Crushed.

[Major Woody]

I have been helping him. He has an agreed value policy on both buses. The agreed value is less than the cost to fix either. They will both be totalled. The question isn't whether they can be fixed--they can. It's just a question of whether he can pay the difference between the agreed value and the actual cost to repair the buses properly.
Agree that the 65 needs to be on a proper frame rack and temporary braces added to hold the floor section flat before the porta power party starts. Porta power and come-alongs could pull other things out of whack and end up with a vehicle where nothing lines up or it won't go down the road straight. Trees are heavy!
A branded title on either of these buses is no big deal.

[tisius]

[BarryL]

Did Lenny Copp do the seats?

[stevo]

[Bulli Klinik]

[ryans65]

I cannot open that link, it requires some sort of login info.

[Busstom]

[Erik G]

[EverettB]

[Jacks]

This one’s getting fixed
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2003313.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2003311.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2003312.jpg
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Jack Staggs
Actual name

[vwuberalles]

I can understand wanting to fix this particular bus, even if it's not a wise financial move. The value of something can go beyond dollars. Take my 73 Superbeetle for example.. I've had it since I was 12, my dad and I fixed it up together. I would be absolutely devastated it something happened to it. Sure, it's just a 73 Super, probably the bottom rung of the Bug desirability ladder, but to me it's the culmination of my teenage years spent in the garage with dad. You can't put a dollar figure on that.
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1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[LAGrunthaner]

Not to hijack Stevo's thread but I'm still interested to know if there is a build thread on this Barndoor? Where is this bus and who is the guy/gal/team that will make this beauty live again? I did a search on the front tag Carmaxx Classics but couldn't get a lead. I'm fascinated by this project.

[BulliBill]

Wow! We gotta watch where we park these old Buses! The trees are pissed-off at us!

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[Manfred58sc]

That barndoor is in good shape compared to other projects out there. A parts roller bus, some funky green love and a competent shop can make the magic happen.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[stevo]

I'd like to pick up this thread where it was left off while there is hope in saving this bus. In mid-September the bus was sent to Smitty's Autobody in Meadow Vista, California at the suggestion of a trusted acquaintance on this site. It was photographed by that shop then plastered on instagram. There were a lot of oohs and ahhhs and sympathy but that was the beginning and the end of any attention it received.

In early October I picked up super nice condition passenger cab door from Shawn High in Camas, WA. Excellent dude, great sale and worth the round trip from Eugene to pick it up and meet him. A week or two later my insurance company totaled and cashed out the 65 and 69 buses. Then I placed the door along with a four to five thousand dollars in split bus parts tucked into the 69 bus and sent all to the auto body shop. I arranged a donor roof be picked up and delivered with the help of Chris Morrice who had a top for me located in in a small town along the Interstate which happens to be on the way to Meadow Vista. Chris was tremendously helpful and great to work with. In mid-October a lot split bus parts, a 69 bus and a donor roof for it were all delivered to the shop's awaiting hands.

In October I was told on the phone to watch progress of a "window" bus on instagram, and that mine was next to be put on the frame rack and progress would begin there and then. Weeks turned into months. Into wintertime I was told Smitty's best employee quit and left. Around that time Smith's brother died in Mexico and there were matters retrieving the body. In late December he wrote and told me he would not get into the job until after January which meant no specific start time. Regardless, he was supposedly accumulating parts.

In January I met up with a member of this site that sold me some parts for this project during a meet-up along side the Interstate in Eugene. He was returning to California from Washington with a vehicle in tow. While making the transaction we discussed what was happening with my buses and he said he knew Smith; be patient, and if I wanted he would pick up the parts from WolfsbergWest that they would not ship (nor Smitty could get shipped for one reason or another). That if OCTO were held, he would go and bring the parts to the body shop, located only a half hour from his own shop. I found OCTO was 'on' in February and asked the feller if he was going and he agreed to pick them up. I turned and called Smitty who said he wanted to place the order with WW, and co-ordinate. I was - sure, ok, since I paid him for the part and shipping months previous.

Well the parts get delivered and all hell broke loose. The feller said it was a $600 shipping job, that I should pay $300. One eyebrow went up. I called the body shop and was told Smith "is in the paint booth he'll call right back today". Two weeks went by, crickets. Meanwhile the private messages to me about the delivery turn irate. So instead of calling I try to write Smith about seeing if he would cut loose a section of the delivery money I paid in my deposit toward this issue. Nothing.

On March 1st I got a call in the morning from Smith saying how the delivery guy was all personally in his face about getting paid, etc, blah, and that I can come and get my buses, parts, and that no money was owed to me. He would call in the afternoon with an inventory of what "I had bought". That meant I was out $6000 in deposit, and well-over a grand in shipping two buses from Oregon. He broke the contract. Made it clear I owed storage for my buses!!

