Specialist restoration services

Very interesting. I have just had my Dino serviced, so I have checked the parts prices on the invoice against those on Superformance's website. The figures were exactly the same, but with the benefit of 5 / 10% trade discounts, so they have cost me less than if I had bought them myself. And the labour rate is £67.50 / hour.

 

My experience has been that some service providers use so-called Recommended Retail Prices when selling us parts. These are frequently much higher than discounted prices.
The lesson for us is to make the way in which parts will be supplied a part of the contract. Especially with those providers who neglect to make their terms sufficiently clear when quoting.

 

I have no axe to grind on this subject, but is this practice any different to what happens with almost every garage dealing with volume cars? The trader gets a discount for being a regular customer and having to fund the cost of parts until they are fitted to a customer's car and, more to the point, they get paid. This is part of the business model.

Sourcing parts for older cars can also be a very time consuming chore. Ask me how I know? Sometimes it can take hours on the internet or phone to find the correct part and an advertisement does not mean the vendor can actually supply the part, let alone at the price quoted!

Lastly, I think £70/hour for a skilled restorer compares very favourably with the labour charges levied by the average BMW or Mercedes dealer, where a 'technician' plugs in a computer (at a charge) and then fits parts off the stores shelf.

I think it is also worth adding that many parts for older cars, even genuine ones, do not fit without a great deal of fettling,

No one condones rip-off prices but it is not quite as straightforward as it may appear.

 

No, I don't think it is. The OP asked for advice and my advice is simply to ensure that the provider's quote is thoroughly clear and understood before accepting it and agreeing to work starting. Essentially a 'no surprises' approach that makes no assumptions.

 

Depends on the part and what car it's for. Something you can order from a Ricambi type supplier is usually charged retail because the shop should have an account and will make their money on the difference between their cost and retail, no issue there. Something that isn't sitting on a freshly stocked warehouse shelf, waiting to be ordered is another ball game. Some parts are hard to find. Some are VERY hard to find. Others have to be made. For instance I had to make brake booster mount brackets for a DB4 restoration, good luck finding those sitting on a parts shelf. 30% on parts isn't unheard of though, it's a little on the high end but can be normal for a hard to source part.

What is the part/car in question?

 

You have in the general forum
A Regional Areas - International .
with: United Kingdom.
I think you will have more contacts and informations.

 

I forgot to add that this was from a Ferrari main agent - Carrs of Exeter - so maybe taking your car to a specialist instead of a main agent is a false economy.

 

John

This might say more about Carrs than anything! I have no connection and have never used them but they do have a reputation that seems to set them apart from many of their fellow dealers. How nice to hear about this.

John

 

Yes, I am very lucky to have them here in Exeter, only a couple of miles from my home. They have been very good to me.