C3 restoration nightmare

[C3C7NIC]

Was tired of hijacking the other thread with my car drama, so starting a thread here for that BS.

So a local restoration shop owner came by the house today to assess everything. My husband was there, I am at work. When he called and asked if I was sitting down, I knew the news was going to suck.

As if I did not want to throw up before, the news just keeps getting worse and worse.

He said that there is approximately $35-40K labor hours to get the car completed.

There are approximately $20-30K in parts missing from the car. 60K total to get car completed.

I don't even have the words to explain the level of absolute disgust I am feeling at this moment.

[dvarapala]

Sadly, this is what happens when we trust people.

[Aerovette]

If this happened while the car was at MAACO, what would your course of action be?

It should be no different here. You can have sympathy certainly, but business is business and a "business" ripped you off. Consider the course of action he would take if you didn't pay him for completing your car?

NOTHING in his garage should be sold without determining if it is theirs to sell.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

There must be a significant back story to this one. $60k? in MISSING parts?

[DJ_Critterus]

Have you sought out the sleaziest lawyer you could find capable of squeezing every penny out of the business owners?

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Was tired of hijacking the other thread with my car drama, so starting a thread here for that BS.

So a local restoration shop owner came by the house today to assess everything. My husband was there, I am at work. When he called and asked if I was sitting down, I knew the news was going to suck.

As if I did not want to throw up before, the news just keeps getting worse and worse.

He said that there is approximately $35-40K labor hours to get the car completed.

There are approximately $60K in parts missing from the car.

I don't even have the words to explain the level of absolute disgust I am feeling at this moment.

I’d get another quote or two. Paint is done and effectively it is roughed out.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Have you sought out the sleaziest lawyer you could find capable of squeezing every penny out of the business owners?

Probably no assets, but freezing all sales until it can be sorted or claimed is a step in the right direction.

[Steve_R]

$100k???!!! Holy shit!

I know the car has some sentimental value, but it may be time to cut your losses and sell it.

[Olustee bus]

I know I don't understand this situation but it seems to me you could by a pristine c3 for much less than those costs. Or, you could buy one not pristine and use the needed parts for it. You would still have the labor costs but maybe not that high of a rate.

[Rodnok1]

I could buy that car in parts out of catalog for less..
All the major bits are there. Top will be the most expensive.
You could get a wrecked car with no engine for a few k. A damaged body runner for 10k.

I was expecting 10k total, 5 for parts 5 for labor(that was before you picked it up).

Now insurance was cutting a check.. Oh hell yea 75k needed...
Fix it buy another one or two with the extra money.

Probably 500 to 1k for all hardware to mount doors/hood and have painted/restored.
There's nothing really uncommon about thar car that couldn't be sourced. I'm sure some bits would be expensive of course. If engine/trans etc were gone and car was unpainted it would be a different story.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by aerovette

NOTHING in his garage should be sold without determining if it is theirs to sell.

I may have missed it, but was there an inventory of all the parts that were given to this guy and which should now be returned? Without that, getting any sort of legal recourse is going to be long and extremely painful as the OP has said.

[Grey Ghost]

Pics?

I remember part of the story your dad working or doing labor in exchange for getting his restored that never happened from the 'friend'?

Civil court?

[GTOguy]

It had better be an L-88 for that kind of money.

Very clean C3's can be had for 15k to 40k. Turn key and ready to go.

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Pics?

I remember part of the story your dad working or doing labor in exchange for getting his restored that never happened from the 'friend'?

Civil court?

That was the Jag.

[Learpilot]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

$100k???!!! Holy shit!

I know the car has some sentimental value, but it may be time to cut your losses and sell it.

This ^^^^^^^^^

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Pics?

I remember part of the story your dad working or doing labor in exchange for getting his restored that never happened from the 'friend'?

Civil court?

Will get lots of pics this weekend. Working at the hospital till Friday.

Keep following Ghost, they are coming.

That was the Jag, Jag is nearly done now. Still at the shop where the guy does Shelby/Mustang/Cobras.

Originally Posted by GTOguy

It had better be an L-88 for that kind of money.

Very clean C3's can be had for 15k to 40k. Turn key and ready to go.

No doubt, why the numbers made me doubt what he was saying.

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

That was the Jag.

This.....

[C3C7NIC]

Not sure about civil court, heard that this will get ugly and $$$ and we may never see a dime so will be out legal fees too. Not sure how pursuing legal action across the miles will look either.

His wife is selling stuff as fast as possible so not at all impossible that some of my parts have been sold or stolen.

Originally Posted by Steve_R

$100k???!!! Holy shit!

I know the car has some sentimental value, but it may be time to cut your losses and sell it.

Not ready to consider that just yet.

If nothing else, I can do some of the things myself, since most of the really hard/heavy lifting stuff is done (engine/paint) a little at a time and recruit a young kid or retired guy that is good with cars to help maybe and pay them hourly?

[Aerovette]

If I was closer, I'd help knock out a big chunk of the assembly expense. (no electrical )

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

He said that there is approximately $35-40K labor hours to get the car completed.

There are approximately $60K in parts missing from the car.

I don't even have the words to explain the level of absolute disgust I am feeling at this moment.

The parts $$$ is astonishing. Labor price is like what, 400 hours?

NFW.

Is this guy proposing starting from scratch? Sure does sound like it from the $$$.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by aerovette

If I was closer, I'd help knock out a big chunk of the assembly expense. (no electrical )

I think I have a guy willing to help with electrical thankfully.

They have planes man! Thanks for the offer

Originally Posted by Touringmike

The parts $$$ is astonishing. Labor price is like what, 400 hours?

NFW.

Is this guy proposing starting from scratch? Sure does sound like it from the $$$.

Mike, my thoughts EXACTLY!!! Holy hell. Most of the car is there, some interior parts, vert top and lots of mounting hardware MIA, and brakes/caliper gone, but no freaking way that is 60K right?