[Tim Greer]

I've got a '67 RS convertible that I've done the engine/trans/rear on, and took it to a body shop for the body and paint and interior. Now, it's almost done and I have a problem, and I'm trying to decide if I'm being too picky about the importance of this problem (or to be more clear; the likely outcome anyway, with the shops "plans" to remedy the problem).

The shop painted the car 6 or 8 months ago. I had them paint it black and put three coats of clear. It looked good as far as I recall, but then the interior was put in, the new top was put on and some work here and there. Over this time, such places they took it to, put carpet over the side of the car when they were working on the top. The mechanic brushed up against the side and caused a scratch and so on.

Overall, there are some pretty significant scratches now, which they said "should come out" when they "buff the car". Some of these appear to be deep in the clear, or through the clear into the base paint. It seems that almost all over the car, there are swirls from the buffer or when they polished, some dull and scuff areas as well. I mean, all over.

My father owned a body shop for 30 years, and I'm going to talk to him about this and see if I can get him out with me to look at it. However, in the meantime, I'd like some input. I'm trying to be reasonable about this, but I just wonder how reasonable it would be to tell these guys to reshoot it. Take off all of the clear, reshoot it and apply the three layers again (since I paid for this).

Obviously they shouldn't need to buff or polish the thing, since it should be a new paint job and three coats of clear, but since it was painted so long ago and they've been working on it over that time, it's gotten scratched. In this case, is just buffing it out a reasonable solution? I don't see how all of these dull/scuff areas, swirls and small scratches, let alone the prominent scratches are going to go completely away. Also, this will be the third or fourth time he'll either be buffing or polishing the car. If this is the fourth time he's buffing it, it's GOT to be burning through the clear, I'd imagine.

Besides, when I pointed out all of these issues last night to them, was when I was supposed to be picking up the car (since it was supposed to finally be done). So, that means after the third time he's buffed and polished it, is what I saw was *after* that, and it didn't look good. His defense was that "It's a black car, it's going to show scratches, that's just pretty much how it is". Well, *I* didn't put the scratches in, even if they are fine scratches and even if they can be buffed out.

Perhaps it's just sloppy work with buffing it, but I'm actually concerned that this guy is buffing it out each time and not even wet sanding the scratch prior to buffing. Again, a new paint job, should look _new_ and you shouldn't have to keep fixing the issues, but this is basically all over the car. I'm unsure what to do.

Anyone have any experience with this? I just don't see these guys being receptive to my demand that they remove the clear, re-shoot it and then reapply three new coats of clear. However, I'm not going to accept shoddy work either. Does this sound like a matter where I should just let them buff and polish (yet again) and see how it turns out, or should I not waste any time and just explain the situation and my dissatisfaction and tell them to not waste time (maybe explain why) and effectively force them to do this right, but reshooting it?

I mean, considering they wanted me to pick it up last night, this IS how they felt comfortable releasing the car to me in this condition. The scratch the mechanic put in, he said happened just that day and he didn't see it (it wasn't there earlier that day), okay, but how about all of the other light scratches and scuff marks? They just plan to "buff them out"? Some of the light scratches, maybe, but I just have doubts it'll look like a new paint job. It'll look like a "newer" paint job with some swirls, as far as I can tell.

I'm trying to be reasonable, and I don't expect perfection, but this was enough to trouble me, and their methods of remedying the existing problem doesn't seem like the best method, especially considering that I paid for the body work, complete paint job and three coats of clear, only to deal with this now. I realize that if I'm bothered and unsatisfied, that's probably a good indication of the situation, but I want the car back (it's been way too long -- they've had it since May 16th, 2007!), and I'm concerned about what will happen if I demand it be repainted.

I can just see having to call a tow truck and the police if they aren't receptive, and I only owe a final balance of about $2,000, which I don't know if it's enough to pay someone else to take it down to the base, reshoot it and put the three coats of clear. I certainly won't cause an issue for these people if they do it right, but I feel a little stuck and am looking for any suggestions or insight.

I also realize it's difficult to determine by my words without seeing pictures illustrating the problem, but just going by what I'm saying, if there are swirls and scuffs and scratches that aren't coming out and the paint job doesn't look new, you can then see where I'm coming from and I'm hopeful for some advise based on those variables. I'm aware I'm mainly venting here and I probably know the answer.