Classic Bodywork Recommendations

Andy55

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1,278
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Co. Down
After getting some time to focus on my latest project, I'm looking for some recommendations for classic bodywork men - preferably South Down area but all suggestions welcome
Thanks
 

Chris tii

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BMW 2002tii
Classic Marques are very good. Their quality is some of the best I’ve seen.
Though they are also very expensive. What ever price and time they quote you, expect it to be double.
 

Burt2000

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11,227
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Type RA Ltd
I’m learning first hand that any sort of restoration work takes longer than the first timescale your given, just seems to be the nature of it. Proper bare shell restorations can take years from what I’m seeing and reading.
 
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RCT

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2,470
I’m learning first hand that any sort of restoration work takes longer than the first timescale your given, just seems to be the nature of it. Proper bare shell restorations can take years from what I’m seeing and reading.


Having done a lot (14 full proper restorations) of them myself between my dad over a number of years, we’ve 2 rare but hard cars to get parts and finish, I don’t want to do another again! That’s with us having a full workshop with a lot of proper equipment except bodywork.

Too many people watch the programs read build pages, that make it look simple and all the parts are off the shelf etc. Normal person will take 5 years to do a car from what I see and can’t understand why there’s 400hours on bodywork for a car at £28hr and some take 500hours to build after that.
 

Burt2000

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Type RA Ltd
It’s definitely a specialist job and having done simple stuff on my own car before it went to the restorer like grinding with flap discs, cutting out steel, removing underseal etc I can appreciate the hours and skill involved. I must have put 40 solid hours into mine and that was nothing specialised and not much to fix either. I’ll prob do the Same again when I get it back with grinding down welds, zinc painting, re sealing etc etc. I can only imagine the hours involved in a bare shell rebuild!
 

Chris tii

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1,542
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BMW 2002tii
Classic Marques are very good. Their quality is some of the best I’ve seen.
Though they are also very expensive. What ever price and time they quote you, expect it to be double.

OK forget about what I said about Classic Marques.
I left the Z3 coupe in with them a few months ago to have the engine bay resprayed. The end bill is quadruple the initial quote. I expected it to be a little bit over but the numbers aren't even in the same ball park. I'm too embarrassed to actually say what they are charging. I feel I've been conned. I don't have the money they are asking and it looks like they have my car hostage until I get the money together. I literally haven't slept in the last 2 days since I went to collect the car.
 

stevieturbo

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21,096
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Antrim
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Old Ford
And quadruple for what reason ?

Did you supply the car with the engine bay bare ? engine removed etc ?
 

Woodcutter

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31,236
OK forget about what I said about Classic Marques.
I left the Z3 coupe in with them a few months ago to have the engine bay resprayed. The end bill is quadruple the initial quote. I expected it to be a little bit over but the numbers aren't even in the same ball park. I'm too embarrassed to actually say what they are charging. I feel I've been conned. I don't have the money they are asking and it looks like they have my car hostage until I get the money together. I literally haven't slept in the last 2 days since I went to collect the car.

That is horrendous, sorry to hear that.

How have they attempted to justify their price?
 

Chris tii

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BMW 2002tii
And quadruple for what reason ?

Did you supply the car with the engine bay bare ? engine removed etc ?

the engine didn't come out. The reason is apparently that they shouldn't of quoted the first amount. They are basically saying that the first quote was way off and they were wrong to say it.
 

Chris tii

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BMW 2002tii
A quote is a quote, that’s solicitor time I’m afraid. Unless you added on extra work, it cannot quadrupple. Have you it in writing or text or anything ? It shouldn even run to double.
That’s nothing more than a scam.

Haven't got it on paper unfortunately.
 

Robber

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379
Location
Co Antrim
Drives
Fiats mainly
the engine didn't come out. The reason is apparently that they shouldn't of quoted the first amount. They are basically saying that the first quote was way off and they were wrong to say it.

Surely they must notify you as soon as they realise this and not run into costs beyond the original quote without your consent. Only takes a phone call.

Unless you indicated that you just wanted the job done regardless.
 

mayweather

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8,172
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M3 Evolution
I would delete your posts here mate, incase they see it or a member informs them.

