Well, if any of you guys are on facebook you likely already saw my post. Almost 3 years ago I received a bill from Dave Kleiner for my engine he was rebuilding for my 1972 Stage 1 4 speed car. Broken down into 3 sections: Machining (to date), Engine parts (to date), Assembly and testing. I gave Dave my master card number and thought I was going to pay that way. The next day I got a phone call from his wife Sherry and said they can't accept mastercard and wanted a cheque. So silly me, I sent them a cheque. $11,000 ish dollars. Got multiple phone calls that week wondering where the money is but mail doesn't arrive overnight. Anyways, I was waiting for him to get my carb rebuilt so he could run it on the engine and never heard back from him for quite a while. I phoned a few times and never got an answer. Then one day his wife Sherry answered the phone and we had a little chat she told me Dave isn't' well but don't worry we will get your engine done. Just be patient. So I was. Looking back maybe I was to patient but I've dealt with Dave for years, bought lots of stuff from him and he has gone out of his way to help me in the past. So for the last 6 months I've been trying to get photo's of my engine and set up a time to go get it. She just played silly bugger and wouldn't tell me to much. I also reached out to her Son and Grandson and they were no help. My buddy was in the area last weekend and stopped in and picked everything up for me. He dropped it off at my house Wednesday night and its heartbreaking to see how bad I've been screwed by the Kleiners. No maching work has been done. No parts purchased. All i got was a disassembled engine. But the Good news is I did get all my number matching accessories like carb back. She called me tonight upset i posted it on facebook and didn't think that was right. So I told her I dind't think it was right she took me for $11,000 then she got quite upset and hung up the phone on me. From the day I purchased this car I've been super exciting about getting it back on the road again. But here I sit now with a completely restored frame off 72 stage 1 4 speed car with no engine. Likely over a 1000 hours of time invested into the restoration to date and just lost all interest in finishing it.
Don't give up on it Dan. See it through. It will be worth it. Been screwed by more than one "restorer". To put it mildly, it is infuriating. Keep the faith, brother.
This is very surprising to me, although I have heard other similar "stories". It's really shocking that anyone gets to that point in thier lives where they need to screw with people, especially paying customers. I would literally "starve" before I intentionally screwed customers over!
Stay with it. Body shop #1 tore down my car and decided not to finish it. They had it four years. Four years of my frame and motor rusting outside in a barn. I was too nice as well. Given the couple surgeries and issues with his kids. Have him the benefit of doubt. Then all of a sudden, he said I don’t want to do it anymore. Had to pick up all my parts and a shell of what I dropped off. I didn’t loose cash but lost money in loosing some small parts and used vise grips on my steering column so boogered that up. blessing in disguise for me. Cause body shop 2 knew Buicks, knew what to do and I learned a lot (and had fun) trying to figure out how to put it all back together. these guys in here (V8) helped me out a bunch and I don’t even know them personally. Still trying to get to my first nationals since it took me 8 yrs to restore mine.
My buddy that picked up my parts said there is a nice red Buick in the garage. I'm wondering who's car that is?
The part that upsets me most is the amount of money I wasted. But I thought I was getting something top notch.
I know. That would upset me a lot too. I just don’t know what to say exactly on that aspect. I haven’t had to experience that much of a loss yet. Hopefully someone on V8 can help and get some questions answered for you.
Many of us (me incl.) have been too trusting in one way or another in this hobby and gotten screwed. Sometimes for a lot more $. It stings and hindsight is 20-20. Very rare car (obv.) - Incl. yours at least 7 of the orig. 15 have survived & been restored. You apparently have the hard part done that that holds everyone up &/or never gets done & the car gets sold off as a project. I have 2 otherwise basket cases that came to me completely apart but with "rebuilt" engines & I don't even trust them. Not saying to forget about the $11k (you won't) but consider yourself lucky that you got your carb/dist/block back & move on. Get 'er done.
I somehow "read" convertible into that, lol. Either way, rare and the hard part sounds like it's done. Gotta finish it either way. Can't imagine selling a project that's done except the engine.
That’s terrible what they did , taking your money . And doing ZERO work to the engine. It’s a bad bad tale. And it’s chickens—t for him to put his wife out front , instead of talking to man to man. $11,000 is big pile of money to lose. The best part of the story is you got your engine back. I hope you can get it running and enjoy your car. Hoping , Better luck to you.
I am not making allowances for anyone. However, I don’t think Dave is really in the picture anymore. I understand he has Alzheimer's very bad at this point. We were discussing this on the “Prototype” thread like a month ago. Duane
Sounds like he was in the picture and of sound mind when he took the money. If his health deteriorated after that to the point he couldn't do the job the money should have been returned with all of the parts sent in. Poor health isn't an excuse to steal from someone.