In early March, Smith was making it difficult for my first shipper to get my stuff out of there. It became obvious he was holding my buses hostage. I got in touch with an old friend and told him about how me, my wife and child were nearly killed while sleeping in our vintage buses, and the body shop is pulling this pussy fit. My friend is an attorney in SF. He got kinda far but in the end attorneys want to settle, not fight. So I got in touch with the BAR, Bureau of Auto Repair of California. They visited Smitty's unannounced, found the bottom line, and settled the issue once and for all. Meanwhile I found a second shipper, who was co-incidentally the one that delivered both buses from Oregon about right after the tree fell on them.

As of now the buses are out of Smitty's Autobody, and I finally received my check for the balance of my deposit, less the price of the BBT roof and side panel, and $300 shipping. I'm out shipping only because Smith lied and said I broke the contract. Therefore that point became a he-said she-said, nothing in writing.
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When you cross an Irishman, they never forget. I mean, never.

[obus]

Sorry to read about your troubles.
_________________
July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
66 21 window bus built 8/31/65 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=777273

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Porsche-science]

@stevo I’ve dealt with Smith and his shop for years as they’ve restored several Porsches for me, they have always been top notch and honest.

@stevo You honestly sound like a little keyboard warrior, with too much time on your hands.

@stevo I’m gonna teach you a valuable lesson, “There’s always two sides to every story” Coming on here slandering someone is unethical and can create more unnecessary drama, just saying….

[cjsmitty]

Hello Steve


I did expect that at some point you would continue your rants and lies even after the fact and its no surprise that you would attempt to try and get sympathy here on a public platform.

Your post for anybody that takes the time to actually read it contains a very significant statement in regards to your lawyer friend....This individual was given all the of the paper work and emails between you and my shop as well as the Bureau of Automotive Repair and in the end was unable to do nothing for you because like in true fashion you lied to them about the facts and attempted to hide the proof which my lawyer was very quick to provide and will have no problem doing again if need be. Had you been honest with your friend in the first place he would have suggested what I had already offered you and told you to go get your bus!

In regards to giving my shop a deposit....... You never gave us a penny for a deposit but instead paid for the parts needed for the repair of your bus and nothing more! I never accept deposits on builds in my shop period!!

Your posting of my family's loss of my brother is absolutely appalling and is a perfect example of your lack of compassion and just another example of your instability.

The statement about calling the BAR and what it led to in regards to a conclusion to this whole disaster you brought upon yourself is hilarious.
Yes, he did show up and yes we did provide him all of the paperwork and every email sent or received and in the end all that came of it was the same conclusion that was already offered to you months in advance, you would be refunded every cent for the parts you didn't not retain in the retrieval of your bus.

To touch base on the statement that I tried to hold your bus hostage is again another one of your fabricated lies! Both transporters you reached out to are friends of mine and where very quick to call me and inform me of your inquires to remove your bus even prior to me knowing there was a issue.
I at no point tried to hold your bus and have numerous emails to prove this!

The fact that you wanted to have your bus removed and taken to a less qualified shop not to mention one that's not even licensed to do business is just another example of your erratic behavior and will end up being another one of your soon to be bad decisions.

The bottom line here is I will not sit aside and watch as you attempt to slander my business and everything I have worked so hard for....... If you would like to continue going down this path I will do what I have to do to protect my family and my employees.
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smittys-Auto-Body-Collision-Repair-Restoration/394733633959825

http://instagram.com/smittys_auto_body

[stevo]

Yes Skills, that's the link to the shop/person. It was a fucking disaster. I appreciate your thoughts. My son worked a lot on that bay bus while I brought him into the hobby. Engine in/out, all the parts disassembled/reassembled. Upholstery, sunroof refurbish. End to end - all stock and nothing crazy. He's the kind of guy you tell him once, he understands and follows through. Then thinks ahead one or two steps making our lives easier. He traveled the continent in cloth diapers in that bus. I gave him the bus because while he's a skateboard rat he did real well in a competitive high school even after he wanted to drop out. He got an 4.0 his senior year. Unbeknownst to his family he applied to one college, got in, and surprise, boom he's out-of-state in two months. Yes we got the stuff back, and we're all alive, staying positive and having success in an otherwise shitty era for us and the world.

If and when it gets finished I'll store it for him until next summer. At least the Chris Morrice roof is stitched on well but the project is being held up again with paint holding up the headliner shop. We were told it would be painted by mid-June and its just more bullshit to the face. But at least we had one metal shop during springtime then that was cool with us, and it is not in California anymore. I'll write more about those details, when time allows and in the bay threads again; now that I think on it that bus has been through a lot in the last few years.
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When you cross an Irishman, they never forget. I mean, never.