Bhatti's Towing Bhatti's Towing and Body Shop Bad Corvette paint job North Charleston, South Carolina

I decided to have my old Corvette painted at the paint shop of Bhatti's Towing of North Charleston, SC, because they have a good reputation, restoring cars also for Baker Motor Co. of Charleston, SC. The following very positive comment that I read is one of the reasons I chose them; I leave the typos unedited: "Service is awsome they do about 120 cars for us a month, maseratis to bmw's, outstanding service, owner even comes out at three in the morning to help, outstanding guys" But this positive comment is certainly not related to my own sorry experience. My roommate (a mechanic) was accompanying me during most all of the visits.

The first contract was to have my vehicle sanded, primed and sprayed for $500. I brought my car to the shop in the afternoon. I had done the coarse preparation work before. Next day by noon I paid $1400 in their office for a proper job and was promised that "the car will be looking like out of a showroom". On into their shop I saw they had PAINTED the car ALREADY when I arrived (but with many paint runs) IN LESS THAN A DAY, which left me stunned.

I had bought top quality (BASF) primer, thinners, paint etc. for circa $800, under the guidance of a seasoned paint specialist, later one additional quart that the painter needed after the first deplorable try. The painter pretended he had painted Corvettes before, but he even DID NOT KNOW how to open the hood and the rear lid or how to take off the roof! I only got wise about this when he asked me during my next visit.

He did a very good job repairing the fiberglass, which was broken in several places, but he did NOT follow the printed INSTRUCTIONS thoroughly for mixing the paint etc. This is crucial. The master omitted one can of additive, as I found out later. It's still in my possession. When asked about this he answered that it was not needed, he knew these things. Note please: According to Corvette specialists there is NO WAY around such strict rules because of General Motors' unique glassfiber that is used for the Corvette's body. But as I am not a painter - I had to believe him as he is well reputated.

Dozens of bubbles as big as 3" resulted when the vehicle was sitting in the sun after the second paint job for 2 hours, several runnings, overspray and "orange peel" almost everywhere as well.

Explanation by the supervisor: "It's not our fault; it happens due to an old layer of paint that had not cured." (What? After five or so years? After they even sanded INTO the fiberglass?) "We will paint it for free if you buy new material, because I don't want to see that you are not satisfied", said Rick Bhatti, the shop's co-owner, and added he had taken a paint chip to a paint specialist who assured him that this was true. - I have been told by REAL painters: NO WAY, a cured paint is cured for good!

So I paid circa $500 for new primer, paint etc. that the poor painter was "more familiar" with, from another paint store, where they usually buy their supplies.

Result: another catastrophy. Moreover: the painter sprayed one wheel black which I definitely had not asked for, also he insisted there was overspray on the windshield, the license plate and the back-up light before. My "before" photos show differently.

Then Mr. Bhatti wanted another $650 from me (for a rolling showcase of orange peel???) Speechless I paid, just to get my car back after so many weeks.

I took photos before, during and after their admittedly many hours of work, and I can produce these pictures that speak for themselves.

Bhatti's did NOT answer 4 (four) letters from the Better Business Bureau. Bhatti senior and junior told me after they saw me in town to come to their office. I went there three additional times only to hear they're going to call me back; that of course never happened.

Just a good paint job is what I paid for, without orange peel, no runs, no unpainted spots, like below the license plate, no painted wheel. Again: I know and appreciate their time invested, and I saw smooth paint on the other vehicles that they were working on. But I am definitely not used to see, even on older vehicles, such "non-eye-candy" as on my poor old 'Vette after their treatment.

I have dozens of photos handy for you to look at and see the disaster with your own eyes. Included is just a small count.