Lesson Learned

[Howard Tarnoff]

Many of you know that I have been hanging around this board for years now, I have come and gone as my project has stalled and moved. I am posting this today to prevent anyone in the New England Area from making the mistake I did.

STAY AWAY FROM CHOP SHOP CUSTOMS - WOBURN MA

Here is the story in short:

I drove Magoo for two years and took it apart myself in October 2003. The paln was to take the car to Xtreme Restorations in Slatersville RI for the complete makeover into a mild custom, more of a Sleeper. Lenny Schaefer, the Owner of Chop Shop was a close friend of mine who had worked in restoration for years and then ran a body shop at a dealership. He wanted to leave the dealer and start his own restoration shop and needed a "seed customer" and SEED MONEY, so I decided to help. After all, I was going to get a deal and his personal attention.

I pulled the car out of his shop last August and took it to Xtreme, what I had to show for it was $30,000 in receipts and a car that would not turn, brake and clutch peddles that hit the firewall before engaging and a long list of ISSUES!

Where I am today:

The only things that have not been done twice on the car are the electric clock, the Transmission and the Windshield glass!

In that Lenny used a fog technique when he applied the Pearl the car could not be touched up. It is impossible to blend. The photos attached here were sent to me at 2 am this morning as Xtreme was finishing up repainting the entire car.

Xtreme has turned out some of the best rides in the country and are a dedicated bunch. They baked the car last night and were hard at reassembly at 8:30 this morning. All to get me to the Endicott Estate Show on Sunday.

All I can say is thank God for Hendrick's Gin, I had one last night, and a very understanding wife.

For more of the rework see my Picasa web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/CrusinDuck/Magoo

So thanks for letting me blow off a bit of steam guys, I appreciate it as I am by no means a regular here. I am in need of somebody to tell me how to start a BLOG. I want my blog to come up when anyone googles Chop Shop Customs.

[62rebelP23]

you have a real nice car now, regardless of what the first shop did other than soak you for money and hold you up for a couple of years. while not all the mods are my taste, they are all very well done and show thought!

it's always a gamble doing expensive business with a friend; you can lose the money AND the friend at the same time!

again, you have a splendid car and that at least is something!

[Dennis Hemingway]

Howard, Sorry to here about your problems. Thank's for the heads up. I had some of the same problems with a guy in Apple Valley, Ca. When I got my 48 back from him 2 years ago, it was worse than when I sent it to him. I am still trying to save some more money so I can get it re-done.

The paint is still cracking and the door liners are perminately water stained. (he wet sanded with the windows open).

Dennis:mad:

[Howard Tarnoff]

Howard, Sorry to here about your problems. Thank's for the heads up. I had some of the same problems with a guy in Apple Valley, Ca. When I got my 48 back from him 2 years ago, it was worse than when I sent it to him. I am still trying to save some more money so I can get it re-done.

The paint is still cracking and the door liners are perminately water stained. (he wet sanded with the windows open).

Dennis:mad:

Oh my, I guess there is now Iowa Basic Skills test for some of these guys.

In this case Misery does not like company. I only hope to prevent others from making my mistake.

[Rodney Bullock]

Howard as you see alot of the guy's on this forum do there own work. Your car is outstanding, There are times we have to learn the hard way and yes it is usually expensive. There is no school of restoration where a person gets certified and all that, these guy's learn the trade and than perfect what they learn and become craftman, oh wait there is a school of restoration sorry:( everyone can't get there so we have to trust someone. I have been in simular surcumstances only thing with me is I will get some of my friends together and go into the shop and do it right using their tools, booth and air comp. I have no problem making somebody step aside to complete my project. What you have there now is a top notch restoration, this is why selling a car like this would call for mone that the average collector would not have, they just don't know what you have been though good luck and drive that thang:D

[builtfercomfort]

Hi Howard - a blog like you talk about would be easy to start - see https://www.blogger.com/start?hl=en&pli=1

Two things, though.

1. A popular blog has many updates. Daily, or at least a couple of times per week. Blogs get ignored or even deleted if you don't update them. Its a 'web log' after all.

2. Do you want to wallow in this for many more weeks as you document why the company is bad? (This is the important one for your mental well-being.)

In your position I would do a static web page instead. I would look into putting lots of other useful info on a web page (so people will look for stuff, find it, and link to your page) along with your chop shop info. That way you can do it once and not be reminded of it all the time.

So, what searchable info do you have that people would want to look for? You have a start on info for a 'botched repairs' site so that might work. But try to make it general interest.

Gather that info, format it, and apply your chop shop story too. Keep it factual. Get it hosted as a googlepages site (free) and gnash your teeth for a while, but not any longer than you have to. There are other options (lawsuits, picketing) but this one will produce the least headache for you.

Good luck with the newly fixed beauty, too! That's what you need to concentrate on.

[Howard Tarnoff]

Thanks for letting me vent:p

The car may just be in Syracuse at Xtremes display next weekend. Chop Shop has long been a commercial vendor there and had his hands in building the pick up that was given away a few years ago. We have some logistics hurdles, I am not able to attend due to a business trip. While I can provide an enclosed trailer we are short a tow vehicle and driver. Still working on that.

I do have a very detailed photo album that will be sorted by before and after shots so it will be very easy for people to compare.

Thanks to all,

HT