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There are a lot of readers who may not understand that there are two companies that utilize the word Vintage in their name, Vintage Speedsters and Vintage Motorcars (also know  as Vintage Spyders).  They are two different companies and referring to either of them as just "Vintage" could easily create some confusion especially among newer SOC members.

I use both of these companies and I'm not taking any sides in this discussion, I just think we need to be careful when discussing these two companies. 

Vintage Motorcars - Alex posted:

Its not always easy providing 100% satisfaction to customers. 

The paint correction we did was not to the satisfaction of the customer (which is reasonable on his part), but not the expectation of a perfect result (because there is no such thing as perfect paint job).  If the customer worked for Ferrari as  there paint quality control with his overly discerning eye, none of there cars would leave the factory. 

And as far as us telling our customers all the details of builds, adjustments, corrections (paint or other), are just not practical.  When any person buys a new car, do you think the dealer tells them the car was chipped during transport?  No, as long as it was corrected it's not a big deal. 

 

When the correction is glaringly obvious then you have to take a look at the painter.

Also I have to disagree with you Alex. Ferrari employs just those kind of people with discerning eyes. Are you kidding?

....(because there is no such thing as perfect paint job). 

That line is a less than truthful statement at best......

 

I have a painter here that is a one man operation... I have used Randy dozens of  times on speedsters and street rods many that were flawless Onyx Black and all done with absolute perfection as he will not allow anything leave his facility until it is just that.... perfect. I've referred others including Danny Piperato. ...and I pay less that half of those $10k paint jobs mentioned and I get perfection.

 

Last edited by Alan Merklin

Have you seen anyone ever blend such a small area and expect it to not show!

A friend of mine down the street paints car and builds hot rods and he laughed when he saw this spot on my car and said wtf!

Pretty embarrassing moment for me because I was showing the car off.

And yes very true.. I would not let a Ferrari leave the factory with a spot on it like this.

I have no memory of discussing with Greg him building a car for me that may have paint flaws and may get damaged when returning for repairs.

 

Ok, guys.  I guess perfect is in the eye of the beholder.  Being in the business I have never seen a "Perfect" zero sign of anything on a painted car.  ZERO sign of anything!!!! I have seen excellent master piece cars that I would kill to have that paint job, but not "perfection".  Only God's car has a perfect paint job.  And if you think I am off base, ask Chaz, the guy has an eye that not much if anything will get buy him.

As far as Chaz's car.  The spot that he is bothered by was (as previously stated) an unacceptable blemish that needed to be redone and the offer to redo the spot was offered and is till offered.  The spot does not jump out at you as much as in pictures (not to say it's acceptable).  It's crazy how much of an eyesore that sport is in photos and that again is not a good thing or acceptable.  So, now that everyone knows that we  are NOT trying to dismiss the paint issue and that it should be a and can be corrected.

As far are rectifying it.  The offer to fix it stands and always has been there.  Also, if the customer wants to go to the contracted paint facility we use to have the car estimated and repaired, we will cover the cost.  And if he gets an estimate from that shop and just wants to get cashed out, we will do that as well.

Really, I think the underling issue is more of personality crashes than a willingness from anyone on either side to just take car of it and make the car right.  After all, a good looking car is a win win for everyone.  I am confident that cooler heads will prevail and we will see an amicable solution to this saga.

 

I more then likely will be taking it to be repaired by the painter that Vintage Motorcars used but are we only repairing one of the spots? I have  four chips on my door rocket edge that appeared after emblem clips were installed and damage on same side underneath near curved edge from what looks like a lift or Jack mark.

This car has only been lifted by a vehicle lift at Vintage Motorcars so this did occur somehow over there.

If Vintage can agree to cover the cost of the paint (fender spot/chips on rocker/and Jack point beneath) then that's great.

But there will be no public relations with me and Greg Leach..

 

So you will "more than likely" take it to their painter and either they will fix it or provide an estimate whereupon Vintage will pay that amount to you? If you don't like the estimate, you don't have to accept the check.

"More than likely"? You are kind of losing the high ground here. Sounds like they are trying to make you happy and you just want to keep this going.

Last edited by Panhandle Bob

I can send or post the pictures of the other areas and you (Alex) are welcome to look at my car but I don't want Greg near my car.

