Business ProfileforOld Wheel Restorations

I asked for 5 things to be done. None were done in 3 months or they were done improperly. He wouldn't give an estimate and didn't use proper forms or a labor manual. I can find no license for him to do business. He claimed and charged to "fix" things I didn't ask to be fixed (too many to mention). Ruined paint, broke expensive parts that are difficult to locate, charged over $14,000.00 and now the car doesn't run.

Dear Ms. ****,

We are very sorry that you are unhappy. We were told by you in November that you would be mailing a check to pay the unpaid expenses due to us totaling $644.35. You have not honored that promise and have chosen to post a bad review to justify the non-payment.

To address the facts correctly, you brought your vintage car, a 1956 Ford Fairlane, to us last August after being referred to us by a mutual friend. We work on our own collection of classic cars, and the cars owned by friends who are also collectors, so you understood that we are not a regular modern car mechanic shop.


Most vintage car owners understand that cars that are not driven regularly, and have older parts, will most probably have issues with the car that are unforeseen. That is why in vintage car restorations, it is impossible to give an estimate. When you start working on an old car such as this one, it literally can fall apart in your hands and lead to more repairs required. You understood and asked us to look at your car.

Your car had many hidden defects that only came to light after we began working on your initial list of requests. All major repairs were discussed with you in a timely manner and before proceeding. When it was possible to give you an estimate we did, such as when we installed the new a/c system.

We understand that the car was not running in 2015. We do not know the history of the mechanics and restorations/ repairs of this car from 2015-2022. Nor do we know why you chose not to continue working with the previous restorers.  

You originally asked for the following to be done: 
1. Door lock & ignition switch- replaced and working
2. Customer supplied battery tray and asked that we install it, the part was incorrect, so we had to buy a correct battery tray and installed it.
3. Front Grill re-chrome- done.
4. Hood didn’t close properly- hinges were repaired to make hood close properly
5. Car had no air conditioning. Customer requested a/c to be installed, we gave an estimate, she approved, and we did this to completion. A/C was working properly when car left, and we have heard no complaints that it isn't working properly.

These issues were all completed as requested. Every step of the way we gave you detailed information on the progress of the restoration, and asked for your permission on every additional repair that was necessary. At any time, you could have advised us to stop work and take your car without argument. 

A brief summary of what was done in addition to your original list, for your $14,000 payments in the less than the 3 months that we worked on your 1956 Ford Fairlane include (but not limited to):
1. battery ground cables replace
2. new battery installed
3. front suspension was bad, replaced all worn parts including sway bar bushes.
4. brakes were leaking, replaced parts and lines.
5. wipers not working, connected vacuum lines and overhauled wiper motor
6. charging system failed and had to install a new alternator
7. replaced water pump
8. customer complained that car was overheating, so we flushed the water system, replaced hoses, fabricated a cowl over the fan
9. found the left front light was not working and repaired wiring
10. choke needed servicing to make starting car easier
11. client picked up car, then ran out of gas. Found that gas gauge was faulty reading quarter tank of gas when it was actually empty. We replaced the leaking fuel sending float.
12. repaired the driver’s door stopper.
13. serviced distributor, repaired leaking old fuel line with age cracks, flushed radiator, added coolant, installed new thermostat.
14. additional repairs made, but too many to list here.
15. Many repairs and services given at no charge, including delivering the car to customers home.

When you mentioned in your complaint the lack of a labor manual, that is something a modern car mechanic shop uses, not a vintage restorer. Of course, we have manuals, but it is impossible to see what the domino effect of opening up a 65-year-old car could uncover. The condition of your car, and the lack of continued use and maintenance left your car in serious disrepair and in need of much more restoration to get it in running condition, much less the cosmetic look you were hoping for.

Your comment on “proper forms” does not take into account that a restoration project must give far more details on the work done, and as you saw, we give extremely detailed descriptions of what work was done. 

Unfortunately, with vintage cars, they can run one day, and break down the next, with a whole new series of issues. Every piece in this 65-year-old car is not replaced, so there are plenty more issues that will continue to pop up. That is the nature of the vintage car collector hobby. Every step of the repairs was explained to you, and we asked you to make decisions on whether to continue work. 

We have over 22 emails, 4 texts, 19 pages of details on the 103 hours of work done on this car, including 23.75 hours worked for No Charge. We are fair with all car collector friends, and when we think it is taking us longer than we hoped to troubleshoot an issue, we are generous with our friends to not make them pay for time we would not want to pay ourselves as collectors. Our reputation in the car collector hobby is very important to us.

Of your $14,000 expense approximately $8,000 was labor and over $6,000 parts.  

