Is John Steal still alive and operating a business as JPS Motorsports?
As of April, 2018, our car contract was breached 7months ago. No car, no proof of any progress, and Mr. Steal owes us a whole lot of money we took from our retirement savings. He refuses to answers emails, allow us onto his property or supply us with his lawyer's contact info. Lots to share about this business but can't speak of everything at this time. Anyone know of Mr. Steal's activities or have had similar circumstances?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Delivery is 6 months for a JPS Custom, from the date of the first deposit and signed build agreement. (Allow extra week for black)
Make sure you spell his name correctly on filing paperwork - John P. Steele. Ha, the "Steal" was a Freudian slip. I send a registered letter requesting full refund in 10 days due to contract breech; file complaint with Better Business Bureau (no real clout but often the nudge needed plus visible to other potential buyers); then file a complaint with the California State Attorney General. Perhaps others are having the same issue?
Maybe Mr. Steal realized the folly in hard work/an honest living and has adopted Mr. L's business model? (you know, where you just continually take deposits from unsuspecting people who are overwhelmed by his slick website and never actually build a car?)
You know he moved the operation down to the San Diego area? There is another thread about that here on the site.
JPS (John Steele) has an Instagram page that is updated regularly. The page is "jps_motorsports". From the pictures and posts, it appears that they are working on numerous cars and occasionally completing one. Lots of pictures from the shop.
John Steele (had and or has health issues) he moved the business to San Diego some months ago and he has "new management" running the show. From what I understand Steele would purchase speedster bodies from Kirk one at a time and that source his no longer available to him. Me, I would go in person to investigate. I know that a guy from Pennsylvania waited in excess of two years for a coupe to be completed and shipped.
@THERON
Looks like the RESOURCES tab, SPEEDSTER MANFACTURERS sub-tab needs to be updated!
4Banger posted:Is John Steal still alive and operating a business as JPS Motorsports?
As of April, 2018, our car contract was breached 7months ago. No car, no proof of any progress, and Mr. Steal owes us a whole lot of money we took from our retirement savings. He refuses to answers emails, allow us onto his property or supply us with his lawyer's contact info. Lots to share about this business but can't speak of everything at this time. Anyone know of Mr. Steal's activities or have had similar circumstances?
I AM IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION AS YOU 4BANGER. Exactly.
Contract & first payment on Sept 1st 2017. Second payment Oct 1st (for paint). I have a paper trail.
I haven't seen a tub painted. He did point to a coupe tub and say its mine...
I took a risk, and this is where I stand.
The instagram and FB pages do have a lot of action amazingly. All the pictures I have seen are of the old shop. He has a vid where numerous people are working on cars. ...His shop is usually VERY slim on employees in my various visits.
I see three (at least) end games.
Legit move, new management and his business improves. Has anyone contacted the new 'management'?
Bad health forcing his actions as he he is not doing well? I hope not. I appreciate and wish for good health in everybody.
Potential sell out, 'freeing' himself of past/current builds, taking the money and run? That would be the most worrisome for current clients.
Ok senario # 4... 'New management' results in the dissolving of the company. New management needs to make themselves accessible, right?
There has been some 'confusion' in recent months concerning my build. I am not sure what causes the 'confusion'. I too, for the time being need to be reserved and show good intention.
I want the car. I wish well for John. I hope his life is ok. I hope his business is ok. We have had a couple of good conversations with my visits over time. As you can see, my intentions are good. Other clients hope his intentions are good too.
Panhandle Bob posted:You know he moved the operation down to the San Diego area? There is another thread about that here on the site.
The Mr. Steal must have been a spell check thing? Apologies. We never got updates as promised or on time. Last I heard, whatever he had for us (we had nothing but a picture of a painted shell) was for sale and our money was coming. A couple months later, a Suby coupe showed up in Georgia I would swear is the same color as we ordered (a non-metallic grey German color left over from WWII we picked). It didn't have the same VIN as we were given which we learned late in the process was from a salvage donor. Not a good choice for our state and titling. Lots of other surprises I can't mention at this time. Steele made a meager refund transfer but the large portion is being withheld despite promises. He stated we are not welcome on his property and we can't meet with his lawyer due to a "conflict of interest" (???). He has cut off communication although we continue to email him weekly about his debt. If anyone has a new address or contact info. (ours is at the Vanowen St location, N. Hollywood), please provide so we can supply this to our people. I don't do any form of social media so just a post here or a PM would be appreciated. We want to remain professional as we have always done but we can not afford to let this matter fall in the cracks for us or anyone else's sake. Registerd letter has been sent (which John signed for but says he won't open...sheesh). The rest is being pursued now.
MaxMartens posted:4Banger posted:Is John Steal still alive and operating a business as JPS Motorsports?
As of April, 2018, our car contract was breached 7months ago. No car, no proof of any progress, and Mr. Steal owes us a whole lot of money we took from our retirement savings. He refuses to answers emails, allow us onto his property or supply us with his lawyer's contact info. Lots to share about this business but can't speak of everything at this time. Anyone know of Mr. Steal's activities or have had similar circumstances?
