Sometimes Sean, you have to do it. I've had it several times with cars, engines, gearboxes, trailers, excavators, trucks, all sorts. I never make a scene out of it, 9 times out of 10 the person took it on in good faith but life gets in the way. Totally understand but it also effects my life and sometimes my work. It's hard not to be harsh and say well, when I bought it to you and paid you, I did it with the intention of actually getting my job done but sometimes, you just have to say it. You made the right choice.

i dont think theres a single magna enthusiast out there that will ever get back what they've spent on it

Sean, All due respect, a good indication for any Tradesman is how they keep the workshops and tools tidy, this reflects on to their workmanship and attitude towards their customers. Not saying the individual is not a bad tradesman, but alarm bells should ringing when see their work environment that is substandard. If I walk into an untidy, substandard workshop, looking for a quote or to seek mechanical work, I walk straight back out, until I am satisfied with the environment then start talking business. At the end of the day we all have I own personal issues. Good luck and I am sure the Magna will look amazing when it’s finished. Keep the great work up.

Jesus mate… I’m gutted for you. Call me judgemental but, I would’ve taken one look at that bloke, another at his shop, jumped back in the car and gone home.

Gutted for you Sean. Hopefully another painter sees this and reaches out to help you get it finished. Going to be great when it's done.

Biggest red flag for me as a painter was when he said this was his 4th "Shop" and his 4th "Shop" Looks like its in a storage unit. Hopefully the surgery for the family went well. Hope to see some new content soon. Stay safe.

I've had to do this before, also with my Magna where it spent over a month at a mechanics shop that I had previously always gone to them for any of my cars and recommended them to friends and family. The car needed a new gearbox, and after a month of them not fulfilling updates and never even ordering the gearbox I had to say I was coming to get it. They hadn't even moved it. When I asked the owner what had been the hold up they said they couldn't source one, but I spoke to one of the techs who I'd gotten to know and he told me straight up that no one had even touched the car since it got there. It took me one phonecall to a wreckers to find one, they just hadn't bothered. At least it seems like your guy had a legitimate reason for the delay but I get how frustrating these situatuins are.

Not to get too spiritual or anything like that… But everything in the universe happens for a very good reason. This chap was clearly not destined to be the one to paint the Magna, but he did a great job in revealing it’s interesting past. He also was chosen to sort out your back window seal. The right person to finish the job will present themselves when the time is right.

Will be the 1st of many. Its near on impossible to find a reliable painter. Majority of panel shops are only interested in insurance work. Tarp up your shed, wax n grease remover everything and fire up your compressor. Teach yourself to paint! Youll learn a lot but youll know the job is done and you did it!

I'm a big fan of this project Sean, and this is one of my favorite channels in terms of showcasing failures/setbacks as well as the ultimate successes. I don't think there is a car enthusiast under the sun that hasn't been in this exact situation once or twice, if not multiple times. You made the right call even though it's tough and inevitably disappointing. A tradesman can't continually blur the lines around an acceptable timeframe and expect no reaction from a paying customer. You're a switched on bloke - if I was you and I had the available space, I would probably spray it myself. My father and I panel beat and resprayed my car in acrylic (period correct) about 8 years ago now and neither of us have done it for a living - that paint is still in great condition. We didn't use expensive equipment. I can, however, understand someone wanting a professional touch and not having to work through their own learning curve. I've always been a big fan of the Magna body shape and I'm glad someone is investing in preserving such a unique model. Every ounce of effort will be worthwhile and - equally important - you'll gradually make lasting connections with quality tradespeople and businesses. All the best bro.

Been wondering why no updates for ages. Soon as I seen the workshop, had a bad feeling. I couldn’t see a spray both, looked dirty and dusty. More a backyard operator. I guess you get what you pay for. Still reckon it going to be a stunner of a car if it gets a decent paint job. There are thousands of Falcons and Commodores, but a handful of Rally Arts. Me thinks in the end you are going to keep this car. The Magna has got to you!

