"as dependable and well-built as a Japanese-made Toyota"
Toyota has 6 and is planning a 7th factory in North America so the Toyotas
we see are "as dependable and well- built as an American or Canadian or
Mexican built Toyota. :>)
Dallas Congleton
1967 BJ8
1953 MGTD
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Feibusch" <rfeibusch1@earthlink.net>
To: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: Amateur vs. Professional Restoration
> Folks,
>
> As an appraiser, I do not look at who did the job - just the results. Some
of the best cars that I have seen, from Packard 12s to Bugeye Sprites, came
out of a competant hobbiest's garage. Oftentimes I find that the only thing
different is the daily overhead for the pros that runs up the restoration
price.
>
> Today, both the amature and pro subcontract paint/body, top/interior, and
chrome trim, often to the same sources. The amatures are not restricted by
time, as they are not really paying themselves so they can go the extra mile
to get things that they do just right.
>
> On the other hand, marque pros usually know pretty much what is right (or
at least factory correct) but also understand the car as a piece of
high-priced merchandise.
>
> Hobbiests have other agendas. If I were restoring a Big Healey, and it
needed complete paint, I would paint it the bright yellow with black coves
on the side no matter what the car originally was painted. A pro would
insist on original (or resale red/beige metallic) because his agenda is
sale, where I would just want to drive my bumble bee as much as I could
(also diminishing its value). Apples and oranges.
>
> A restoration is a restoration, no matter who screws it together.
>
> I'll give you an example. We take our BMW 325i to the dealership in Santa
Monica where we are greeted by a guy named Rudy or Rolph n a nice pressed
shop coat who fills out the repair order and sends the car into a shop of
factory trained mechanics called, Sergio, Manuel, and Jose who do a great
job. Rolph is the professional trapping that goes with the logo and the
German heritage. No more no less.
>
> Hell, my PT Cruiser was built in Toluca, Mexico and has been every bit as
dependable and well-built as a Japanese-made Toyota.
>
> I will stop now as I've gone completely off subject....
>
> Best
> Rick Feibusch
> Venice, CA
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