The Best Plans Of Mice & Men...

[YellowRose]

The Best Plans Of Mice & Men...

The owner knows now he made a mistake in having him move my car. The manager was busy trying to get a car out to a customer. So the owner had that mechanic take my car to wash it off. He knows now that he should have moved it, or had the manager or the mechanic who was working on it, and knows the car well, move it. He just told me the mechanic who moved it will not be getting near my Tbird again.. It should have never happened and probably would not have, if someone else who was use to moving my Tbird in and out of the bays, up on the racks, or around the facility or out on the street for road testing, had moved it. Only the owner or manager road tests my Tbird.

[JohnG]

Is this the same crew that set it on fire about a year ago??

[simplyconnected]

Whaaaaa-----t? Ray, if this is true... I can't believe it...

[YellowRose]

The Best Plans Of Mice & Men...

Yes! This is the same shop that one of their mechanics accidentally shorted a couple of wires causing some smoke and some burnt wiring. As a result, they completely re-wired everything behind the instrument panel, took out a bunch of wiring that someone in the past had left hanging. Wires that went no where. They fixed all the wiring problems and wire loomed it and made it look really nice. At their expense.... That mechanic no longer works there though....

You may ask me why in the world I took my Rose back to this shop. I did because they owed me some warranty work on the transmission, which they had overhauled. There were also a couple of small things they had not finished when it became time to get her to Danny to do the interior. Danny called me one day and said he had an opening and was ready to start working on her. So I told the auto shop and they buttoned her up and said to bring her back when Danny was done and they would finish the couple of details that had not been finished. That included adjusting the rod that goes to the transmission. They were not liking the way it was changing gears, not going into park all the time and the kick down action. Since it was under warranty, I took it back to finish those minor details and let them fix the transmission problem. They were about to do that when this happened. Otherwise, Rose would not have been back there..

[Coral]

Poor Rose!
I can't imagine how you must have felt Ray, so sorry!
Literally fell off my chair when I saw those pictures, that fella needs to be tarred and feathered!

[Dan Leavens]

Ray just got to read your thread, I am at a loss for words and also truly sorry for this mishap. I know you were so looking forward, to the upcoming VTCI event, to proudly show Rose and her remarkable transformation. At least as mentioned, no one was seriously hurt and the front end hood and doors can be repaired.I would even go so far as to say, have it inspected top and bottom from the doors forward. One never knows what a hit like this has caused especially hitting a truck.

[JohnG]

Just what is it that was supposed to be tricky about moving a TBird??? I can't figure that out. You start it up, and put it in Drive. Same thing on a 2010 Lexus. Needs a little more leg in the brake, but we're only moving it around a garage area. So how on earth do they associate lack of familiarity with running into a truck??? This outfit is something else!!

[YellowRose]

The Best Plans Of Mice & Men...

The guy was looking down to find where the windshield wiper control was so he could turn it on to get the water off the windshield... Unfortunately, he did this while in Drive... When he looked up, he saw what was about to happen, panicked and hit the brakes... he thought... but hit the accelerator instead...

[simplyconnected]

I don't mean to cause any unnecessary pain, or make Ray feel worse than he already does BUT,
C'mon...
What quality garage would let any car out before adjusting a newly rebuilt tranny (let alone a classic)? It takes fifteen minutes.
What quality garage's electrician would allow wires to burn up? I don't care if they 'fixed' it, a little tape works wonders on bare 12-volt wires to prevent stupid errors. Oh, and now he doesn't work there any more... hmmm, do you think this was an isolated incident? No.
What quality garage would allow a novice kid to drive a classic car? I agree with John. He wasn't careful, didn't look where he was going, didn't have one foot covering the brake, and God only knows why he had it in Drive if he couldn't see out of the windshield. He won't be there much longer, either.

This garage is spending more money on in-house repairs than they make in profits. I wasn't there, and I don't know the particulars, but it seems like a bunch of yahoos on cell phones who aren't paying any attention. Sorry for pointing fingers of blame, Ray. There must be more to this story than we know. I wouldn't bring my classic car there to save my life because they just don't show due respect for YOUR Rose.

Around Detroit, our mechanics are honored to work on, so they give deep discounts for classic car work. Most of the work is 'custom', (like exhaust bending). They take pictures and encourage more classic business (like Danny does).

At one point, I was going to install Mustang seats and steering column in my '55 Ford. This shop owner took me to his back room and showed hundreds (no kidding) of complete steering columns. He said, "You got a classic car... Pick one out for FREE." I went with rack-and-pinion steering but kept my original steering column. That's the attitude, appreciation, and respect Rose should receive. - Dave

[Penelope]

I just cant beleive it Ray, knowing you though Rose will be well again soon. Good luck with the repairs.

[YellowRose]

The Best Plans Of Mice & Men...

Hi Bill,

You must have found a computer!! I was surprised when I saw your post. Yup, it can be fixed, but it sure will set my schedule back.

[Guest]

WOW Ray, I am shocked! Just returned from week's vacation in AR golfing with my mother, so haven't been able to check the forum for a week. I was appalled to learn and see your bird's damage. I suppose on the bright side, free paint jobs are good.