You have no idea how much people love you, and this Magna mate.

Awww man, damn Sean what a mess. So sorry to hear what’s going on with the car! I used To own a fagna, was apart of the magna community for years and put heaps of coin into a TJ magna so I was super excited for this build. Hopefully the experience with the spray painter hasn’t completely taken the wind out of your sails and drained your bank account - would love to see this piece of Aussie auto history shinning in its former glory. How depressing!!

Sorry to hear about your car woes Sean - you're one of the good guys. More imp0rtantly, I hope your family member is oklay and the procedure was a success. Family is everything, cars are just baubles. Stay strong, you'll finish the Magna if it's meant to be.

Sean, first and foremost, I have been in your shoes, and you did the right thing. One thing I’ve learned in life is that first impressions count. Me personally, having dealt with various characters and shops in my 18 years and counting, in the automotive industry, didn’t get a good one from the second you put this guy and his “shop” on screen. I’m not trying to bash him nor am I calling him out, or pretend I know or have seen any of his work on the social medias, because I haven’t. But from the jump the whole situation just felt dodgy, especially when you go see him and after the first two weeks the car looked exactly the same as when you dropped it off. He might have other jobs and things going on in his personal life or whatever, but at the end of the day I’m sure he wasn’t doing this job free of charge for you. There’s a certain respect factor that needs to be kept by a business owner and a customer and I believe he totally washed his hands of that in this situation. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a car you daily drive or one that you only take out of the garage every 6 months. Keep your head up, there’s other painters and body shops out there, and this thing will look as good as new before you know it. Big fan of the channel over here from the good ol’ USA. Cheers!

Happened tome as well mate ,it just makes you stronger and more determined It’s like being kicked in the nuts ,it hurts,but you get up again and he’ll gets unleashed ! You will get it done

You are showing incredible restraint Sean. Very understanding and accomodating of you. Hope things look up and take care of you and the fam.

It happens. One just has to move forward and keep pushing, as much as it hurts. I'm glad you posted this, even if it didn't go as planned. Their job uncovering the car's past was great. Wishing the best for the both of you and the Magna - love that thing (even in primer)!

Sean, it can take a while for a car to be repainted. From the beginning of the video you saw the problems of hail damage & the failure of previous shops of not doing it correctly leading to paint peel & different colour on the Ralliart. I'm lucky to have a good friend who's has his own smash repairs but I do a lot of the bodywork myself to reduce costs. My blue Holden VY S ute which he painted in 2015 still looks as though it came out of the paint booth & it advertises his business when I'm at car shows. It's not a garage queen but a daily driver. My other white Holden S ute is in the process of being restored. It's taking longer to do due to parts/trim not being available but it's getting there. I'm enjoying & learning more along the way. Yes, there's the other side of the coin. There are dubious people out there. When I took my Blue VY S Ute for a pink slip, within 5mins I was told I had a rear main bearing seal leak, a leaky aircon system, power steering box on it's way out & a cracked water pump. Now I know that my ute didn't have these issues but I played along with it & then asked the mechanic how much it'd cost to fix. He quoted $2300 all up. Then I questioned him how within 5mins he made the diagnosis on all this work & yet the ute had been hardly looked at. He started stalling but I noticed that he had a rather body tired VY SS ute & I think he wanted a good donor car for the mechanicals. He asked me if I'd sell the ute to him for $3000 & then that's when I really knew what he wanted. I gave him the customary bugger off in mechanics language & went down the road for my pink slip at another place where they said that this is the best ute they've ever had come by. There's a lot of dodgy buggers about in the industry & it's a matter of finding those right people in the industry who are willing to do the job. It's always best to ask around. Stay away from those operating out of a dirty shed. Regardless if they have personal issues, the job shouldn't have been taken on. There are more spraypainters out there. I'm sorry to see this happen to you but I know in the end that getting someone else to do the work who's licenced, you'll get an outstanding job done.

