Jeff, what you have run into is what I call the production shop mentality.
These shops are production, by that they mean they are basically a get em
fixed and get em out place so the insurance (guaranteed paycheck) can pay
them. The fact that your car is over 30 years old means that almost no
insurance agency would ever repair a car that old, so they are not used to
doing them. It is easier to replace crunched and dented panels than it is
to fix rust and do a proper complete repaint. Truth be told, insurance is
their bread and butter.
There is another type of shop that does this type of work, I forget the
proper name, lets just say restoration shop. They tend to be very
expensive. A proper show quality paint job on one of our cars would
probably cost in the $2500 to $5000 range (yes I know there is someone out
there that only paid $125 for his paint job and is winning concourse, but I
don't want to here about it). A friend of mine once gave me advice "if you
tell them you want it restored or completely repainted and such it will cost
you thousands, best thing, if you just want a really nice car is go in say
this is my car and I would like it shiny." That puts them past the
restoration fear, and lets them know you are doing the type of paint job
they are used to, quick and easy. Will you win concourse with it, probably
only at really small shows, but it will look really nice to you and your
friends. And you will be happy.
Keep looking you will find a shop to do it, but don't expect it to be a real
big body shop that has a hundred cars waiting in the yard to be done, they
won't bother looking at you.
I don't know what body work needs done on your car but the economics of the
paint job apply here as well.
Patrick Bowen
Square Tail Spit Owner and PROUD of it!!!
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>
To: Spitfire List <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 7:00 PM
Subject: LBC prejuduce sure stings... (long)
>
> 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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