All damages that occurred to my car took place while he was working on it.

And we have already discussed this lift damage area and he placed the blame on me and the exhaust fabricator without taking any responsibility for it regardless of the part where the exhaust guy did NOT lift my car and I was also standing beside my car the entire time while exhaust was removed.

Here are lift damage images..

I don't want to go back and forth on this. The damages occurred while my car was there and he needs to just except it and that will be one step in the right direction.

 

Last edited by Guy

I'm (Alex) just the internet whipping boy and really not the one that needs to see the damage and make that call.  Greg would like to see the damage and address it in a calm professional manner.  Not a big deal.  He feels like it is not an unreasonable request.  If not, he still agrees to the fixing the spot on the fender no issue.  

Greg says now that we have opened a dialog, that if you like to just call the shop and you and I (alex) can work out the details. 

714-894-1550

 

 

Rusty S posted:

That is a bad ass Spyder Chaz. Since you posted this I have had a talk with Greg. I purchased a full body suit made entirely of memory foam and in the case he has to be anywhere near my car he has to wear it. It's a bitchin' color too. Flaming Hot Pink with black leopard stripes. Pics to follow!

I know for a fact you already had that suite long ago.  Pics to follow...,

Vintage Motorcars - Alex posted:

I'm (Alex) just the internet whipping boy and really not the one that needs to see the damage and make that call.  Greg would like to see the damage and address it in a calm professional manner.  Not a big deal.  He feels like it is not an unreasonable request.  If not, he still agrees to the fixing the spot on the fender no issue.  

Greg says now that we have opened a dialog, that if you like to just call the shop and you and I (alex) can work out the details. 

714-894-1550

 

 

I will pass on calling the shop and having any discussion of any kind with Greg Leach about my car.

I know that you (Alex) mentioned that I can talk to you but I wish to not talk with your employer on the phone or in person after my last in person talk with him.

He was a very rude and unprofessional per own who I choose not to engage with.

He wants to see my other damage and do what he has already done and take zero responsibility for it.

You and I discussed this other area underneath and Greg immediately responded that it didn't happen there.

I don't need to hear it in person that I didn't happen there so why would I let him see my car and tell me he didn't chip it?

When I brought it back to have the Spyder emblem clips put on he insisted that he put them on and they must have fallen off.

And when I talked further about how there were NO clips anywhere on floor anywhere and that there were zero clips on the emblems he responded "that's neither here nor there" "I put the clips on and I will put them on again!"

Greg Leach does NOT take responsibility for things and is not honest.

He said he didn't drive my car yet his work boot foot print was on the the inside fender well of drivers side and pressed into my seat when I picked up my car last.

If you ALEX would like to see my car then you are welcome to view the problem areas.

BobG posted:

So, based on your postings, you plunked down the deposit on August 10, 2015. You took delivery on or about March 20, 2016. So actual build time was about seven and a half months, including the thirty days you opted to wait for the "original style bonnet" that actually turned into a couple months wait. 

You had a seal problem on a trans you provided for the build. Took a couple of tries but you got it fixed.

You had some paint and chip problems, not repaired to your satisfaction. 

You think you had to wait too long for delivery of the car and were taken out of the build queue by a ruse perpetrated by Greg.

You accept Greg's explanation about the 2 car build headed to Europe, but his telling you that was just a slip of the tongue. He really never meant to speak the truth.

You repeatedly quote various unidentified "successful business owners" who told you not to have Greg build you a car. Using your best judgement and based on your previous experience you decided to move ahead with Greg as your builder. You seem to imply in your initial post that you had a bad experience with another builder, but it is unclear if that is the case.

You will not take your car back to Vintage for any repair or other work.

But, for these issues, you love the car.

Does that sum it up pretty well?

The reason for me sharing my experience is so others know what they are getting themselves into.

Unfortantely I do not love the car..

Its a nice car but with the headache and BS that came along with the build and builder and my attempt to try and have it fixed has just led to this sharing..

 

Chazlink posted:

I can send or post the pictures of the other areas and you (Alex) are welcome to look at my car but I don't want Greg near my car.

All damages that occurred to my car took place while he was working on it.

