shop to avoid for work

[dmenche914]

Do NOT patronize Jerry McCarthy of Rennsport Vintage Werks in Pleasanton Ca.

here what happened to me:

i had my two cars in a shop in Pleasanton Calif a 356 and a 914. this is one shop to stay away from, I meet the shop owner on this webiste. he told me how he could expertly repair my cars, and showed some nice photos of his supposed past work.

he started on my 356 and did a nice looking job at fixing some door rust, but before he finished the doors, he for some reason decided to switch to the nose of the car (of course he was paid for the door work) he screwed up on the trunk big time, in a moment of probably marajuana haze. One night he cut the bottom of the battery tray (trunk floor) he used a plasma cutter and butchered the trunk sides front and rear. opps, the next day I see the damage and he tells me he made a mistake and thought the trunk was too low. but he would fix it. after a month or so with him ****ing around, I tell him he needs to buy a new trunk piece (they make repros !!!) he says he will only pay for half the cost as he still thinks he can re-use the buthered pieces so he will only pay for half ($500 is half)

At that point I say stop work on the trunk and await the new metal, the next day I find he butchered the trunk even further by drilling out (30 holes) a panel that we need to keep intact!

he then takes the doors he worked on the last year and finds that they dont fit the door opening in the body anymore. the ****ing doors stick out half an inch from the body, even with no hinge shims. he talks about moving the hinges on the body then I see he actually made one door 3/4 inch fatter than the other side (he replaced rusty door bottoms) after another month of him promising to fix it, all he did was over heat the doors and warp them more. this bastard likes to weld with the metal red hot and keep welding, then he qunches the panel with water, heck with rust, he says he will deal with it later. I finally told him no more water quenching, it is ruining the steel, yet he persisted.

I show up to see what is going on, and arrive before noon as agreed, he shows up half hour late but needs to take lunch first, half hour later he tells me he needs to run an errand. (yeah really important stuff, rather than deal with a customer that has already pre-paid him, he runs out to recylce his plastic water bottles while I cool my heals at his shop) he comes back and after crying about his broken truck, he starts welding on my doors, only to excuse himself for a potty break, 10 minutes later he arises out of the bathroom stinking like weed. then says he cant work on my car any more. (Thank God for that,, the guy is dangerous)

Meanwhile I notice that my 914 has two new dents, looks like someone dropped something heavy on the front fender, all dented and cut, he tells me he will fix that, then a bit later I notice the rear fender is oil canned, but pulled out, I ask him about that and he tells me he or his freind ran into my car, and that he will for sure take care of that for me. (the dam cheat never would have mentioned the 914 damage to me If I had not caught it)

so be forwarned, do NOT patronize Rennsport Vintage Werks of Pleasanton Calif. The shop is being run into the ground by Jerry McCarthy he claims his daddy is some famous porsche mechanic and he has a impressive looking photo album of cars he has worked on, however he is totally incapable. he is deaf, and uses a telephone translater. do not let him touch your car.

After he damaged the 914 he told me he has no insurance, he is a rip off, thousands wasted on this guy and my cars are Both in worse shape then when he got them.

[911cabby]

So what are your next steps?
walk away?
lawsuit?
propose cash settlement?

Obviously you don't want him near your cars anymore but at the very least he should be held accountable for all the negligence he's caused-

[dmenche914]

I asked him if he could pay he claims he is broke, (yet he was able to vacation and party with drugs during this time). now his game is not returning emails. what a bum.

Remember the name Jerry McCarthy although he could change his name he is deaf, so if a deaf guy in his mid fifties tries to solicit work , be highly suspect it is the same guy

[CROWSC]

Thank you for the heads up. I am from Livermore and may have accidently
used this guy in the future.

[speeder]

Jesus Christ, what a nightmare. Sounds like he needs to be investigated with a baseball bat.

[dmenche914]

well Jerry McCarthy (Aka Gerald McCarthy) the Porsche 356/914 carrera expert did send me a email, that was kind of cryptic. No commitment to make right anything yet by him. I am still awaiting his reply to mine. meanwhile stay away from Jerry McCarthy until this is straightened out.

never have had so much damage done to any car, much less two cars. now he is silent.

[dmenche914]

deadbeat still not repling to requests for payment.

avoid his shop at all costs.

thousands$$$$$$ lost to this guy, what a rip off

[onboost]

Originally Posted by dmenche914

however he is totally incapable. he is deaf, and uses a telephone translater.

So is this why you haven't visited with the baseball bat as somoene else suggested, or maybe put his hand in a vise?

I bet his ass would hear and understand you then!!

