Complaint Review: Import Doctors - San Ramon California

My car is a very rare classic cara 1967 Lancia Flavia. It was recently restored with new paint and chrome. The interior was original and like new. My car was recognized by the officers of the American Lancia Club as the most original and pristine example of this model in the US. The car is a show car and was shown at the following car shows:

Concorso Italiano, 1999, 2000, 2001

Newport Beach Concours, 1999

Santa Barbara Concours, 1999

Best of France and Italy, 1998, 1999, 2000

Malibu New Years Day Run, 1999

I needed to have a rear spring replaced and selected this shop based on endorsements by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club. I also selected the shop based on the statement of shop owner, Bob Wandell, that he would store my car indoors. Indoor storage was very important to me, as the car's windshield seal leaked slightly and the driver's window did not roll up all the way, not to mention that I have incurred great expense to restore the car and to store it indoors myself since acquiring it in 1997. Bob Wandell that he would keep the car indoors. I was very clear that this was crucial to me, as I had just had the car painted and the chrome re-plated recently and wanted to protect my investment and that the car leaked. I also told him that he should call me if unable to continue to keep the car indoors.

The car was at Import Doctors for over two months while we searched for the correct replacement parts. Bob Wandell at no time made any effort to help find the parts, leaving it to me to do so.

On January 15, I found that my car was left outdoors for at least two months, one of which was the rainiest December in recent history. I found standing water in the car's interior over 4 inches deep at the driver's pedals. The interior, formerly pristine and very original is now largely ruined. Additionally, the shop placed my non-waterproof car cover on the car and left it there on for an extended period during several rainstorms. The cover was left on while both it and the car were damp, causing the recently re-plated chrome trim to rust heavily and the new paint to become water damaged. Any knowledgeable automotive shop owner knows that a wet car cover left on for an extended period will likely cause water damage to the cars paint and promote the forming of rust on bare metal surfaces, such as chrome trim.

Bob Wandell failed to perform as agreed on the following points we discussed prior to trusting him with my car:

The throwing away of my original parts without my permission and prior to my inspection. A phone call would have been sufficient.

o This resulted in me being forced to locate used replacement parts in Europe instead of using the original parts to fabricate replacement parts locally, which would have been a quicker solution and gotten the car out of your shop faster.

Failure to store and maintain my car while in the shop's possession per the terms that the shop agreed to prior to leaving it in the shop's care. Also, failure to contact me when unable or unwilling to store the car as agreed.

o This has resulted in a large amount of water and weather related damage to the car and an anticipated large expense to correct the damage, and in turn, a diminished value of the vehicle (it will never have the original interior wood trim or special original factory mats againthey are just no longer available for such a rare car)

The following damage was caused by Bob Wandell leaving the car outdoors :

The dashboard wood inserts and trim (damage from moisture and direct contact with water)

The factory original sisal carpet (damage from being saturated and immersed in water for extended period)

Mold growing on many interior surfaces (requires further inspection to assess full extent of damage)

Water/moisture damage to door panels and other interior trim.

Possible rusting of the floorboards, which were repaired and refinished at the time of the paint job in 1999

Extensive rusting of the exterior and interior chrome trim, also all recently re-plated

Flat front tire, a new tire, with less than 4000 miles on it, (tire is damaged if it's been sitting flat for more than a month)

When asked to cover the damage caused by his failure to comply with his promise to store the car indoors, Bob said that he's not responisble for cars left in his care, and that the car was at his shop too long anyways. I then asked him why he didn't call to tell to come store the car myself and also why he didn't help find the parts to get the car out of his shop faster, and he had no answer-- he said nothing. All he had to do was call me, and all of this could have been avoided.

I've had a classic car restorer give an estimate to repair the water damage, and it will run between $3500 and $7000 to repair, depending on the amount of rust discovered, difficulty in securing replacement parts, and amount of required labor!

In all fairness I should mention the following:

I have been an automotive journalist for over seven years, and I've been published in the following publications:

European Car magazine, 1994-1998, author of the GTV-6 project car series and various feature articles

Robb Report magazine, 1995-1996, various automotive feature articles

Sports Car International magazine, 1998-2000, various automotive feature articles

Productopia, 2000, new car analysis and reviews

Auto Talk, KUCR 88.3 FM, 1995-1998, contributing journalist

I have owned over 40 cars in the last twenty years, over 30 of which were Italian sports carsAlfas, Lancias, and Maseratis. I did much of my own work, and continue to participate in many events and clubs. Over the years, I have taken my hobby seriously enough to turn it into a source of income as a journalist.