1960 El Dorado Biarritz convertible

[jayryan07]

Hello,

Been a long time since I posted here. My car was stolen during restoration back in 2011. Turned up after I reported it the 2nd time and told insurance company since it can't be found, no reason to keep paying premiums. Asked them to run the Vin. and look for it for me. Some weeks later the adjuster found it located on a recently sold large parcel of land. Contacted the former tenants that were on site after the mechanic I had hired to restore it mechanically and provided the money and had the parts restored to "put it back together" he never did, and disappeared. Long story is the new owners developing the property for a housing project found it? The former tenant who has relocated admitted to the Claims adjuster he knew he had no legal right to possessing my car, took it from its location in plain view of anyone including myself and the police who I called out in 2011 and in his own words "hid it in the farthest corner of the very large property from view and hid it behind a wall of RVs and motor homes!" Yes, in his own words.

Anyway, I am picking up the frame and body, the interior (we paid half the restoration on the leather, last half on completion) the restored matching engine, transmission, rear end, drive train, air ride suspension and front end replacement parts from Kanter and Vintage parts, A/C compressor as well as the air ride/ps unit are all gone! I am thinking of starting over since the Vin and frame etc. all still match. Picking it up this week and putting it in storage. All help with info on parts and legit company's is welcome and desperately needed. By the way, I arrived at the location with a licensed Caddie restoration company twice armed with the tow truck, trailer for parts and 6 man crew, cops on hand back in 2011=nothing happened, other than car disappeared.

I don't want to give up now, or give the thief satisfaction when the title would go clear. No, too stubborn. Besides I purchased it from a man who was like family who had it since it was new and put it in the garage in 1972 until I bought it in 2002 late. Wanted to complete it and take him for a ride in his only new car. He passed on while it was stolen. Emotional involvement.

Thanks,
Jay

[James Landi]

 Such a horrible story... my brother had a similar experience with a guy who claimed to do large Cadillac restoration projects... the guy disambled his running car, placed the large parts out in the weather, took my brother's big cash money deposits and then abandon his business and  the disassemble car...so hard to figure out how just such people can live with themselves when they do such things to others who put their trust in them.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Makes me sick. Good luck.

[Blade]

Jay:

Very sad story! Also makes me wonder what these thieves think about the future of those cars. Sure they can hide them but to what end? These are rare cars and can be identified quick once they resurface. They can part them out but even that is risky for one there are the engine/body/frame numbers that identifies them and buyers are often curious where the parts are coming from and why such a rare car is being parted out. Anyway, sad case, glad you at least found it at the end and you're doing the right thing to start on it again ... you'll now have even more stories to tell.   

Cheers!

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I've had similar...but not as bad situations like this.  My 1968 Barracuda blew up its original 318 when I was driving it back from work one day (yes it was a daily).  Turns out the crank bearing went bad.  Anyhow a shop in Fairfax offered to rebuild the engine for 3400 bucks plus paint the block once it was hot tanked.  They promised a warrantee for a year on their work so I dropped the car off with them.  I waited...3 months long...to get my engine redone.  When they finally called to say it was ready I pulled out a cashiers check for 3400.  They looked at me like I was crazy!  They said "No buddy...its going to be 4900".  When I argued with them and showed the original receipt that said "That's just an estimate...this is the final price".  I grumbled...went to the bank and pulled out the remaining balance.  I drove my car around for about 4 months afterwards and started getting a serious lifter noise.  I called the shop only to find out they went out of business shortly after I paid them.  Gotta be careful these days....

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Just to add to the story they only hot tanked the block and components.  They never did anything more than clean up the block and paint it.  The parts I gave them to rebuild the engine they sold on ebay.  I found this out later from someone who knew them (this was before I met this dude).

[Blade]

Not to add too much to this story but a friend of mine got burned with $100K on a renovation/addition project on his house. The contractor was apparently paying the previous projects from the new customer's money. My buddy happened to be her end of the line where she finally went under. Six people, including my buddy sued her but he could only recover $35K from the $135K he paid up front so $100K just gone!

