All of us have been there. Do you recall the day you made the bold decision to purchase your first vintage vehicle? the one that still sends chills down your spine? You made a quick detour at the neighborhood auto parts store and bought the finest car wash soap and wax to suds and polish your brand-new (to you) child. You triumphantly got to work after firmly parking your find in the driveway and bringing out the hose and bucket.
A few minutes later, bubbles started to fall on the cement below. Before, everything was perfect. Sure, you are aware of where this is going. You discovered an obstructed rust bubble. Nothing major. Or did it?
Probably the body shop down the street from your house came to mind. You know the one—constantly full parking lot with no space left to park another vehicle. Surely they must be excellent. You intended to arrive there to request a quote for fixing that small blemish. You then pulled your keys, drove the gas pedal a few times to the floor, and turned the ignition cylinder forward a notch after finishing the final piece of dried wax removal. Nothing followed. Your heart raced faster. You soon collected your thoughts and acknowledged that, after all, you had purchased an outdated vehicle. You anticipated some minor maintenance and repairs as a discerning buyer. Nothing major; you just didn’t anticipate it happening so quickly. So, after jumping the battery, you drove to the body shop.
You recall how difficult it was to persuade the managers of the machine shop and the body shop to take care of your infant. the automobile you so proudly owned! They treated you like poison ivy for the person you spent your entire life saving for. The supervisors were eager to avoid responding to your inquiries. You came to the conclusion that you wanted to establish a network of mechanics who shared your enthusiasm for classic automobiles after having a number of the same experiences with other production-oriented shops. Where and how can I find such a rare breed, you wondered? How will I know they are trustworthy once I do locate them? You had faith in a miracle.
The Laguna Niguel-based Car Appraisal Network can put you in contact with dependable auto mechanics who are conscientious and do quality work. Today, those might sound like the words of a snake oil salesman, but after decades of involvement in the automotive industry, we’ve encountered and interacted with nearly all of them. Depending on what you need to be done, we can recommend people personally or give you advice on what to look for when selecting partners to properly maintain your vehicle. Here are some things you can check for on your own in the interim.
Transparency – Whether your car needs small to major mechanical work or restoration, the first thing you probably want to know is when they can get it in, how much it will cost, and how long it will take. Any store that gives you an accurate response to one of those questions is not being truthful with you. If you’ve spent enough time around old automobiles, you know that every project keeps expanding. I can’t answer that, but what I will do is keep you informed and explain everything as we come across it, a genuine merchant will say straight away.
In extreme circumstances, old parts become fragile, difficult to find, and require manufacture. Unless your mechanic is clairvoyant, you should settle in, take out your wallet, and enjoy the ride. Even then, unexpected events could happen.
Enthusiasm – Excessive or insufficient enthusiasm are both warning signs that someone is trying to con you. Here’s an illustration: You decide to do the right thing when purchasing a car from a dealer and have a licensed assessor evaluate it first. When the appraiser gets at the dealer, he or she asks to hoist the car so they may check the engine and transmission numbers. The sales manager quickly declines the request and gives a long list of reasons why the dealer isn’t able to comply, including the fact that their hoist is solely for staging vehicles and that their liability insurance forbids them from doing so. A trustworthy dealer will go out of their way to accommodate your requirements and won’t have any trouble doing the same for your appraisers.
Word of mouth – Last but not least, recommendations are unquestionably the best tool in your toolkit for having the work done correctly. People used to discuss excellent and bad service among themselves before Google and Yelp existed. On their drives, neighbors would gather for coffee and chat about their cars. In the shape of car clubs, they continue to do this. Sincere fans frequently get together to display their beloved chariots. On Facebook, you can discover a range of regional car clubs. These people will steer you away from the drawbacks and swiftly recommend the pros—the people they know and trust.