confrontational/dispiriting/embarrassing/exasperating trying to get it back in one piece, and vaguely resembling the vehicle you originally dropped off.

And don't bother complaining to state bodies like the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) because they're totally on the repairers' side—as I discovered to my detriment with a major overcharge for an earlier botched smash repair.

[Makovic]

Can't just hand over a car to a panel shop and think she'll be right mate.

Those days are gone.

Professional car restoration is prohibitively expensive. Unless you can find a rare dedicated shop. Or unless they specialise. E.g. that MG joint that used to exist on the Nepean Hwy in Melb.

Rules are:

(a) It is easier and cheaper to preserve a mint car than to restore.

(b) Buy a restored car that an enthusiast has worked on.

(c) DIY if you have the time and skills.

[Pis-ton broke]

sorry to hear of your misfortune. over 20 years ago i got royally screwed by a mechanic and lied , b/s to by panelbeaters. after that i learnt to do all my own mechanics, body repair and spraypainting. its worked out really good and save heaps of money.

[Makovic]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

sorry to hear of your misfortune. over 20 years ago i got royally screwed by a mechanic and lied , b/s to by panelbeaters. after that i learnt to do all my own mechanics, body repair and spraypainting. its worked out really good and save heaps of money.

Dead right.

So long as the bloke's got the ability, the enthusiasm and the time, nothing beats Do It Yourself.

Giving a vehicle to anybody, on good faith, doesn't work.

[cosworthfreak]

DIY whatever you can, and take the time to learn whatever you can't.