NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
#2835088
10/20/20 02:34 PM
10/20/20 02:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,669 South Dakota
hotairballoonpilot
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,669
South Dakota
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I have been redoing a 55 Studebaker Champion 4 door that a 82 year old brought to us. He bought it brand new and wanted it freshened up. Did not want it restored fully. Just clean up the rust and dents on it and paint it. Said he did not want the chrome redone. I made a deal with him we would take it on and do our best. He is the only customer that I have ever had tell me if something happens to me before we get this done my daughter will take care of finishing the car. Well sadly today we got a call he passed away yesterday before we finished the car. So I am at a loss. His daughter wants to know what it will take to finish the car and will take care of things. Just don't know how to proceed going forward. We have already been doing more things on the car than what was planned and have not billed for those additional things and not planning to either. Has anyone else faced this type of situation and if so what did you do? Here is my shops facebook page and the album I have going with the car. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=Hartfordsbestpaint&set=a.3391073017608709corey
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: topside]
#2835193
10/20/20 05:46 PM
10/20/20 05:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 9,572 Super Spudsville
Mr PotatoHead
Half Baked
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Half Baked
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 9,572
Super Spudsville
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Yep, tactfully get squared up and work out a new contract if they wish it so.
STOP POTATO HATE!
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: Mr PotatoHead]
#2835197
10/20/20 05:56 PM
10/20/20 05:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15,119 85086
moparpollack
Lil Herman
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Lil Herman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15,119
85086
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My buddy runs a hot rod shop and he had two people die on the same project after it was willed to the second owner. Finally the family pulled the plug on the project built a garage for it and it's been sitting wasting away.
56 Plaza 63 D100 step side 67 Coronet, 68 Roadrunner, 69 Super Bees, 69 Coronet 500 convertible, 70 Roadrunner Post, 79 D150 360, and a severe case of Mopar a,d,d
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: hotairballoonpilot]
#2835237
10/20/20 07:26 PM
10/20/20 07:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,076 Oregon
AndyF
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,076
Oregon
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Square up with where you are at and then don't spend another dime on it until you have a new contract with writing with the new owner of the vehicle. When ownership of the vehicle changes then everything changes. Color, stance, interior, etc. are all up for change. The new owner might not even like the car. If someone left me a 4 door Studebaker in their will I wouldn't be very pleased. Especially if it was at a shop and the the shop was spending money on it. I'd want that stopped asap.
Last edited by AndyF; 10/20/20 07:27 PM.
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: TJP]
#2835368
10/20/20 11:37 PM
10/20/20 11:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,673 Northern MN
1E2C
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,673
Northern MN
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I got a bunch of NOS (but for paint preps) sheet metal for a truck an older fella was fixing up after a deer strike. The body shop had all the parts and had started painting them but the old fella died and the heirs yanked the truck without fixing it. Doubt they ever fixed it, but it meant I got some nice parts at a good price.
Last edited by 1E2C; 10/20/20 11:38 PM.
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: TJP]
#2835369
10/20/20 11:40 PM
10/20/20 11:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 915 Sarnia, Ontario
restoman
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 915
Sarnia, Ontario
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Not an ideal situation to be in. I had the owner of a '78 Super Beetle Cabriolet pass away while I was working on it. Unbeknownst to me, the owner had some serious health issues shortly after he dropped it off (he lived in the GTA area, 3 hours away) and appointed his daughter as POA. He didn't mention any of that the several times we talked. She was a real piece of work. I had to sue for payment, but luckily, I had all my paperwork in order and I did get paid. Took almost a year, though. Ironically, he was having the car redone so that he could present it to her on her 50th. It was her first car. The last shop I worked at had the owner of a '56 Ford we were doing pass suddenly. Family pulled the plug and grudgingly paid what was owed up till then. The car is still sitting the way it left our shop... ;(
"look Daddy! Everytime Danica leads a lap, a redneck chokes to death on a corndog!"
