This Oklahoma man waited 2 years, been charged more than $115,000 to restore vintage truck for his kid — and the work still isn’t finished

Classic Corner Iconic Cars shares its side of the story

News 4 contacted James Voyles at Classic Corner Iconic Cars to get the shop’s side of what went down. Voyles, whose wife owns the shop, said that by paying each invoice instead of disputing them, Hayes essentially agreed to the terms.

Voyles said the shop never had a formal contract with Hayes; the delays were mostly due to part shortages and staff illnesses, and the cost was standard for this type of restoration.

The shop eventually issued a statement to News 4 saying the job required “a rebuilding of the vehicle from the ground up,” which takes a long time and often doesn’t guarantee a timeline. The statement also said that Hayes was aware of this and slowed down the process by making changes to the project and not paying his invoices on time.

“Unknown factors reveal themselves as the work is being done,” reads a portion of Classic Corner Iconic Cars’ statement. “We have always been in communication with Mr. Hayes to keep him updated on the progress and get his approval (that included costs) before moving to the next phase of work.”

As Hayes is left to deal with this unfinished prioject, his story serves as a cautionary tale for those looking to restore a vehicle with the help of a body shop.

Kiss your credit card debt goodbye

Millions of Americans are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of record-high interest rates. A personal loan offers lower interest rates and fixed payments, making it a smart choice to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. It helps save money, simplifies payments, and accelerates debt payoff. Credible is a free online service that shows you the best lending options to pay off your credit card debt fast — and save a ton in interest.

Explore better rates

Do your homework

To avoid a similar situation, start by doing your homework on body shops in your area. Some restorations require highly-specialized skills and parts, so you’ll want to find a shop that has experience with your type of vehicle.

You’ll also want to look into the shop’s track record. Does the shop share before, during and after photos of previous projects on their website? Does it have positive ratings and reviews, and can the shop offer references? If possible, try to get recommendations from people you know and trust.

Visit the shop before committing to its services. Do you “click” with the shop owner? After all, you could be dealing with them for months or even years. When you visit the shop, be prepared with questions about its experience and policies regarding the restoration process.

“We’ve seen great restorations from bad shops and bad restorations from great shops,” says Carl Heiderman in Classic Motorsports. “To us, the common factors in success or failure are project management and effective communication.”

Heiderman adds that “a successful project requires three types of management: technical, financial and time.” In other words: what work will be done, who will pay for what, and what’s the project’s timeline?

Agree to the terms in writing

As Hayes noted with News 4, he didn’t have a written agreement with Classic Corner Iconic Cars that outlined the time and cost for the project. “I guess bad on my part,” Hayes said. “I probably should have got it documented on paper.”

It’s crucial to have a written agreement before the restoration begins. It should outline the scope of the project, including the work that’s to be done and an estimated timeline.

A written agreement should also detail the costs, such as hourly rates for labour and potential extra charges. A section on payment terms could include details such as who initially pays for parts, how often invoices will be issued, when invoices will be considered past due and what the consequences will be for late payments.

Make sure to look into any mechanisms that could be in place for dispute resolution and termination of the work by either party. The shop may have a standard agreement, but a restoration could entail significant time and expenses, so don’t be afraid to negotiate changes or additional clauses. It’s also a good idea to have the agreement reviewed by a lawyer.

If things start going sideways, it may be best to get out sooner rather than later, according to Heiderman. You’ll need to clearly define what you’re unhappy with before addressing it with the shop, negotiate in good faith and then decide whether to stay or cut your losses.