Complaint Review: Classic Chassis - Fayetteville North Carolina

I have been prompted to post a report after reading reports on this site and others.  Over five years ago I had brought my restoration project to The Classic Chassis with the intention of having a resto-mod completed on the vehicle.  I am familiar with many of the techniques and procedures used to restore a vehicle and was impressed with Mr. Clarks sales pitch.  I spoke with several employee's in order to gauge the level of knowledge and expertise.  Again, everything seemed on the up and up with knowledgeable employee's who could handle the task.  I explained to Mr. Clark exactly what I wanted to accomplish with my vehicle.  The agreement was that Mr. Clark would have my car unassembled, media blasted, sheet metal work completed, the car assembled, and painted.  I would purchase all the parts required for the restoration as I have spent years working with this particular manufactures vehicles, attending car shows up and down the east coast and numerous hours researching parts suppliers and manufactures for reliability and quality.  The price of the work came to approximately $10,000.  The agreement included that the vehicle would be complete within a three year period.  I was unable to pay for the entire amount up front and arranged with Mr. Clark to pay over time.  I thought that I had made a great decision to use The Classic Chassis but little did I know what was to come.

For the next two years I sent Mr. Clark payments.  During that time no work had been completed to my vehicle.  I had purchased parts that were delivered to The Classic Chassis in hopes that work would begin on my vehicle.  I dispelled my concerns that the car had not been worked on since I had been making payments.  Then when I made the final payment I had assumed/expected that work would begin on my vehicle; an assumption that I would look back on and realize I should have done something sooner.

As time went on I had asked if I could park several of my vehicles at The Classic Chassis premises.  Mr. Clark had no issues with my request.  I parked and maintained my vehicles out of site.  Mr. Clark had also allowed me to utilize trailers located at The Classic Chassis - which I found out later not all the trailers belonged to him but lent them to me anyway.  Still no work had been done to my vehicle.  At this point I had befriended Mr. Clark and felt that he still had my best interest in mind.  Again, wrong assumption.  I wanted to maintain my keep for Mr. Clark allowing me to use his property to store my cars and for use of the trailers.  I placed new tires on one of the trailers and assisted in placing sheet metal on a building Mr. Clark was having built on his property.  Additionally, I assisted in some of the maintenance for vehicles that came to the shop.  All in expectation that my car would be next in line for restoration.

Approximately four years into this process I had decided that I would like to change a few things on the restoration process to include additional sheet metal work and a different suspension that required some modification.  This never was an issue until I made the decision to request a refund of my money.

I had purchased my own auto rotisserie and unassembled the vehicle myself.  All in hopes that this would prompt Mr. Clark to start work on my vehicle.  Again, no results. 

I made one last effort to recoup my money and have work done to my vehicle.  I had spoken with Mr. Clark about performing sheet metal work and minor welding.  I had proposed that if Mr. Clark could replace the left and right quarter panels, the front left floor panel, the Upper/Lower firewall, inner fender well, out fender well, trunk floor, rocker panels and then weld in frame connectors and repair a portion of the transmission cross member.  Additionally, media blasting of the vehicle would be preformed by myself through the use of Mr. Clarks equipment.  I spoke with an employee of Mr. Clarks - the main sheet metal worker - for a realistic timeline to complete the previously mentioned work.  The individual stated that, if uninterrupted, three weeks - averaging 40 hours each week.  I thought this would be a great deal for Mr. Clark since his normal fee posted is approx. $80 hourly and three weeks would come to $9,600.  I knew that he paid this individual less then $25 hourly.  Three weeks work would come out to $3,000 in paid labor plus supplies and electricity (again, I was supplying all parts).  Additionally, Mr. Clark charged me $900 for the media blasting.  There would be no expense to Mr. Clark since I opted to do the work myself using his equipment.  Again, expenses for the materials and electricity would be on Mr. Clark.  I even mentioned I would be willing to assist the employee and that I would do the media blasting when the booth was not being used so as not to interfere with Mr. Clarks business.  My proposal was rejected by Mr. Clark.  During this period Mr. Clark told me that I would have to remove all my vehicles from the property because he was trying to sell the property.  I did so promptly.  I had also opted to remove the vehicle that Mr. Clark was to restore. 

I finally decided to request a refund for services not rendered.  Mr. Clark told me he would have to calculate how much I owed him.  Mr. Clark stated that he typically charges his employee's to use the facility at $40 hourly.  Since I used the facility to take apart my car I assume Mr. Clark wanted to charge me in order to reduce the amount to be returned.  Mr. Clark told me he would contact me with the amount he would be willing to pay me - at this time I just was hoping to recoup something - but he never did.  I contacted Mr. Clark again and his response was that I needed to come in and talk to him personally.  I have opted to seek other avenues at this time and have been looking for others that may want to seek the same path.  That is how I came upon the news broadcast.  I have met Mr. Gann and I am sure met many of the other persons referenced in the news broadcast and would gamble to say some from this site. 

I would like to offer the opportunity for those people who wish to see a consolidated effort to recoup monies lost.  As this site does not allow for full names to be published or email I am unsure how to go about working together except through other Blog sites.  I have numbers to a few of the prior customers and will begin to contact each of them.  I would suggest for now that updating this site or another site with other individuals who have had negative dealings with Mr. Clark (http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/811991-has-anyone-used-classic-chassis-fayetteville.html).  I welcome interested attorney's who want to pursue this effort to please contact me as soon as possible.