308QV Service in St Louis

I am in the final stages of acquiring a 308QV on the East Coast and bringing it home to Edwardsville. I'll have the major performed out there (it's due and since we will drive it back don't want to chance the trip).

Who around the area should I be considering for the long-term maintenance needs? I want to make sure I work with someone that knows these cars. Am I rightly hesitant about the dealer; concern is having mechanics that want to look for the diagnostic port in lieu of actual knowledge.

Jeff Kennedy

 

Well here is the update:

The PPI is finished. A few little things came up but nothing that is significant. The big deal is that the car does need the major service. For an assortment of business reasons we have decided to have the car trucked out here instead of driving it home. The car will be dropped off straight at the shop to start the major. That means the first time that we actually see and touch the car will be as it comes off the truck.

At this point I really wish I was in Ft. Lauderdale or Los Angeles. In both of those places I know where to be really comfortable taking the car. As for GLB I am getting words that sound comforting and as many words that make me scared. When I went to visit them there was a Citroen SM there. Now there is a car that if a shop can keep it in a functional mode then any 308 is going to be easy. The argument could be made that seeing it leave might be more assuring that seeing it sitting there; don't know.

For me Chesterfield is rather inconvienent from Edwardsville. Plus I don't like the idea of factory shop service rates and mark-ups. Am I being an idiot for looking past Bentley of St. Louis? Anyone know the current billing rate? If I brought my own Ricambi set of replacement parts are they going to banish me? Four fancy walls don't mean anything; proper work done at a fair value is what matters.

Help! I'm dying in anxiety here. We should wrap up the transfer of money and title early next week. Then sometime within 3 weeks the car would arrive out here. This is no longer a theoretical discussion.

Jeff

 

I visited with Bonjour this afternoon. He is maybe 1 1/2 miles from here. Seems to be knowledgable, prefers that I get most of the parts myself and the shop rate is (in relative terms) reasonable enough.

Jeff

 

Final decision is to use Bonjour of Le Stable in Edwardsville. He is maybe 5 miles from home and I get great recommendations from several people on him. He also lets me bring my own parts; already have the box from Ricambi in the garage.

Horseless Carriage is transporting the car from New Jersey. Turned out of 3 different companies i talked with they were the least expensive at $1,250. The others were at $1,600 and $1,750.

The driver has already called Bonjour saying that the drop-off will be sometime Monday afternoon. Anybody interested is welcome to join in on the first viewing. This will be our first look at the car in person. All other information has been by e-mail and phone calls.

Jeff Kennedy

 

The car was supposed to arrive this afternoon but talked with the Horseless Carriage driver and it will be late morning/early afternoon Tuesday.

Received the manuals, records and tool kits via UPS on Friday. Have been able to reconstruct some of the history. I am the 4th owner not the 3rd.

Was able to reach the dealer that sold it in August of 1985. They apparently bought it from the Monterey, CA dealer since there was a waiting list at their location. He doesn't remember the car specifically or the original owner, William C. McIntosh, but said that at that point in time they would scour the other dealers for additional inventory.

Jeff

 

It arrived about 1:45 this afternoon. There was also a '79 Rosso Corsa GTB being delivered somewhere in St. Louis. Should be able to post pictures later today or Wednesday.

Delivered straight to Bonjour Stunson at Le Stable. There will be some additional small cosmetic items I'll be working on but so far a straight clean car that needs servicing and a new home.

Jeff

 

Prugna arrived at 1:45 pm this afternoon. She weighs in at 3,230 lb (book value) and is 174.2" head to toe.

The new parents are very proud.

The toast for the arrival has been delayed to this evening, Veuve Cliquot Rose will be served.

She will be spending some time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit - for those that don't understand women speak, that includes me) so she won't be coming home for a while. The parents will attend the FCA event at Bentley/Maserati/Lambo of St. Louis this weekend without her.

Jeff & Miriam
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Let me know if you go there. If I am in town it is 5 miles away.

Are you going to the FCA event on Sunday?

Jeff