Oh Sean..i feel your pain. I had... still have my boat a bloke i took it to was like yeah i can do that and i should have just walked put and taken my boat with me. He welded 4mm hull & 3 mm sides and didn't know what a rolling machine was. As he welded he must have hit it with a hammer to bend it round. The hull and sides are all buckled and he welded by hand and then grind the weld to then weld over again. Im absolutely gutted about it. And well its a lesson i have learnt the hard way. And I'll never forget that. We live and learn. Im with you.

i feel your pain. Back in 2002 i took my 68 Camaro in to be painted, which i was told would take 8 weeks. the guy stuffed around and strung me along for 3 years in the end. he did finally finish it and did a fantastic job.

Sorry for your circumstances Sean, unfortunately it happens all too much these days! Chin up and you'll get your Rally Art finished and when you do, it'll all be worth it!👍

I am so glad that you shared this video. Alot of car (and motorcycle) enthusiasts get caught out by the time frame some of these smaller operations take. As you have experienced, it just takes a change in the operators personal life (health or otherwise) and the work can sit there for months or years. I have experinced this a few times. I am hoping that the work on the Magna that had been completed is up to a standard where the next panel shop can just carry on and not have to repair the work that has been carried out. As for over capitalising on the car. Most people that have restored a vehicle can relate. But we generally arn't doing it to make money, but just the sheer enjoyment of seeing a vehicle back to its former glory.

we miss you Sean

I never used to know anything about Australian cars. Holdens are red and Fords are blue was about it. But thanks to channels like yours, I have learnt so much about our old car industry and how to do my own repairs. Soon i’ll be getting my own car and I all I know is that its gonna be made here in oz.

It actuality looks good in the raw in primer, but I know thats not what you wanted. A mate of mine waited 2 years for his XA GT to be sprayed. The panel beater moved from Vic to SA and he took the car with him. My mate finally got it back after 2 years and $25k for an amazing paint job. It looks magnificent now that it's finished. It's his pride and joy. Sometimes the wait is worth it.

Finding another painter to finish the job? I hope he only charged you based on result/stage reached.... And not the actual time it took to get to that stage (primer)

Only just recently started watching your channel, the magna series is what got me into it. I have loved magnas all my life, growing up they were our family car and had some mint ones for a while there. This is heart breaking to see, I really do hope you keep strong and that someone does come along to set everything right for you!!! In the meantime we'll still be here looking forward to see what happens and to see all of the other great content you produce!

Love how you’ve been empathetic mate, unfortunately personal problems get in the way of business quite often. Hope everything works out with the Magna and we get to see it resprayed for the fourth time again soon!

Hi Sean, you’re a good bloke for giving old mate a chance. Sometimes though, people leave you disappointed, especially in the car game. You’re one of the good ones mate, might take a bit longer but one way or another, things will work out with the ol Magna.

You tried mate, was hoping to see it finished! Good luck getting it done and good luck to your family member as well. Love the videos and look forward to them! Because of you I bought another AU like I had when I was young and am fixing it up following your videos!

Need to put a trigger warning for that opening man. Fully thought you were selling it for a moment

Never let a stoner spray paint your car... Especially the ones that have been kicked out of four premises in 3 years for not paying their rent.

the work completed on the car so far looks good

Can't wait to see the finished product Sean👍👍

That’s a difficult situation to go through Sean sorry to see this mate. Surely there has to be a painter out there that can finish her off without charging too much, fingers crossed! I’m hanging to see this beast with a glossy black body

Where are you Sean? We miss you!

On the plus side, the prep work is the hard part and it looks like it was done properly. Hopefully nobody hassles Chris, as it's not like he sold Sean a dud Suzuki engine and told him to fix it by filling the cylinders with oil.

Hope everything is all good Sean 👍

Sean, the way I see it, the disappointment has added depth to the cars story, also great content for your channel, surely there are paint shops around now, that will be willing to help out, pending he has used a quality 2k primer, all the best in your quest. great channel mate.

