There are so many places in my little neighbouhood that even long time
Orange County residents didn't know are here. And they produce some really
gorgeous work! If you go 2 blocks from here, you'd never see 'em! So, I
think that's it's a matter of asking around and looking around-even in
so-called 'bad' neighbourhoods.
Laura
Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
----- Original Message -----
From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
To: Spitfire List <spitfires@autox.team.net>; 'Jeff McNeal'
<jmcneal@ohms.com>
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 5:32 AM
Subject: RE: LBC prejuduce sure stings... (long)
>
> 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
> >
> >
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