Folks,
As an appraiser, I do not look at who did the job - just the results. Some of
the best cars that I have seen, from Packard 12s to Bugeye Sprites, came out of
a competant hobbiest's garage. Oftentimes I find that the only thing different
is the daily overhead for the pros that runs up the restoration price.
Today, both the amature and pro subcontract paint/body, top/interior, and
chrome trim, often to the same sources. The amatures are not restricted by
time, as they are not really paying themselves so they can go the extra mile to
get things that they do just right.
On the other hand, marque pros usually know pretty much what is right (or at
least factory correct) but also understand the car as a piece of high-priced
merchandise.
Hobbiests have other agendas. If I were restoring a Big Healey, and it needed
complete paint, I would paint it the bright yellow with black coves on the side
no matter what the car originally was painted. A pro would insist on original
(or resale red/beige metallic) because his agenda is sale, where I would just
want to drive my bumble bee as much as I could (also diminishing its value).
Apples and oranges.
A restoration is a restoration, no matter who screws it together.
I'll give you an example. We take our BMW 325i to the dealership in Santa
Monica where we are greeted by a guy named Rudy or Rolph n a nice pressed shop
coat who fills out the repair order and sends the car into a shop of factory
trained mechanics called, Sergio, Manuel, and Jose who do a great job. Rolph
is the professional trapping that goes with the logo and the German heritage.
No more no less.
Hell, my PT Cruiser was built in Toluca, Mexico and has been every bit as
dependable and well-built as a Japanese-made Toyota.
I will stop now as I've gone completely off subject....
Best
Rick Feibusch
Venice, CA
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