[Bmcu] Fw: FW: [British-cars] Restoration Experts

[Michael Scoggins]

You mentioned recent emails during the last couple of days. I didn't get 
them so this is a test.

Michael Scoggins

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "wbeech" <wbeech at flash.net>
To: <Bmcu at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 10:34 AM
Subject: [Bmcu] FW: [British-cars] Restoration Experts


> BMCU List,
>
> I am sure you have seen all of these emails in the past couple of days 
> about
> restoration shops.  My queston is: Is there is list of reputable, or those
> to avoid, auto restoration experts for this area?  I will need a lot of 
> help
> in the paint and body department while I can handle much of the final
> assembly and interior myself.
>
> I've got a great car, but it will need to undergo a complete re-make this
> winter.  Any input from the club members will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bill
>
>
> Bill B
> '58 TR-3A TS/30766 L
> "A bad day in your TR just gives you license to go shopping on-line 
> again!"
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: british-cars-bounces+wbeech=flash.net at autox.team.net
> [mailto:british-cars-bounces+wbeech=flash.net at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
> Charlie & Ressie O'Connors
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 9:02 AM
> To: british-cars at autox.team.net
> Subject: [British-cars] Restoration Experts
>
> I learned the hard way that you have to be very careful who you trust with
> the restoration of your car.  Just because they do body work, doesn't mean
> they can restore one of our British cars.  Here are a couple of lessons 
> I've
> learned.  I'm sure others can add to it:
>
> * Do a thorough search of shops that specialize in (1)
> restorations and (2) restorations of British cars.  There are not that 
> many
> shops out there that have had an older British car to work on.
> Most shops today depend on insurance repairs.  I can appreciate this.
> It's a business and a good business owner is going to take in work that
> assures the best return on labor.  The honest ones will tell you that they
> don't have the time or the proper facilities to do restoration services.
> There are many shops in my area that I would take my Jeep to for repairs,
> but I wouldn't take my Austin Healey to them for restoration work.
> * If you find a restoration expert, verify the quality of their
> work.  Ask for references, go look at work they've done on other cars, 
> look
> at work they are currently doing and talk with individuals who work in 
> their
> shop.
> * Use the many resources we have available to us to find a
> restoration expert - this list being one of them.  Talk with members of 
> your
> club as well as members of other clubs in your geographical area.
> You may find that in order to find the best restoration expert you may
> have to haul your car a few hundred miles from home.   But if it assures
> that your car will be completed to your satisfaction, that is a small 
> price
> to pay.
>
> My first experience at hiring someone to restore a car was a nightmare 
> that
> I hope to never repeat.  I contacted the Better Business Bureau and 
> Chamber
> of Commerce and was told that my only recourse was to file a civil claim
> against the individual to recoup my money.  They also told me that even if
> the civil court decided in my favor, it would be my responsibility to
> collect the money.  Bottom line, I lost a lot of money.
>
> When it came time to have my Austin Healey 3000 restored, I sought out
> someone who specializes in restorations of Austin Healeys.  Once I came to 
> a
> conclusion as to who I thought would be the best shop to take my Healey 
> to,
> I visited his garage (prior to even asking him if he could restore the 
> car),
> viewed other cars he was working on during my visit, and talked with 
> others
> in his garage.  He was very up front with me about the time it would take 
> to
> do the job right, how much it would cost, volunteered references, and 
> showed
> me cars they were currently working on as well as complete photo sets of
> cars they had completed.
> He even suggested I visit a client who lived nearby who had their car
> restored by his shop.  Of course, the restoration isn't going as fast as I
> would like it to go, but I still have confidence that it's being done 
> right.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing from others on how to find the right person 
> to
> restore our cars.  We spend a lot money to restore these cars and it would
> be great if we could prevent others from experiencing the frustrations
> others of us have had to go through.
>
> Charlie
> _______________________________________________
> wbeech at flash.net
> British-cars mailing list
> British-cars at autox.team.net
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/british-cars
>
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