Hi mate, I worked at a workshop 8 years ago as a qualified painter. These guys done the same thing put insurance jobs first. We had a restoration there for 3 years that was un finished. I would paint it for you but I'm 3000kms from you mate in victoria.

I really dont think the car is cursed, i just think sometimes things go sideways, you can do everything right and things still dont work out. Thats just life. I think you handled the situation really well and very polite. Im certain another painter will come along.

From my personal and professional experience, good paint and body people exist, but they all have multi year backlogs.

Hey Sean!! It's been awhile. Hope everything is all good mate. Take care and hope to see some new videos soon 👊😍

This happens to many people, always trust your instinct and never your heart. Not many decent painters will be willing to touch a car in primer without knowing what is underneath or how the prep work was done, the risk of the pain job failing is to big for many to want to put their name to. I think a few won’t want to touch the car now and any decent paint and panel guy would want to strip it back again especially if they see one or two things that look a bit off so it might cost more to finish the car from here than what it would have for someone to start it. Good luck mate, I hope things work out with it and you find the right people to finish it.

Well all the hard work is done really. Also since I started watching your channel I've brought 3 century batteries to try help support you and your company. Honestly if it weren't for you they would have been exide battery

You had me at the first part of saying good bye. You had me good.

Delays in the order months always seem to happen with panel beaters. Looks good in primer thought!

This sort of mess is all too common in my expeirence. The first shop I sent my falcon to spent a month there without being touched. A guy I know had a Triumph that was finished after more than a year at a different shop. A lot of the places will prioritise all insurance jobs before you and its really a massive struggle.

eventually when the ralliart is back to its former glory you’ve got to come to a meet up here in brisbane, wishing you and the car the best though 💯

I predicted this whilst watching the part where you introduced the painter! Unprofessional work shop etc, unfortunately I was right! I was so hoping the end of the video was you being super stoked with the end result! All the best with whoever gets their hand on it next 🤞

Sean, like anything with cars hang in there. Been there done that, had a car at a workshop and the workshop went under with the owner scrapping cars with sims metal over night. Mate its worth it in the end, if you have the space and can store the car keep it. Its a classic peice of Australian motoring history that youll never get back and regret selling

You have a good attitude bro also resprays are a lot of work as you know - good luck with it all man

Sorry Sean for the heartache you've felt with this car... Hopefully the job can be finished properly once life gets out of the way...

I've been there myself with restoring my own car, had to get it back in the end because in my situation the guy had excuses for days about not doing mine !! Yet even though I booked it in months in advance other cars kept coming and going, so in the end I had to get it back and find someone else. But in this instance it's obviously an unfortunate set of circumstances that couldn't be helped, and at least your understanding enough about that rather than putting pressure on or bad mouthing the guy. Says a lot about yourself as a person and I'm sure it'll come good on the Magna Sean, I hope a fellow Aussie can step in and get the car painted for you 🙂

I sincerely do not wish to be mean, but as a long-time subscriber to your amazing content, I'm really gutted for you, that the pr*ck couldn't just finish the paint job! 😡🤬 Now I fully understand that we have crosses to bear in life. I get that... But the amount of effort you went through to get the car prepared, stripped down, removed the trim etc, to make it as easy as possible. And it still takes 3 f*cking months and not finished. There is something seriously wrong with that business, absolutely useless. I highly respect that you remained calm and collected through all of this. I hope that for your sake, the channel, and the rest of us watching, you can find someone actually COMPETENT to get the car finished. I'm sure that you'll be able to turn this around somehow. We'll just have to wait and see. Stay strong! 💪

I feel really bad for you, Sean. I was so hoping to see it back to its former glory. Im glad i did get to see this bit of the project, as now I know I am definitely going to do research when l get mine done.. I did try to get mine done with someone reputable in 2018, but they told me they didn't want it and basically told me to piss off. I wasn't rude or anything even close to it as soon, as he saw the car he just got angry and told me to leave with some snide remarks, it must be a pretty hard job to do... I wish Mitsubishi just used more clear coat so we don't have to deal with this kind of crap.