Ask for a meeting with them, ask them to repeat what you were quoted and now much higher etc etc etc..... have a phone in your pocket recording it, then see a solicitor
 

IL

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10,233
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981 GTS
If the quote isn't written down & the Bodyshop can justify the hours and materials you are on a beaten docket.

Explain the situation, you aren't pleased & try to come to an amicable agreement what is owed.

I'm sure they will discount it considering the situation.

Was the initial quote unbelievably cheap? what part of the country are they in?
 

Burt2000

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11,227
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Type RA Ltd
That's mental, 4 times as much! How are they justifying it? Have they an itemised list for all the extra work/man hours? Although that wouldn't be hard for them to make up.
As said, try a meeting with them first stating your willing to work with them but not to the tune of 4 times. Its their fault for quoting you wrong and they should know how to draft up a quote so to ask for 4 times as much is a joke unless they ran into a lot more work, in which case they should have notified you about.

I've been keeping in contact regularly with the place doing my car, I don't think he's too happy but at the end of the day he said he would do it in a week as its just a bit of welding, we are now almost into week 5 and id told him at the beginning the MOT expired in June and I need it done by then...….they all seem to be notoriously slow in this game.
 
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EF Ian

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2,879
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Portrush
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EF & 260Z GT-R
Depends on what the condition is like as for minor metal work there are more I would trust than for anything major.

KRCR do seem to have great reputation, the reason I didn't go wit them is I didn't want to wait over a year before the work could start, but I'll have been waiting that long now if I'd just gone with them it would probably be started around the same time anyway.


David Marshall Restoration seem might also be worth checking out.
 

Jecks

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397
As previously mentioned, visit them and record the conversation so you have proof. Mention the initial figure they quoted and the figure they now are asking and you are very surprised at how them come to that.
At least you have proof of the original figure and end figure
See where it goes from there.

One of my biggest if not biggest pet hate is someone taking the piss in this manner
 

Nicky

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24,533
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HiluxSurf
TJ Bodyworks just outside Ballynahinch is hard to beat. Look him up on Facebook. He has done quite a bit for guys on here over the years too.
 

stevieturbo

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21,096
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Antrim
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Old Ford
4x might be little...or a lot though ?

If initial quote was £50...£200 still isnt a huge amount.

Although how anyone would get any sort of a paintjob on any car these days in the engine bay without a total stripdown/removal....is a mystery.

What was even discussed when this quote was given ?
 

Chris tii

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1,542
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BMW 2002tii
Initial quote was £1500. Which I actually thought was a lot. But I wanted it done right.

On the 11th of April I went to check the progress. The car was in the paint booth ready for paint. I was asked to settle my current bill which was sitting at £2250. I wasn’t very happy. I reminded them that the quote was for £1500. It was explained to me that it’s been a time consuming job due to lots of waxoil under the car that had to be removed. I paid them £1900 which is all I could afford at the time. I expected that the final bill was likely to reach £3k.
When I went to collect the car I was ready to tell them how disappointed I was that it was costing me so much more than the initial quote. Little did I know, it was much, much worse.
The final bill was £6500 plus Vat! After lots of shouting and swearing, they dropped it to £5900 total. (Another £4K on top of what I’d already paid.) Four times what they quoted me. And I think you all agree, a s**t load of money which unfortunately I don’t just have laying around.

Obviously I never, in a million years, would of brought my car to them if they quoted me £6k.
The work included some welding and rust prevention but all this was discussed when I brought the car to them for the quote. They stripped much of the engine back including the wiring loom. They removed the air con fan and radiator. The front bumper, front side panels and bonnet.
As well as painting the engine bay they also painted phelumn chamber and a few other bits black. They replaced all the vacuum pipes, all the clips, stickers, nuts and bolts etc with new ones provided to them by me.

Their argument was basically, forget about the quote you got, that was a mistake. Instead look at all the wonderful work we’ve done on your car.

I haven’t spoken to them since I stormed out of their office on Tuesday. I can’t face contacting them yet. I’m guessing they will probably read this but I don’t really care.
 

Burt2000

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11,227
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Type RA Ltd
WTcleanF! 6500+VAT to paint an engine bay and carry out some rust prevention and welding? Why did they remove waxoil from under the car was the job not just strictly confined to the engine bay? You could get a good full respray for a 3rd of that price ffs.
 
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