Hello all,
High RPM's or not, I braved the freeway for the first time this afternoon in
my car (without a rolllbar, even!) to get an estimate for the body work that
I want to have done.
The car did just fine, but due to my concerns about the revs, I kept it
under 65 MPH, driving in the slow lane at about 60 MPH for the most part.
The wind in my hair on this beautiful day felt awesome.
I pulled into a body shop recommended to me by the guys who mounted and
balanced my wire wheels. The owner wasn't around, but one of his employees
(the painter) came out with a big grin on his face and regaled me with
stories about the Triumph Spitfire his buddy used to have in 1972. This guy
obviously appreciated the car and asked to see under the bonnet. He felt
confident that they could do a great job prepping the car for me. Another
employeed ambled out and stood there staring at the car for awhile. I went
ahead and left my name and number and left -- I had to stop at NAPA up the
street to buy some brake cleaner anyway. Perhaps when I came back on my
return trip, the owner would be back to give me an estimate.
Well, I was glad to discover that he was back and he sort of grumbled
because he was trying to eat the lunch he'd just gone out to get and cut me
off in mid-sentence after asking me what I wanted done to walk back inside
and take care of some other business. Not a good sign. He emerged from his
office a minute or two later. "I wouldn't be interested in touching this
car", he said brusquely. I was so shocked and dumbfounded that I just said
"fine", got in and drove off. I stopped at two more body shops. One of
them was called "European Auto Body" -- I figured that they wouldn't be
interested either, given all the crunched Mercedes Benz scattered around in
their lot. The lady sneered over the desk in the office after I asked if
they worked on British cars, being as how they were European and all...
"What year is it?", she offered. "1967", said. "Sorry, we can't do it."
This time I asked "Why not? Parts are readily available!" The best she
could come up with was "We just don't work on cars that old". I asked her
for a suggestion and she mentioned a third shop around the corner.
The third shop owner wasn't as curt or rude as the first two, but he was
clearly uninterested. "If you can even find someone to do this, it's going
to cost you ten grand", he said. (ten grand!!??) He mentioned an "Aussie"
in a nearby town that does "good work" and might be able to help, but he
couldn't tell me his name or the name of his shop.
Three strikes. Arc welding and body shaping are NOT two skills I am
interested in acquiring, and it pisses me off (sorry) that people who are
supposed to be in the business of fixing cars can act so damned particular.
Anyway, as I was driving my car on the freeway over the Lake Hodges bridge,
watching the sun glinting off the water, my disappointment was tempered in
the knowledge that a few rust bubbles notwithstanding -- I can still enjoy
the pleasure of driving my car. But it's sure frustrating to want to spend
the money to do things right and find that you just can't find anyone
willing to help. Sure, there are other body shops around and next time I'll
call first. I'm sure I can find SOMEONE who will help, but for right now, I
feel pretty dejected.
Any listers in San Diego with a MIG welder and the skill to use it looking
to make a few bucks in my garage in their spare time? By hook or crook, I
WILL restore this car. Has anyone else run up against local resistance to
body work like this? And if you'd seen my car, you KNOW it's not even a
basket case or anything! What's WRONG with these people!!??
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
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