Costs a penny, but get it done at a reputable smash repairer and book it in way in advance. I had my EF Fairmont resprayed at the dearest place in town that cops a lot of flack for being expensive but bah gawd they did an excellent job, they even phoned up every day with a progress report.

Dam that's no good mate, I hope you get it sorted soon and I hope the person your caring for is ok.

Good luck with it Sean. I’m sure this is beating down on you a bit. Hope you can hang in there and see it back in black again soon!!

Mate… it’s all part of this cars history….. and it’s revival …… it’s a journey …… like it’s numerous paint jobs …. and another chapter ….. really it just adds to the mystery and the result of the ultimate goal to see it reborn for another day…keep going…. It’s an great !! story so far and it’s a car that has “history “ which makes it stronger ❤️

Hope your good n well sean, eagerly awaiting an update..

When r u coming back!!!

Well that sux. Sorry to hear that, can tell you’re gutted. I must say you’ve done everything yourself so far I think you should give this a go too. Start on one panel only and start learning, there’s lots of help out there, I think you might surprise yourself. If you don’t then you’ve done well to this point, these things as you know can take years even. I’m just embarking on my project car, it’ll take some time….. and balancing family life

Sorry to hear about this Sean, I don’t think the car is cursed. Nothing that’s worthwhile comes easy. On a different note, I think it’s great that people overcapitalise on these projects to keep these pieces of Aussie history on the road.

Hey man. You may never read this. On my other channel I’ve been following you probably since 2019 when I was 16. You did a video on a ncfairlane. Anyways now 2023 for years of thinking about it I decided to try and re create videos like yours. Obviously on a huge budget and nothing near your production. I loved your content for the effort into the videos and your personality. Inspired me to do my own. 9 months in and only 1450 subs uploaded Tryinf consistent once a week. Average under 400 views a video. For a long time under 100. The day if I ever hit 10k subscribers I’ll comment again with this account the one I make videos on. Cheers Shaun love your videos. On my other account I’ve commented for years and you always replied love it. Also I know you hate your voice but it’s actually great lol

I really like this car. Sorry to see this. As hard as it is don't let this get you down. It might not feel like it now but this will make a great story when its done.

Mate, so sorry about this!! Not sure if this makes you feel any better but my father’s classic Jag caught on fire in February 2015, the engine got rebuilt within a week, and our neighbour at the time said he knew a guy that does paint (as he was a car enthusiast aswell) so we went with him. It ended up taking until September 2017 to get the car back. I know the feeling when things often don’t work out, hoping and praying someone comes forward to finish it off so you have a pristine Magna

So sorry to see what's happened bro. The Diamante will took great when it's done.

ive been painting 15years, pitty u werent in SA i could have sorted it out for u jus cos im a fan of these should pop those handles out also

You drove past my house , I own a silver Ralliart Magna . It was recently fixed up as it was in terrible condition when I bought it . I’d love to organise a meet 🤘🏻

I totally feel your pain mate I’ve had my dc Ltd at the local panel shop now for 3 months for a tidy up and all they have done is rubbed down and repaired 3 little rust spots , everyone tells me to take it else where but all the other panel shops say the same thing that they can’t look at it for months and can’t give a garuntee when it will be done 🤷‍♂️

A shame about the respray but it doesn’t matter how often you post videos. I will be here to watch them even if it is one every six months.

I got one of my Kingswoods back after 3 months, they would bump it for any insurance work they had. Was cheap though (pre pan).

Hope you have more luck with the Magna in the future, will come up mint.

