Expertise

[AlainBahuaud]

Studerich
« you » it’s me . It was the first problem, the inspector couldn’t test drive on the road because there was no proof of assurance for the car
who is responsable ? Certainly not me , I paid an expertise as a guarantee because I couldn’t checked the car my self I live in France
people from this forum gave me this advice ,using a inspection company

[Mike Sal]

The previous owner and the inspection company both cheated you to some degree. Make sure you advertise both names so others do not fall prey to their less than honest representations.

[cdn56J]

The first clue that the fenders have been replaced is the location of the '57 signal lights.

[studegary]

The first clue that the fenders have been replaced is the location of the '57 signal lights.

Reminds me of a 1956 Golden Hawk that had a hard front end hit in the 1970s. The shop where I worked PT simply put a different nose on it (from a different year Hawk). These cars get around. The Hawk resided in NJ, the shop was in NY and many years later I saw the same GH after it had been restored and was in the mid-west.

[sweetolbob]

Studerich
« you » it’s me . It was the first problem, the inspector couldn’t test drive on the road because there was no proof of assurance for the car
who is responsable ? Certainly not me , I paid an expertise as a guarantee because I couldn’t checked the car my self I live in France
people from this forum gave me this advice ,using a inspection company

Alain, Sorry that this is your initiation to the Studebaker world from the US.

Let's take a minute to see where we might go from here. First - Take a look under the damage and see if the bottom section is damaged or the frame is only buckled on the top. If the bottom is intact a good frame shop should be able bring the horn down and straighten it out. If it's buckled underneath about the same advice but a much more involved fix.

The damage looks old so I think we can assume it existed prior to the inspection so it was ignored/unnoticed by a number of parties in the chain of possession. Your relief is probably not much different than if I purchased it from another state 3000 miles away.

I suspect that if it arrived at my door in the same condition and I got a lawyer, the first thing he would tell me is that bringing suit in another state is not without it's downside. Folks don't show up in court so it's rescheduled and the costs just keep going up. By the time there's a judgment the cost has probably exceeded the repair value. Also a judgement doesn't mean you just get a check in the mail. It could require more court work and more cost.

Also be very careful about throwing folks identities into the hopper, it can backfire at times.

You should probably get a legal opinion from a local (USA) attorney where the car was purchased but you would need a recommendation for that also.

As far as the Inspection Company, I suspect this is not there first rodeo in this arena so their boilerplate is probably pretty good. This doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying to contact the parties involved but to just let the car set and not get it on the road is probably not good for the psyche either.

Have it inspected and get an estimate for the repair so you can include that in your conversations also.

I'm a realist and while I understand you disappointment with the transaction, It's probably time to get involved in what it will take to repair the damage and get a very nice looking car on the road for your enjoyment. The other option is to sell it to another party with the disclosure of the issue prior to sale.

IAC, before I make decisions like this, I set back with my favorite Bourbon and see if I can picture the steps necessary and the route to take. I feel much better when there is a plan in place.

Sometimes the system just gets in the way.

Very best wishes for a satisfactory resolution.

Bob

[Hallabutt]

Alain,

Truly sorry for your problems, you paid dearly to guarantee the quality of your purchase. I honestly don't know the process that you followed to find the service you used. The process seems to me to be more then a little bit cumbersome, what with flying an inspector in from Florida. I have no doubt that a simpler and more cost effective local solution was available. Regardless the inspection should have seen, and documented the damage.

I was not going to respond, in case there is litigation, but because I made specific comments regarding the car prior to it's purchase, but maybe some history will help. This is in no way intended to give anyone a pass on the situation. I'm just trying to be informative.

Bill Schiffer owned the car for decades prior to his passing in 2016. There has seldom been been a more involved or outspoken advocate for the car maker, or the city of South Bend, where he had lived for many years prior to moving to the Seattle area. Both he and his father had worked for Studebaker-his father in the was a line worker in the engine dept. He began working there about the year Bill was born, in 1929. Bill later worked in the technical writing area during the 50's.

I really don't know anything about the early history of the car, prior to Bill's purchase of the car. He had it out a few times and it seemed to run great, but he always claimed that runnability, not driveability was a problem. In other words he couldn't keep it running. For some reason he didn't want to accept any help making it reliable. About ten years went by and nobody even saw the car. During ownership Bill S had installed the new leather interior.

After Bill S's passing, Bill McKiver bought the car from the widow. Post purchase inspection, revealed a large number of hidden problems with the car. Each defect Bill M. found he had taken care of. The problems were not inexpensive, but I don't feel knowledgeable enough to quote specifics. The improvements did include at least a partial repaint. At no time during the ownership of my two friends was handling ever an issue. I do believe that front suspension components were part of the improvements that Bill S. made to the car.

