Joe Curtone 6th Planet Auto Parts (Previously known as Zformations) He's been a lying thief for nearly 2 decades Arcadia Florida
In April 1997, I took my 300ZX Turbo from Naples, FL to Joe Cutrone's shop in Jupiter, FL for a complete rebuild. If memory serves, the deal we worked out was that I would send montly installments of $1K to him (for a total of $12,500) and I would get every performance part known to mankind put under the hood of my 300. We're talking an upgraded turbo, computer, injectors, intercooler, camshafts, crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods etc etc etc. If they made it, I was going to get it.
As the $ was to be sent in incriments, the work was also to be performed in increments. Joe was not to buy parts or do work I had not yet paid for.
After shelling out over $4K over the next couple months, I had a bad month that summer and was unable to send a check. Joe IMMEDIATELY called his lawyer and started lein proceedings against my car, screaming at me on the phone about how "we had a contract". In order to have the lein removed, I had to "catch up" on my payments AND pay his lawyer $500.
Right around Christmas that year, I was down to owing my last $2K and I told Joe I was going to bring it in person and wanted to schedule a time to see the progress he had made on the car. He balked at the idea and wouldn't give me a date when it was convenient to come by. So, I didn't send the check. I followed up with him repeatedly until, finally, I receved ANOTHER lein notice in the mail against my car for "non-payment".
This time, I got my own attorney. The lien was removed and negotiations began for a "settlement" of my claim. Settlement? I wanted my dxmn car finished! I had forked out $10K!
I was permitted to go see my car (via some agreement between the lawyers) and was shocked to find that my car had been turned into the lot queen for parts. My wheels were missing, t-tops and various other parts had been stripped off and either sold or given to other people. Joe offered to put the car back together and drop a used engine in it as a settlement...to which I declined. Keep in mind, during the time he was stripping my car, he was slapping me with lein notices for failure to pay for work he wasn't doing.
Ultimately, the place went bankrupt and I didn't get a dime. Nor did I get my car back. I'm sure Joe used the remaining parts off my Z to keep his axx afloat for another month or two.
I'd like to point out that, at the time, I was delivering pizzas and valeting cars to earn my living. Do you have any idea how many pizzas you have to deliver to save up $10K? Alot. Joe Cutrone robbed me of every penny.
This man does not deserve your trust or your money.