I AM IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION AS YOU 4BANGER. Exactly.
Contract & first payment on Sept 1st 2017. Second payment Oct 1st (for paint). I have a paper trail.
I haven't seen a tub painted. He did point to a coupe tub and say its mine...
I took a risk, and this is where I stand.
The instagram and FB pages do have a lot of action amazingly. All the pictures I have seen are of the old shop. He has a vid where numerous people are working on cars. ...His shop is usually VERY slim on employees in my various visits.
I see three (at least) end games.
Legit move, new management and his business improves. Has anyone contacted the new 'management'?
Bad health forcing his actions as he he is not doing well? I hope not. I appreciate and wish for good health in everybody.
Potential sell out, 'freeing' himself of past/current builds, taking the money and run? That would be the most worrisome for current clients.
Ok senario # 4... 'New management' results in the dissolving of the company. New management needs to make themselves accessible, right?
There has been some 'confusion' in recent months concerning my build. I am not sure what causes the 'confusion'. I too, for the time being need to be reserved and show good intention.
I want the car. I wish well for John. I hope his life is ok. I hope his business is ok. We have had a couple of good conversations with my visits over time. As you can see, my intentions are good. Other clients hope his intentions are good too.
There is another scenario available to a few select people...jail time. Some things you can't avoid despite legal maneuverings. I wish I could elaborate. I too wish no one ill-health. All I can say is if someone thinks they feel bad now, just wait. I had some health issues I had to resolve too and my family has definitely suffered through all of this. The car was intended as a very nice birthday present for my dear wife. We allowed extra time as well as accommodated well past the due date. But business is business. I am sorry for your woes. I can't advise you except to say that just because you live a good life and treat others properly, doesn't mean everyone does. Too bad your contract didn't have specific intermediate due dates so you could claim breach when the first one wasn't met. I hope your outcome will be different than mine. So far it seems pretty familiar.
This is buried in his website. Best I can do is a week or so.
Lawyer up.
@4Banger @MaxMartens I find it despicable what you are both going going through with your Speedster build process! 
I don't have any wisdom to offer but hope that you are both able to resolve your situation soon. Hopefully the new 'Manager' of the JPS shop relocated to San Marcos, CA, will provide a response to your queries.
Sounds like the infamous "Carrera Coachworks" debacle a couple years ago. Good Luck.
MusbJim posted:@4Banger @MaxMartens I find it despicable what you are both going going through with your Speedster build process!
I don't have any wisdom to offer but hope that you are both able to resolve your situation soon. Hopefully the new 'Manager' of the JPS shop relocated to San Marcos, CA, will provide a response to your queries.
Thanks for yours and all the other supporting replies. We certainly agree that these matters should NOT go unresolved as a matter of both money and principle. Some trains have been running far too long on the same track. This should not just go away in the weeks to follow. The obvious solution is "both barrels".
There is an outstanding community here made up mostly of good people whose primary motivation is based upon an appreciation of some classic Porsche models. And rightly so. We appreciate and expect equally fine work that matches those cars. That is our focus and we have no time or tolerance for the rest.
I hope to post a lengthy but very important guide for those seeking to build a custom car when time permits. It will deal with matters such as salvage titles, insurance, JDM vs. domestic motors, Federal regulations, contract-specific recommendation and many other matters I have learned about. I can only hope it will be read and followed.
In the meantime, it is my hope that all potential owners will take a very realistic approach to a fairly complicated process and try not to wear rose-colored glasses thinking bad things only happen to bad people.
Wow. John remains John.
4Banger, how many times have you visited JPS?
Did you see progress?
Did you visit soon after you could not get in touch, the first time?
4Banger. Very sorry for your troubles. I have a very short guide for building a replica.
Use:
Intermeccanica
Vintage Motorcars
Beck
Good and bad manufacturers are well documented on this site.
550 Phil posted:4Banger. Very sorry for your troubles. I have a very short guide for building a replica.
Use:
Intermeccanica
Vintage Motorcars
Beck
Good and bad manufacturers are well documented on this site.
WHAT PHIL SAID!
It greatly saddens me to see enthusiasts, with their hard earned dollars, get their face SMACKED...literally, with such CHAOS and fraud. Its somewhat analogous to a miscarriage as the "baby" is gone and sometimes the where-with-all($$$$) also gone to enable another venture.
I have been to JPS during communication and sparse communication.
Soon, I will see with my own eyes the state of JPS operations. There will be cars & equipment at one or the other location.
If each location is vacant or liquidated, that will be my time to go to the next step.
This requires, at least initially, 'boots on the ground' to see what is going on at the shop location(s).
Has anyone checked each location? Are buildings open? Or locked up. Take a pic of each location. That is boots on the ground verification. I haven't seen, or heard of anyone checking locations yet.
I will not put out threats of any kind. I will put out results, which ever way they go. I am just now approaching 8 months on the build - I expected the build to fall behind, so....
...Time to drop by.
