Chicagoland Area Restorers

[dseaman]

Bad decisions are a common trait amongst car guys - I made one with 2553 - went into restoration 6 years ago and the fellow that I entrusted the project to is financially shaky and under all sorts of stress - any ideas appreciated- feel free to pm at dseaman@execs.com
Thanks in advance!

[jdsnoddy]

Cut your losses. Pay your bill and go get your car. Find a reputable restorer who is financially solvent. Join a local car club, go to car shows, swap meets, and ask around.
Six years is too long. Pull the plug.

[Barry Wolk]

Bad decisions are a common trait amongst car guys - I made one with 2553 - went into restoration 6 years ago and the fellow that I entrusted the project to is financially shaky and under all sorts of stress - any ideas appreciated- feel free to pm at dseaman@execs.com
Thanks in advance!

The first thing I would do is an inventory of what he has off the car and ask to see those parts. Take photographs of everything. Those are both reasonable requests. If he refuses, for whatever reason, call an attorney immediately. If it was insured all this time and there are parts missing you may have a justifiable claim to be made whole. It's no different than losing it to theft or fire. I found out that there are sometimes provisions that you're entitled to be compensated for diminished value. You could try that route. If there are parts missing you may be entitled to a loss. In any case, you might not want the car back unless it had some special value to you. You really don't know if what he did do is complete and safe. If I were in your shoes I'd likely take John's advice and cut your losses. I'm about to bite he bullet on a project that should never have been started, a stretch Lincoln Limo that's not a stretch. I found out when I peeled away the hackmanship. They just welded the front of a 462 '68 Lincoln from the front of the car to the back of the B pillar, welded to the A pillar of the whole interior of a second car, minus the firewall. It's a snot-welder's delight that I could not justify anybody ever riding in this car again. I'm keeping doors hoods and trunklines from two cars with working windows. I'm going to enjoy cutting up the rest of it.

I will tell you, pretty categorically, that here are few shops that will take on a project like yours you can trust to work on them. I've assembled several cars in boxes with great success, but I can no longer do that. It takes someone that knows how the car goes back together, especially if they didn't take it apart. We are getting fewer and farther apart. I was only 4 when mine was made. Most places won't consider tying up a rack long enough for a trans swap, let alone the slow learning curve of a Mark II. It's built to Ford's standards of the time. The only assembly difference is that it the Mark II has more, and hidden fasteners. You'd be asking someone to put together a literal jigsaw puzzle with very few willing to take on the task and finish it.

Morgan, willing to travel? You're the most knowledgable Mark II wrench I know of.

[Milsteads Garage]

Hi Barry, unfortunately I do not travel too much but I happen to work at a restoration shop in Phoenix. If you are serious I could pass this along to my lead foreman and see about taking this job on. Speaking of limousines, I just picked up a 64 Lehmann Peterson limousine that once belonged to Axel Holm. IMG_0667.jpg

[dseaman]

Barry - appreciate the counsel - I’m seeing the car Friday - will take lots of pics and meeting with Carriage Restorers thereafter - keeping fingers crossed. Love the car - but my eyes may have been too big for my stomach - will keep you posted!