Looks like he's done a decent job. This always seems to happen with resprays. They just take a bloody long time

3 months is too long Sean. I was offered a 15 grand Supercharger kit & they wanted to do up my car. I said yes & they were going to get the parts. But then I never heard back from them for 4 months. I called & tried to send emails & just nothing for 4 months. I was so upset that I blew my money on something else. When they finally got back to me saying they are ready to start, I said I'm sorry but I never heard anything from you for 4 months despite trying to email & call & I spent the money on something else. They sent me a email in response that gave my computer a virus. Your paying them for the service, if they don't do the job within a respectable amount of time & give you a range of excuses about their life to cover their shortcomings then it's just bad business😢

It’ll be nice when it’s done mate don’t worry about it it’s a bloody classic nice looking car it won’t date and if you like it stick with it

hard to say things like 'it'll be worth it in the end' after all the time, $ and trouble spent to date...but what a car! Over time the back story will form part of its legend. And it'll look 'fully sick' with the new paint I have no doubt.

Go the mighty magna. Had two back in the day an astron manual TR and a v6 TE auto. Great cars.

At the end of the day all you can say to yourself is shit happens you’ve done a great job on the Magna even if you try to make everything perfect there’s always a spanner ready to be thrown into the work good luck man love the content and I hope your family member is doing well

Damn man that's rough got to springfield panel and paint in goodna.

I hope the Magna will be looking good in shiny black paint soon

Hey Sean, are you ok? kind of dropped of the face of the Earth. much love from Sydney.

Sorry to see and hear all of this Sean. Did you have any doubts at all when you first visited his workshop ? It just screamed ‘Run’ to me. Hope it works out for you mate 👍🏻

Did you get your car finshed and painted afterall? I just purchased an old Awd verada, been liking these videos, they are good cars, ralliart look amazing. I will be respraying mine also!

Sad that it's not working out as well as you originally intended with getting the Rally art repainted. If you ever need to get the job done at another shop and I don't know what other places are around the Ipswich area but in my local town "Boonah" about 50 minutes away from central Ipswich we have a shop here "Wreck Or Mend Panels" which restore classic cars besides just repairing body work on regular every day cars. Even some of the classic cars you see drag racing at Willowbank have been done up there.

Glad to see you're still holding onto the beast And hear I was going to ask you how much the respray cost 😅

Magnas are awesome cars if well looked after and maintained and my old Sports is still driving well with 290K on the odometer, original engine and auto. 7:27 if you take the spoiler off the bootlid will explode when it opens as it is balanced for the heavier spoiler. That is why I keep the spoiler on my TJ Sports. Yes the car is in guide coats and it will need to be sanded back again before the wet on wet primer is sprayed on followed by the base coat sable black pearl and 2K clear coat. Fresh sable black looks good, it is actually a very deep pearl green.

Hey Sean, finally a update :D ... that really sucks mate hopefully you can find a better shop, too be honest that one first impressions, looked a bit off.

Omg I thought waiting six weeks for mine was bad, holy moly!

Damn! Ya know coming from an era when we would strip, block prep and paint cars in 1 day to seeing this. I don't know the guy personally but all I can say from a professional standpoint is, you shouldn't accept jobs you can't complete. 3 months is unacceptable from any point of view. Really upsetting to see

Had this happened to me once too. I had about 3 cars resprayed though this one guy over time. While I knew he could..... erm, be a little flakey and make some bad life choices. He had always gotten the job done in the past. Midway though a respray on one of my cars he decided to have a total melt down and go MIA. Was never at his shed, his family didnt know where he was. Go dragged out for months before i got it back.

Shame to see this happen after the work that was put in. Cant wait to see the Magna post paint tho, hope you have found someone to finish the paint for you.

Hey Sean were are you ??

That sucks. At least you have videos of the work being done, so if it ends up being painted somewhere else, you can show them the work done so they know what there dealing with.

Sorry to see this, mate. I really hope you can find someone who can finish the Magna off.

Sometimes it's worth paying extra for quality (and timely) work!

I never thought I would get emotional about a Magna.

Sorry to hear all this, Sean. As I often say, oh life.