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: restoman]
#2835653
10/21/20 02:06 PM
10/21/20 02:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,669 South Dakota
hotairballoonpilot
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,669
South Dakota
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I talked with the daughter yesterday here at the shop. She is all on board and wants to see the car finished up. The gentleman did tell me before we started that if anything happens to him that his daughter was POA and would finish it up. We are all set to get it done and back to the family. She wants things done so she can safely drive the car and take her son who was very close to grandpa and her mom for drives in the car. The family is all on board. So feel better today than this time yesterday.
corey
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: calmopar]
#2835828
10/21/20 08:15 PM
10/21/20 08:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,641
Freeport IL USA
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I'd finish that up quickly. And for the least amount of money spent as possible, unless you have a new contract and will get paid every week. I'd still move it to the top of the priority list. The daughter and the rest of the family might not be as understanding as Dad was. Gene
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: hotairballoonpilot]
#2835871
10/21/20 09:22 PM
10/21/20 09:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,120 Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,120
Byron, NY
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Yes it happened to me last fall (The only time I didn't take a deposit on a job). The owner of a truck project ('63 Chevy C10 powertrain/suspension upgrade) went on a hunting trip to Alaska. Left our local airport (Western NY) and when he landed he didn't know why he was there. Was able to call home and his wife schedualed flights home, two weeks later he got back... Wound up in Seattle, Minnesota and the same airline even lost him in O'Hare... all after being asked and paid for special handling to get him home. none the less within two months he passed away. basically his body was attacking his brain killing off parts one by one, Started with the short term memory portion, moved to motor functions then speech then finally organ functions. But back to your question. I wound up finishing the truck and selling it for market value. I kept my bill from the sale price and the balance went to the widow. Once work has commenced there is a mechanics lein, its up to you and the estate executor to work out how it gets resolved. in your case talk with the daughter and let her know where things stand and how she want to proceed. Although I become friends with many of my customers its business. Until the dust settles I'd sit on it, give it a month and contact the daughter too start the discussion.
'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60 '01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust, '05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list '60 Willys CJ5 '01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison '64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: W.I.N. Racing]
#2836039
10/22/20 11:37 AM
10/22/20 11:37 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,334 Addison Twp, Mi.
RobG
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,334
Addison Twp, Mi.
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My friend has a repair shop in Utica, Michigan. A guy in his late 80's brought a 1948 Olds 98 4-door in for work. He just wanted the vehicle to run and operate safely so that when he passes, his kids would have his first car to remember him by. He stated that the vehicle was his "wealth" and that was all going to his 2 kids. Well, it took some time but my friend hot the original engine running smooth. The trans was shifting real nice and the brakes were completely rebuilt to as new condition.
The gentleman passed away about 2 years ago and his children took possession of the Olds. They could drive it but could not get into the trunk. So, they brought the Olds back to Bob's garage and asked him to help with the lock mechanism. The key was twisted and worn so he spent time cutting a new key and "massaging" it to fit. He lubed the lock mechanism, freeing it from decades of rust. When he opened the trunk, he found old coffee can after coffee can full of silver half dollars and silver dollars. The old man had over $40,000 in silver coin stored in the Oldsmobile. It was his gift to his children. Bob called his children and told them to get tho the shop ASAP regarding the car. They were truly shock what their dad had in the trunk of his car.
I am not rich...but I get off my ass everyday to make sure I am not broke!
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Re: NE1 have someone pass away when car being redone?
[Re: hotairballoonpilot]
#2836061
10/22/20 12:19 PM
10/22/20 12:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,159 Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
5thAve
Doesn't care what this says anyway
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Doesn't care what this says anyway
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,159
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I talked with the daughter yesterday here at the shop. She is all on board and wants to see the car finished up. The gentleman did tell me before we started that if anything happens to him that his daughter was POA and would finish it up. We are all set to get it done and back to the family. She wants things done so she can safely drive the car and take her son who was very close to grandpa and her mom for drives in the car. The family is all on board. So feel better today than this time yesterday.
corey It sounds like everything is working out nicely. I don't how you're invoicing them but for the first little while dealing with her it might not be a bad idea to bill her up to whatever amount you are comfortable with so that if something changes you're not having to fight for as large amount of money.
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