I agree, one has to be very careful and probably use reputable businesses. I wouldn't trust just anyone with my classic cars.

[jayryan07]

More shocking answers. Thanks for sharing. I went back over today with police to show them what is left for the Hagerty to pay off on. Tow truck never showed up. Worse I had seen the gold air cleaner on my last visit and let it stay in the passenger compartment waiting to get the go ahead from the property owner that had lien on it, he just wants to move on with his 35mi$ project and told me to just take the car, went there today for tow and pick up air cleaner housing. Now its gone too! just keeps coming. I want to store it this weekend and let Hagerty finally do a proper appraisal. Got to the 20th to get it in the warehouse. geeeez Evil people all over.

[jayryan07]

Properly stored indoor facility, 24/7 guards and monitoring, locked and secure gated location.

Does anyone have insight on or advice with the should I start again from less than scratch? based on when I started I was the (and still am) the 2nd owner and the car was one hundred percent completely original with 97,000 miles and in need of full restoration (the engine and transmission, drive train and suspension along with half the interior I had completely restored) when it disappeared from the mechanics location, along with him. Now it is essentially just the matching frame, body and pink slip, along with the stainless molding, bumpers, grill etc. and radio and partial interior parts.
Any help is welcome. 

[Chuck Swanson]

Pictures would help.  Can you post some?  Good luck!

[jayryan07]

Here is what was in the garage for over 30 years before it went in for restoration.

[Highwayman68]

The emotional connection is what drive me to do whatever it took to hold on to mine for the past 33 years. Take a moment and think of what you would be thinking in 5 years if you gave up on it now. For some it would be painful, for others it would be a relief.

[jayryan07]

I took that moment, spent some time talking with some of the local club members here in So.Ca. and over in AZ. They both explained how common this theft goes on with so called restoration shops. Finding the engine is still being investigated due to the thief admitting possession as recently as mid summer this year. Claiming to have basically just "walked off leaving the brand new with not even any grease on it engine hanging from the hoist as he walked out the door after the real estate changed hands." No one believes any of that and since he also made that claim multiple times to various people including the Hagerty adjuster! he is guilty of at the least Gross negligence and probably gross criminal negligence. Lawyers are waiting with bated breath looking at the insurance co.s handling and under insuring and at the 3 people involved in appropriating the car, engine, drive train all matching and the air ride and interior.

But on the other hand, I won't give them clear title and won't let them scrap it either. Hurt too many people. So, what do you think of the Resto Mod applications out there? The club members don't think much of the museum pieces and I know all about the air ride and other problems (I was doing it anyway, but now?) they talked to me about creating the same car but with all the new comforts and dependability of something like an LSx engine and TH700R4! Getting the interior and reworking the bucket seats from another vehicle to match whats missing.

All input is great and I thank you all for it. Still hope the engine magically shows up and the Hagerty adjuster told me to let her talk to him about its availability. Thus far she claims he is now suddenly not taking her calls.

[jayryan07]

Jay:

Very sad story! Also makes me wonder what these thieves think about the future of those cars. Sure they can hide them but to what end? These are rare cars and can be identified quick once they resurface. They can part them out but even that is risky for one there are the engine/body/frame numbers that identifies them and buyers are often curious where the parts are coming from and why such a rare car is being parted out. Anyway, sad case, glad you at least found it at the end and you're doing the right thing to start on it again ... you'll now have even more stories to tell.   

Cheers!

They didn't think, just saw some money. But this is beyond stupid. They left everything that makes an El Dorado and El Do, or really a Biarritz. They left most of the interior sans the bucket seats. And the molding, insignia, a lot of pieces that really just don't exist. So, with the help of the many fine people who have been reaching out to me it looks like although my matching numbers restored engine and trans are missing along with air ride and all suspension we may go ahead with another Q engine and trans and set of buckets from a great person who isn't trying to make a fortune, only encourage another fanatic and keep this alive. Also there is another couple of guys that are knowledgeable (one fully so and has the facilities and wherewithal to help see this through, just out of town is all)   All the stuff will have to be restored and now there may be air ride again also. We'll see.

Take care and I'll update as time permits.