I think business is too good. Just be thankful they told you straight out
they had no interest. My father used to say "You're just that much closer
to finding right one." The worst thing is to have someone agree to do the
work, sit on the car for weeks, then either do a bad job or finally tell you
they too busy. Just keep looking. Local car clubs? Custom rod shops?
Man, I would think southern Cal has got to be loaded with body shops who
could do the work. What about Ed "Big Daddy" Roth? ;-)
I have my eye on a neighborhood shop here. They have interesting vehicles
out front from time to time.
Terry
> ----------
> From: Jeff McNeal[SMTP:jmcneal@ohms.com]
> Reply To: Jeff McNeal
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 7:00 PM
> To: Spitfire List
> 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
>
>
|