Advice on Contract for Restoration

[Frederick W.]

Any advice on what to look for, include, or write in to a contract for restoration of my 63 SWC.

The shop has provided a contract, but it is pretty skimpy on details.

Looking for advice from others who have gone the professional restoration route and had things they wish they would have addressed in the contract up front.

[Michael J.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

I have not had a Corvette fully restored from the ground up, but I did have a '68 Shelby GT500KR done that way. In my contract, I specified the parts to be used and the standards to be meet for a Concours Gold Award in Division II. If you are looking for a fully correct, NCRS high award winning restoration, I would specify some of that in the contract.

[Keith B.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

Have written down what you want and not want they want. And to me I would want to see and talk to owners of other cars they have done

[James G.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

What type of restoration are you looking to receive? NCRS TOP FLIGHT, 99 point car, or a nice quality driver. There are very few restoration shops that understand all the differences of 1963 Corvettes, but I am sure perform quality paint, chrome, interior and mechanical service . AND.....WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET? Perfect NCRS / BLOOMINGTON GOLD restorations often cost $100,000 or more.

[Harry S.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

James asks the right questions. Essentially what are you looking to accomplish? I think most restoration shops would reject a judging percentage as this is determined by the 10 judges looking at your car the day it is presented for judging. One item I would write in is....

If you believe the original block is in your car, I would write in a $50,000.00 penalty if they deck the engine pad. This is an attention grabber.

Before you do anything know and understand everything about your car.

[Mark E.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

I've never entered into a restoration contract, but what I've learned through friends:

- Be specific with SOW. What's included? What's not? How are surprises handled? A shop may have a low initial quote, and bet on surprises to help with their margin. If the initial SOW is written so the chance of a surprise is less, that may save you $. Real life examples of surprises: Hidden bodywork that needs to be redone; dash harness needs to be replaced; inside of differential housing is damaged and needs to be replaced; birdcage is rotted, bolts break in their holes; threads damaged. Not every possible scenario can be anticipated by your contract, but is the contract specific about what's in scope?

- What's restored/rebuilt vs. replaced? It's a lot cheaper for the shop to install a replacement alternator, carburetor, starter, distributor, radiator, water pump, steering gear, PS pump, etc. from Autozone, than to spend the time to restore your original. Maybe you're happy with the originality, condition and operation of a current component and all the shop needs to do is R&R during restoration. On the other hand, maybe you want the shop to search for and acquire a correct component that's hard to find and expensive. When stuff is replaced, do you want the original parts/cores returned to you?

- What kind of parts and fasteners? Reuse yours, NOS, reproduction, replacement?

- Set milestones with dates. When a milestone is reached, require the shop to stop work until you inspect progress. For example:

- Body ready to lift from frame. You'll want to inspect that all parts removed are properly bagged and tagged. Are they your parts? It's not unheard of for shops to "borrow" a part from your car to get another car out the door. How is this managed?

- Bodywork complete. You'll want to inspect fiberglass work before primer-surfacer is applied.

- Frame prepped for paint.

- Birdcage repaired; ready for glass and trim.

- Chassis complete; ready for body.

- Dash ready for installation.

- etc.

The idea is to inspect critical work before it's covered up by the next step in the restoration. You might have an NCRS expert buddy or even a hired expert with you during inspections.

What's the criteria for quality? For example, with paint finishes, is it NCRS-grade reproduction of TFP with all the nuances that go into that (material, finish, overspray, gloss, thin spots, color, ...)? Or are you seeking absolute perfection you might see in a beauty-contest type of show car?

Well planned milestones can reduce risk. If you're not happy with the shop's capabilities after a milestone, that's an opportunity to tow the car and parts elsewhere. Formal inspection/acceptance after each specified milestone also sets expectations with the shop. They know you care and will be checking.

Understand who's accepting risk, you or the shop. Many shops accept little risk and do only time and materials, or maybe a flat rate for a specific portion of the project. Only a few (if any) shops are willing to quote a flat rate for the whole job, which shifts a lot of risk to them.

If the car is being prepped for judging, maybe make some portion of payment contingent on judging results.

[Jim H.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

Lots of good suggestions already. I added financial milestones. When the time at rate reached certain amounts, I get invoice and opportunity to inspect progress re SOW and estimated schedule of performance. We make adjustments in SOW and schedule based on each inspection. I elected to make payment for each invoice less 10% retention. Out of site is invariably out of mind, so I visit weekly unannounced and on no regular pattern to keep up the pressure.

JCH

[Ron G.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

Frederick,

You need to provide more details like Jim mentioned in regard to your overall objective. A good place to start would be where do you reside and take it from there.

- Ron

[Joseph U.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

I know we are far away, but there is a guy here in Jacksonville who used to guarantee Top Flight at the winter meet in florida. I have no idea what or how he charges, but I have seen some of his cars and they are really good.
Joe

[Guest]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

I've had the unfortunate experience of picking the wrong shop. Five years of court and no $$$ back. Do your homework? Get telephone numbers of last 3-5 customers cars that just left shop and numbers of present cars in shop. How long has he been in business? Are there cars leaving shop or are they all Hostages? (no cars leaving, stay away) The only pleasure I got out of the whole thing, is I dragged him along with attorney's fees which were more than the original Job Leopards don't change there spots. Shop owner has relocated to a different state and when things don't work out for him there, Hell move on and there will be another victim.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Advice on Contract for Restoration

The best contract ever drafted isn't going to solve all your potential problems. You need to manage this project in such a way that you have early notice of problems, and you can pull the plug before it gets too expensive. One way would be to pay as you go from item to item. If you don't know the shop, don't go there. The shop needs to be a business that can't accept a hit to their reputation.