[carslutt]

any pics of before, during, after?

[Schwarzeritter]

holly-mother-of wow-dem.

[dmenche914]

Jerry is going under the name of Jerry or Gerald or Gerry McCarthy. The shop is listed as Rennsport Vintage Werks aka RS Vintage werks or rsvintagewerks.

He is still using his daddy's, some what famous in the 356 world, name as a referance. Beware of this.

Awaiting payment for damages.

Will keep you all posted on progress.

[jimbauman]

Hmmmm... aside from the allegations of shoddy workmanship and non responsive attitude, don't you think accusing someone of doing work in a drug induced haze, as well as taking a "vacation with party and drugs" a bit... libelous? These sorts of accusations do nothing but diminish YOUR credibility. As Jack Webb always used to say.. just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

[WANNA930]

Ok you have posted about 5 replies without showing anything that he has even touched your car or did anything to it. We all read the 1st time that he is deaf and is a pot head. Not sure why him being deaf has anything to with his ability to work on cars?

Something tells me you will wind up owing him some cash when all is said and done. POST PICS??????????????????

[Butzip]

Wow, I'm surprised to hear this... Mind you, they've never worked on any of my cars so I neither defend or dispute anything mentioned below. I do assume however that we are talking about the Gerry McCarthy and son formerly of Cam Motorsports in Waterbury, CT?? The old man was a former factory wrench and a renown 4-cam expert. They had a very good reputation here in CT while Sr. was running the show. His son was in charge of the body shop was apparently pretty talented, from what I heard. Sounds like things might have taken a turn for the worse...... I remember he did have some serious health issues and possibly the J-bone was for medical purpose?? giving the benefit of the doubt....

I hope you get things sorted out, it does sound nightmarish so far.. Good luck.

[dmenche914]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

Hmmmm... aside from the allegations of shoddy workmanship and non responsive attitude, don't you think accusing someone of doing work in a drug induced haze, as well as taking a "vacation with party and drugs" a bit... libelous? These sorts of accusations do nothing but diminish YOUR credibility. As Jack Webb always used to say.. just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

Seeing as Jerry came out of the his shop restroom stinking like pot, and all red-eyed I can say without any doubt he was stoned at work. That's when he threw down some tools and told me he cant work on my cars anymore.

His vaction happened after he was advanced some money to work on my car.

It is all true, No libel here. These are the facts ma'am.

[a57356]

Folks - While Jerry in CA may be his son, Gerry McCarthy, the long time and former owner of KAM Motorsports in Waterbury CT (it no longer exists and closed after Gerry sold the business) ran an excellent business in CT for over 20 years.

Gerry is a well known 4-cam expert and the shop did all types of mechanical work and some body shop work for a short period.

I dealt with Gerry for over 15 years for both 4-cam and general mechanical work and never had any problems. Some of the rarest 4-cam and other Porsche's in the world would be sent to Gerry's KAM Motorsports for work by major collectors.

So lets not confuse Jerry in CA from Gerry, the father, in CT as he is retired and has no involvement with any business in CA.

Jerry
Jerry Charlup
'57 356 Carrera Speedster
Chassis # 83780 - 1500 GT (547/1) #90896
1500 GS (547/1) #90760
1973 911S
2006 Cayman S

[dmenche914]

well, Jerry McCarthy (aka Gerald McCarthy, Gerry McCarthy) of RS vintage Werks (aka Rennsport Vintage Werks) is at his games again.

First he tells me I will be paid once he gets money from the state (back pay from his prior job) finally he sends me money but only a small fraction of the damages he caused.

Then he tells me he needs time to write up some sort of plan, week goes by, then he tells me he wants me to discuss plans with his "mentor" (yeah he needs some mentoring all right) a week goes by again, then silence from him, no jerry no "mentor", no plan to pay, no contact. looks like it is back to run around again with him.

He cant be trusted. Everything he tells me is a lie. More delay tactics on his part.

[Ricky Doherty]

He cant be trusted. Everything he tells me is a lie. More delay tactics on his part.

[Cairo94507]

I am sorry, but why not, (if you didn't) just take him to Small Claims court?

In CA the limit is $7,500 but that is better than nothing. Once you receive the judgment, file a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair and Department of Consumer Affairs and send them a copy of the judgment.

These kinds of issues will ruin your life if you let them take over.

[dmenche914]

I was told by Gerry McCarthy that he needed time to pay for damages, becuase he was trying to stay afloat. However we found that at the same time I'm being told that, he was posting his shop equipment for sale on Craiglist and was closing down!!!!

no reply in last several days of emails to him.