And we have already discussed this lift damage area and he placed the blame on me and the exhaust fabricator without taking any responsibility for it regardless of the part where the exhaust guy did NOT lift my car and I was also standing beside my car the entire time while exhaust was removed.

Here are lift damage images..

I don't want to go back and forth on this. The damages occurred while my car was there and he needs to just except it and that will be one step in the right direction.

 

If you don't want to go back and forth on this issue take it off the thread and deal directly with Alex.

You've aired your grievances, we've taken note of it, and we'll deal appropriately with Alex and Greg when we do business with them.

It was appropriate to air your grievance here because I'm sure you wanted to make everyone aware of what you thought were bad business practices, that's what this forum is for. But to just keep going back and forth with Alex via the thread is tantamount to calling out your enemy to meet you behind the backstop during recess. It won't achieve the desired result of getting your car repaired to your satisfaction. Alex has been more than reasonable here and I don't see this getting resolved via the keyboard.

Robert M posted:
Chazlink posted:

I can send or post the pictures of the other areas and you (Alex) are welcome to look at my car but I don't want Greg near my car.

All damages that occurred to my car took place while he was working on it.

And we have already discussed this lift damage area and he placed the blame on me and the exhaust fabricator without taking any responsibility for it regardless of the part where the exhaust guy did NOT lift my car and I was also standing beside my car the entire time while exhaust was removed.

Here are lift damage images..

I don't want to go back and forth on this. The damages occurred while my car was there and he needs to just except it and that will be one step in the right direction.

 

If you don't want to go back and forth on this issue take it off the thread and deal directly with Alex.

You've aired your grievances, we've taken note of it, and we'll deal appropriately with Alex and Greg when we do business with them.

It was appropriate to air your grievance here because I'm sure you wanted to make everyone aware of what you thought were bad business practices, that's what this forum is for. But to just keep going back and forth with Alex via the thread is tantamount to calling out your enemy to meet you behind the backstop during recess. It won't achieve the desired result of getting your car repaired to your satisfaction. Alex has been more than reasonable here and I don't see this getting resolved via the keyboard.

I plan on trying to handle this with Alex and only Alex since he has stepped forward to help me with the car issues.

Im not calling anyone out and this business owner is not my enemy, I just don't want to deal with him in person any further.

The bad business dealings have been said and I'm focusing on the repair issues and I will be going to the paint/body shop that painted the car to get a quote very shortly.

 

Spent this morning ready your thread, Chaz. Crazy! I hope everything gets resolved to your satisfaction.

They are doing all the prep and paint on my Speedster body now. It's been about 30 days and I've asked to have it complete the week of June 13th. Work and having a one year old really limits my time (and I struggle with patience... I'm Irish...). But, my dealings with Alex and Greg have been good. I hope going forward things get better and you don't loose the love of your Spyder!

Robert M (Not a Poopiehead) posted:
Chazlink posted:

How did your car come out? It would be nice to see some good stories of positive nature for Vintage....

Brian's been ecstatic with his build so far. Here's his build thread. I'd suggest reading it from the back to the front for the most recent information.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...0#515703195886288220

Thanks for posting a link

they did a GREAT job on the body prep, paint, and mounting to my chassis. None of it was perfect and lined up before they started, so they had a lot of work to get it right to my OCD standards.

They also agreed to hold off on doing a final detail on the paint until I'm further in my build. I didn't think of this at first, but the car will be sitting in my garage while I work on it...it will inevitably get a few scratches...so they wanted to wait before doing it so that the final product and paint job is flawless. It's definitely a "6 inch" paint job as Alex puts it  

Something to keep in mind as far as Spyder tribute cars go...

Im sure each builder has something that a customer may not be pleased with and there will always be something about the builder that should be changed and in the end there were things in my case that should of been handled differently by Greg Leach at Vintage and he knows that.

But I will say this... On the market of Spyder tribute cars, Vintage Motorcars still builds the nicest, most solid, quality Spyder that I have seen hands down and that's why I went there.

So if your very patient, and you don't mind dealing with some very likely BS then I'd say go with Vintage Motorcars because outside of all the BS you are likely to deal with you still have the best built car out there.

Its kinda like going to a restaurant where you know the service sucks but the food is good.

believe it or not there is a compliment in this post.

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