If anyone cares to read the initial thread all the back and forth is there. The car was not restored or was it a virgin either, but IMHO the car is beautiful and was certainly a bargain. I guess without any comments regarding handling/alignment issues, or estimates on repair, it's hard to really know what recourse of remedy is appropriate. Have you driven the car or had an alignment shop look at the car?

Bill

[firestoper 25]

Well this stinks...sorry about the mess you have.....not everybody over here is a crook (note I left politics out of my general assessment!). In post # 12 we have data that may have some interesting history, did anyone check ,Google, Facebook, other social media on this cast of characters ? I have stayed far away from social media so I have no platforms to use for the hunt. My suggestion on the first info poke-around would be the company (NA&I) ,then Flint Furgson (the insp.), next Bill Mc Kivor (veh. owner), then Tom Noller (seller). Moving deeper, what is ASE's definition of 'master tech.' and does Flint have any complaints against him, is his cert. current ? In recap Bill owned the Stude and had Tom sell it for him and Flint was the on site insp. dude from the Florida insp. company NA&I, correct? I wonder if a contact to Florida's Consumer Protection Agency or BBB would turn up any negative info on the group? The same would apply from other auto clubs, the bigger the better your data mining pile is the more possible hits you will get. I used a similar logic tree to guide the city DA & Det. squad to get my daughters (death) drug OD supplier (he had killed three gals in three months). This would be a interesting process to see where - when - what the pranged frame accident history could show. I assume that state repair or insurance data banks would be useless as a result of the Stude's age? It is a great mystery!!! And a lesson for all of us in the hobby. Sorry about your situation! My Avanti has a similar cobbled history, BUT, I bought it aware of 90% of the mess. Sherm / Green Bay / 63R1089

[firestoper 25]

Ref post #21; I was composing my post during the time Hallabutt had sent his thus the criss - cross of info, as I did not see his post. I still feel the further data dig on the folks not mentioned in post # 21 would be helpful to how this can be avoided by us all in the future. Sherm / Green Bay / 63R1089

[Bills R2]

Seems like gross negligence should not be protected on inspector's/scammers part?

[AlainBahuaud]

Hi
I get a response from the seller.he told me that he knows nothing about the front member folded ...

Tom Noller was my contact because he Stored the car for the seller
Tom is great man and he has my total confidence ,he is not at all affected by this problem .

nationwide inspection said to me,they wouldn’t work anymore with this inspector ,ok
in my business, when one of my collaborater make a mistake I do my best for the customer,I assume the damage ,the error is human ,honesty to.
what is the use of the appraisal company ?
every expert in the world engage his responsibility ,if not he is not an expert
it’s a shame
a friend of mine want to import overseas a studebaker speedster 55 ,he ask to me for a company to expertise the car .any idea for an inspector we can trust
the frenchie Alain

[firestoper 25]

You know Bill you would think so, however up here in Green Bay I paid 'full boat'price for a state licensed professional engineer to due a 20 page condition report on a house we wanted on the bay. My health at the time had massive restrictions on my mobility abilities (since fully back up to V-8 speed). He also had A +++ rating from several very creditable realtor's in the area. So when I reviewed the report there were many glaring mistakes (not due to any time rush, it took three weeks for the finished report and he had FULL access as the house was empty). I was so incredulous at the report, I broke my mobility leash, set up an appointment with our realtor and her boss to go for a tour of the 'inspected & passed dwelling'. I will give you the Cliff Notes version....EIGHT broken ceiling rafters (resulting in massive sag in the large living room fire place area, measured 3 +" sag with a 12' run) and the saga goes on and on with other troubles which I will not boor you about . Yes we bought the house at a very reduced value and tore it down, we found the eight rafters were repaired (in no way was this a repair) with 1/2" od x 12" long Fleet Farm grade 2 ready rod!!! And what happened to the 'licensed 'engineer ? As of two years ago he was still out here working!!! Sherm / Green Bay / 63R1089

[rbisacca]

Just my opinion but I think the pre-purchase "House Inspection" is one of the biggest rackets going.

[firestoper 25]

BINGO.......BMO bank required it, sound familiar? It charge to me was $350 wasted dollars. The US BMO said it was a home office (Canada) function. Oh well.......we do not do business with them anymore. Sherm / Green Bay / 63R1089

[studegary]

For a Studebaker, I find that it is better to deal with an SDC member, that knows the particular model, someone close to the car in question, rather than a commercial appraiser/inspector. I have done this for SDC members from several states away and I was reasonably close to the car being considered. For example, all SDC members are not appropriate for all Studebakers. Someone that knows prewar models may not be knowledgeable on Avantis and also the other way around. Of course they could still give an honest opinion on what they see.
I have never used an inspector or another SDC member. I have just purchased cars from all across the country without seeing them. Some aren't as good as expected, but that is just part of it.