RODD SALA PARK WARD MOTORS Rodd Sala grossly misrepresented condition of a 1977 Rolls Royce sold on eBay North Barrington, Illinois

Very handsome Rolls-Royce for $24,000. If anyone has doubt please call me.

Rodd sala
312-320-6996

See more photos below. It is hard to imagine this as being bad wood, leather and body as reported by Mr Schoenberg:

Re: Mr Schoenberg's complaints with his Rolls-Royce

Below are a few photographs of the Rolls-Royce in question. I specifically include some photos of the wood and the leather in the car which truly was quite excellent. Mr Schoenberg claimed quite the opposite. The car was a rather stunning example.

To see a complete set of some 150 photos of the Rolls-Royce, please go to the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14011548@N04/sets/72157618112964391

I invite all readers of this report to review the photos and make their own assessment on the overal condition of this example. Dont forget, this Rolls-Royce was sold for $24,000. The car today, in the same condition, would fetch some $35,000.

Rodd sala
Park-Ward Motors
312-320-6996
ensal@comcast.net

Unfortunately, the details and claims made in this complaint by Dr Robert Schoenberg are inaccurate and misleading. For starters, the car was 35 years old and was sold entirely AS-IS. Technically, legally or morally, I was not required to do anything. Instead, being a caretaker of Rolls-Royce for some 30 years, I tried to do the right thing by Mr Schoenberg. He fails to make any reference to this. This sale also occurred almost 1 year ago.

Specifically on the items he refers to:

With the hydraulic accumulators on a Rolls-Royce it is entirely possible, and in fact common, for an accumulator to give-way without notice. This is what happened to Mt Schoenbergs Rolls-Royce. He seems to think I had an elaborate plot to dud him but it was nothing more than a failing component. The only reason I was unable to get the accumulators (I sent him 2 when only 1 was needed!)  to him earlier is because I was away on overseas vacation with my family for 5 weeks. I sent the accumulators AT NO CHARGE to Mr Schoenberg the week I returned.

As for the interior wood, Mr Schoenberg is really exaggerating and being unreasonable. This is a 35 year old motor car with its original wood finish from Rolls-Royce. 35 year old technology in varnishing wood and no less than 15 coats which will inevitably go brittle after 35 years. It was overall in original good shape not perfect. The clumsy repair referred to by Mr Schoenberg was not my doing or knowledge and it is even possible that this was the shippers effort after accidentally damaging the piece.

Never lubricated suspension is an obvious exaggeration but even if it was due, respectfully, it is not my responsibility to fully service a 35 year old classic being offered for sale as-is on eBay. This is quite unreasonable. The same applies to the brakes. These are service type items and not part of any warranty in the sale. Water pump was never mentioned to me so I can only assume this is something that required attention recently. Almost a year after purchase and not an unreasonable thing to expect on a 35 year old classic with only 40,000 miles.

Incidentally, he makes a comment on the mileage and I state very clearly in my adverts that all cars are sold mileage exempt because of their age. Notwithstanding, I try to research the cars and on Mr Schoenbergs it appeared that the mileage was indeed original - just not verifiable as stated. Scoured rotors on a 35 year old Rolls-Royce with 39,000 miles is not a sign of high mileage.

I am collector of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor cars and have been for some 30 years. In the state of Illinois, anyone buying and selling cars is required to be licensed.  I am licensed for this reason and comply with state requirements. I do not have a retail show-room and do not sell cars locally. Every car I offer for sale is part of my private collection. I stand by my statement; I am not a broker or retail car dealer. It is correct I have sold more than $1 million in Rolls-Royces but I am sure most readers would agree that with the high prices of these cars, THAT is not a big number. I am a collector and when you have been doing it for 30 years, that is not many cars at all.

When I sell a car on ebay, I take the time to go over the car to make sure there are no glaring problems or issues, but I make no warranty about servicing them and nor is it reasonable for me to be held accountable for any component failure. Since the time Mr Schoenberg purchased the car, I now am even more detailed to the extent I now offer a service program to all buyers which they usually elect to pay for. This covers items such as brakes, suspensions maintenance, tyres, batteries etc.(the types of service items Mr Schoenberg refers). Once again, these are service items and no-one can reasonably expect this to be covered in an eBay style as-is auction.
 
Mr Schoenberg just simply cannot be satisfied. He has unreasonable requests and nothing I do seems to satisfy him. I should have just given his money back in the first place and had him return the car. That offer is still open to him today. He is simply proving to be unreasonable. I should point out that whilst on vacation with family in Europe last year, Mr Schoenberg would continue to pester me with no regards to the time difference. It got to the point that I asked him, as a medical doctor, if he made himself available to his patients when on vacation. He was quiet and did no answer.

Buyers of classic cars, especially Rolls-Royce, must understand they require regular and sometimes unexpected maintenance. And, on Rolls-Royce, this can be expensive. Rolls-Royces are fine cars but like any car from the 70s, the technology is old and outdated.  They can be idiosyncratic and do have nuances (their Lucas electrical system weaknesses have been well documented). This is explained to all my buyers but notwithstanding, a buyer has the responsibility to do his own homework on a make and type of car as well as the car itself. This cannot be unfairly placed in the lap of the seller.

A compassionate effort was made to satisfy the concerns of the complainant in various forms but were refuted. A detailed report is available by email, fax or regular mail. This report includes:

1) A detailed outline of the sequence of events.

2) An outline of the offers for an ex-gratia settlement in parts, service, cash and full refund for the purchase of the car.

3) Copies of correspondence between the seller and purchaser evidencing the cooperation of the seller and the refusal of the purchaser to work towards a reasonable and amicable resolve.

4) A copy of the comprehensive Terms & Conditions applicable to the sale of this +/-35 year old Rolls-Royce for a modest $24,000.

5) A detailed list of voluntary after sales support provided by the seller to the purchaser irrespective of any "as-is" conditions. This included having the car shipped back to my facility to have any concerns addressed and attanded to AT NO CHARGE to the buyer purely as an act of goodwill.

The seller is a passionate and knowledgeable collector of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor cars with a strong reputation earned over 30 years dedicated experience. He knows the marque intimately and is a proud contributor to the preservation of Rolls-Royces. He has written papers, articles, reports, service and maintenance bulletins on Rolls-Royce motor cars ranging from early 30's vintage thru to 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's models. Many of his cars have won shows and awards for their presentation. Much effort in recent years is concentrated to providing good quality driver standard Rolls-Royces for the pleasure and enjoyment of every day driving. 

Interested or concerned parties should email me on ensal@comcast.net or phone 312-320-6996 for personal service. I would be happy to discuss the events that occured and my efforts to remedy.