The body of my 1980 corvette has been in the shop for 14 months and is still not finished. So far it has been sanded and lightly primed, doors, hood, front, and rear bumpers are off also. 1 floor pan has been installed.

    I told the shop in Jan. that it needs to be finished by the end of March. The owner has now informed me that all insurance work comes first. he also said if I don't like it to come pick it up and take where the sun doesn't shine.  I gave him a 5000.00 retainer 1 year ago.

    I called around and no other shop wants to work on because they didn't start it.  Do I pull it and find a way to finish it myself?  Do I let the body shop Nazi continue working on it?  Or do I Listen to some alternate views to help stop the insanity? 

    The only paperwork I have is an initial estimate with no completion dates and my receipt for the 5000.00.

     Your thoughts please.

I would get it out of there, mainly because of his comment to stick the car. I would then hire an attorney to make his life absolutely miserable.

I could see other shop's concern about being hesitant to work on it, so often body work that looks good really isn't, and does weird things after the car is finished. Try contacting your local Corvette club to find out who they would recommend.

When I had mine done I knew up front that insurance work would come first, but they still managed to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. I would stop there about once every week or 2 with a case of Miller around quitting time (cold of course). I think that changed the attitude of the guys doing the work by a whole bunch.

Been there ... done that!!! My local corvette shop - that I no longer deal with - sent it over to a place on the MD Eastern Shore. The initial estimate was 6-9 months. After 15 months - and not being able to pin him down to a schedule - I said "enough is enough". Unfortunately, I'm now having to get everything they did "re-done". Wrong hood stripes ... wrong hood decals ... and, worst of all, WRONG SHADE OF COLOR!! An expensive lesson. Bottom line - get it out of there ASAP and find a reputable shop that specializes in corvettes. Check the "100 Best" list - plus get local corvette club recommendations (an NCRS chapter can usually give you some good shops).

 I agree with the above. Get it out as soon as you find another "reputable" shop in the area. Get some legal advise soon too.

 I did like Big Fish did. Visit once every 1 to 2 weeks on a Friday with a case of cold ones and discuss the progress of the car with the owner.

 I dealt with a shop that mainly does customs when I had my car repainted. Insurance jobs were not their primary business. Which is just what I was looking for. Shops that thrive on insurance jobs will mainly use a project car like yours as "backfill" work just to keep the guys busy if it becomes slow. So if the insurance jobs keep coming in, your car will continue to sit.

Good luck!

Sarge

I agree with the other members. Rescue your car!!  Get an attorney and hammer this guy!! I am planning on having my car stripped, gel coated, and painted next year. There is a guy out in Wisconson that does great work at a reasonable price and he will arrange a flatbed. He does all sorts of Corvette work. He's done my trailing arms and differential, and he will eventully get my car via flatbed to paint next year.

His business is called Tylersparts. You can call and ask for Jim at 608-365-0911.

Good luck with your car

Luke

Got your money and your car. That bites. I would pull it from him and do it myself. I think that is the only way things get done. As for the $5000.00 turn up the heat lawyer time. 

Rock and a hard place, fer sure.
I understand the need for shops to make a livin, but to put one off for a "quickie" bites. It took 6 months for the shop that painted mine to do it, in between "Insurance" jobs. They have painted it 5 different times now. I'm still not happy, and will never take it back. I should have listened to the real paint man, when he told me he could do it, it would be perfect, it would cost $5000, and would take at least six months. This is for paint only!! No body work, no reassembly, nothing. Just prep & paint.
I would be afraid that the guy in your case will now put your car even farther back on the list of things to do. Get it out of there, and let the lawyers hash it out. Take it to Judge Judy!

 You should list the body shop name & address, so anyone in your area knows what they'll be getting into doing business with them

I agree with all the guys who say GET YOUR CAR OUT OF THERE. My question is, what is the $$ value of the work that the shop has done to your car? Have you asked the owner of the shop if he would be willing to refund you the difference between the $5,000 you paid him, minus cost of the actual work he has already done on the car?

I see no need for a lawyer here. Since there has be no "law" broken,  this would be a civil matter, not criminal. All states have a Small Claims Court which are designed to handle disputes between individuals or an individual making a claim against a business. Small Claims Court can handle any case where the $ amount ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.

My advice would be for you to call the Clerk Of Court for your county, explain your situation and see what advice they give you. I think the "first" thing you should do is to sit down with SOB, AKA the owner of the shop and see if you can come to an agreement as to amount of refund you are due.

Guys don't get me wrong here. It's not that I "hate" lawyers. My son happens to be a judge. It's just that I would hate to see Dennis give big bucks to a lawyer when he can more than likely settle this without one and spend that money on his car. If not, get a lawyer to atleast write the owner of the shop a nasty letter threatening him of things to come. Just my 02 worth.

After 24 months mine is mine come Tuesday, I made sure from the start that I made friends right off the bat, lunch tickets every other month for the bodyman, bottles of booze at xmas and Holidays for the painter and prepman, the lead shop forman got a pie made by my wife now and then. Made sure my bill was up to date. You all will see the finished product in Pigeon Forge. I'm sure happy with the outcome. You can't trust body shops, and more so when they have your love..I would look for another shop..May cost somemore? I feel for you..