As for your other statements, they are simply not true. The older paint job was not “ruined” and we did not cause any additional issues. We have photographic evidence as well as the copy of your appraisal from 2015 (Public records from your lawsuit to acquire the car in 2015) We also did not “ruin parts that are difficult to find”. Parts for a 1956 Ford Fairlane are not that difficult to find if you are active in the car restoration hobby as we are. But older corroded original parts do sometimes crumble in your hands.

With respect we must say, if you were to take your car to any other restorer, they will tell you the same as we have. When you drive away, you may or may not have a running car in 30 days or even 30 minutes, as these vintage cars have a way of breaking down with frequency. Unfortunately, not really being a car collector, you may have the expectations of having a car that drives like a modern car. That will never be the case. 

Again, we are truly sorry that you are unhappy. We wish that the advice we gave you as far as the expense of maintaining a vintage car seemed reasonable to you. We encourage you to ask other vintage car owners how much expense the upkeep for their vintage cars has cost them. 

As to your comment that the car does not run, you never called us to say this. Had you given us the opportunity to trouble shoot whatever your current problem is, we may have been able to help. This negative review on BBB is the first we have heard from you since the day we delivered your car and you promised to mail us a check.

We would hope that you would honor your obligations and pay the final amount due, $644.35, to repay our expenses.

Dear Mr. P, I did ask you to stop work on the Ford when I realized you were more focused on your agenda than on mine. Trying to be cordial, I told you I needed the car at the beginning of October, but you weren't finished with it yet. When I picked it up, it didn't even make it out of the drive the first time, and had to be towed back the second time due to overheating. That was when I said that the car ran fine when it came in (over an hours drive to your place) , and it should run before it leaves and you need to make it right. I told you I paid you $14,000.00 and wasn't going to pay you anymore, but you kept asking for engine and carburetor repairs. Common knowledge is those won't make it overheat. I drove the car weekly, not just to car shows and I have spent thousands of dollars having each part gone over with a fine tooth combby certified mechanics who are honest and have worked on antique cars for years. They got my car in top running condition only to have it destroyed with 17 pages of "oops it broke" repairs. I came to you because someone told me I could get AC in my car lickity-split and my car would not have a long down time. This is month 7. I never received an estimate as Florida law requires. Unfortunately, not being a certified mechanic, you don't understand about a labor manual. Let me enlighten you: Yes they are for antique cars. Labor manuals have been around since 1930 by Motor and Chilton. They give you a time and cost guide for your labor. For example, it might say to replace a wheel bearing on a 57 Chevy is 1 hour at $75 an hour. Then you itemize repairs and write it on the ticket. This way you can make an estimate. You told me when you towed the car to my house that it was overheating and not to drive it more than around the block, so yes, you knew it was overheating. That's why it was towed. You talk like I'm a newcomer girl that doesn't know anything about cars. My husband and I owned an auto repair shop for decades and I've worked on cars and have also done bodywork, painted, and drove the tow truck and flatbed. I've been driving the 56 since 1981, so I'm puzzled as to any lawsuit's I'm supposed to have filed. You're wasting time at those peek@you websites. I have nothing to hide. I applied for the cars title through the mail in 2015 when it was lost, but I don't see how this is relevant to the way you do business. I'm sorry to hear this could not be resolved through BBB.

************,

We have never encountered a person such as yourself, you have aggressively tried to slander our good name, presumably in search of getting free work on your car. We have generously discounted your hours already as a kind gesture.

It is sad to see that your first complaint to us was through a posting on the Better Business Bureau website. You never even tried to call, text, email or contact us in any way to discuss whatever issues you may be experiencing with your car.Unknowingly to us, you also posted a complaint to ******** Affairs in November 2022 without any attempt to contact us directly first. We only found out about that complaint on Thursday, Feb. 23, after your BBB complaint and after your Out of Court Compromise email where you threaten us with a lawsuit.

Please be advised that we are comfortable in stating the true facts in a court of law and presenting a great deal of evidence including detailed paperwork and emails substantiating the reasonable and fair work done to your vehicle.

Rest assured if you continue with your threats and false accusations, we intend to pursue a counterclaim for slander and those potential damages could be significant. 

We will be prepared in any situation, particularly in a court of law, to address the issues you have raised, and your character as well. We will address your attempt to Extort $10,000 from us during your phone call to us on Friday, Feb.24, 2023.

We have sent a 68 page package of documents proving your claims to be completely false to the ***** of ******** Affairs. Govern yourself accordingly.

Below IN CAPITAL LETTERS is our direct response to the false statements you have posted again here on BBB.We will not continue this back and forth on BBB. We will let the **** of ******** Affairs deal with your accusations once they have received the package we have sent detailing our dealings with you.

Dear Mr. ********************* I did ask you to stop work on the **** when I realized you were more focused on your agenda than on mine. AT NO TIME DID YOU EVER ASK ME TO STOP WORKING ON YOUR ***. Trying to be cordial, I told you I needed the car at the beginning of October, but you weren't finished with it yet. When I picked it up, it didn't even make it out of the drive the first time, A FAN BELT WAS SQUEEKING AND I TIGHTENED IT WHILE YOU WERE WAITING.  and had to be towed back the second time due to overheating NO THE *** RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING IT. That was when I said that the car ran fine when it came in (over an hours drive to your place) , and it should run before it leaves and you need to make it right. YOU NEVER TOLD ME TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I REPAIRED MANY OF YOUR ISSUES AT NO CHARGE OUT OF GOOD FAITH AND KINDNESS.  I told you I paid you $14,000.00 and wasn't going to pay you anymore, but you kept asking for engine and carburetor repairs. THE ***BURETOR WAS BUBBLING, WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR THAT TYPE OF ***B. I NEVER SAID IT NEEDS OVERHAULING.  BUT YES, MORE ISSUES CONTINUED TO COME UP WITH YOUR 65 YEAR OLD ***. Common knowledge is those won't make it overheat. I drove the car weekly, not just to car shows and I have spent thousands of dollars having each part gone over with a fine tooth combby certified mechanics who are honest and have worked on antique cars for years. They got my car in top running condition only to have it destroyed with 17 pages of "oops it broke" repairs. I came to you because someone told me I could get AC in my car lickity-split and my car would not have a long down time. This is month 7. YOUR *** WAS WITH US FROM AUG. 9- NOV. 3, 2022, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS, NOT 7,WITH FAR MORE REQUESTS BY YOU THEN JUST A/C INSTALLATION.  I never received an estimate as ******* law requires. YOU RECEIVED SEVERAL ESTIMATES,WHENEVER IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GIVE AN ESTIMATE. Unfortunately, not being a certified mechanic, you don't understand about a labor manual. Let me enlighten you: Yes they are for antique cars. Labor manuals have been around since **** by Motor and *******. They give you a time and cost guide for your labor. For example, it might say to replace a wheel bearing on a 57 ***** is 1 hour at $75 an hour. Then you itemize repairs and write it on the ticket. This way you can make an estimate. You told me when you towed the car to my house that it was overheating and not to drive it more than around the block, so yes, you knew it was overheating. YOUR *** BEGAN OVERHEATING TOWARDS THE END OF OUR PARTIAL RESTORATION WORK, AND WE FLUSHED THE WATER COOLING SYSTEM WITH CHEMICALS. WHEN WE ADVISED YOU OF THE ISSUE YOU ADMITTED THAT IT HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM BEFORE YOU BROUGHT IT TO OUR SHOP. I SIMPLY ADVISED YOU TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TEMPERATURE GAUGE. That's why it was towed. NO, IT WASNT TOWED, I TRAILERED IT TO YOUR HOME AS A GENEROUS OFFER TO YOU. You talk like I'm a newcomer girl that doesn't know anything about cars. My husband and I owned an auto repair shop for decades and I've worked on cars and have also done bodywork, painted, and drove the tow truck and flatbed. I've been driving the 56 since ****, PER YOUR AFFIDAVIT IN YOUR LAWSUIT IN PINELLAS COUNTY COURT CASE No. 1********* THE *** WAS OWNED BY ***************************** FROM AT LEAST BEFORE **** WHEN IT WAS IN YOUR SHOP UNTIL YOU SUED FOR POSSESION IN JULY 2015, AFTER BOTH ******** DIED IN 2006 AND YOUR HUSBAND DIED 2010. so I'm puzzled as to any lawsuit's I'm supposed to have filed. YOU FILED THE LAWSUIT ON JULY 15, 2015 AND THE JUDGEMENT WAS OCTOBER 27, 2015 You're wasting time at those ******** websites THE LAWSUIT AND ALL OF THE ATTACHMENTS ARE PUBLIC RECORDS. I have nothing to hide. PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK MS. ********* DAUGHTER AND SON IF THEY WERE AWARE YOU HAD THEIR MOTHERS ***. YOU DID NOT INDICATE THAT IN YOUR COURT AFFIDAVIT. I applied for the cars title through the mail in 2015 when it was lost, CLEARLY A FALSE STATEMENT but I don't see how this is relevant to the way you do business. IT SHOWS A PATTERN TO YOUR CHARACTER I'm sorry to hear this could not be resolved through BBB. YOU NEVER SOUGHT A RESOLUTION. YOU ATTEMPTED TO EXTORT $10,000 FROM ME WHEN YOU THREATENED TO TAKE ME TO COURT IF I DID NOT PAY YOU.