Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Do you have any pictures of the guy? Might help, most people can remeber a face better than a name. Maybe a good pic with the both of you so that if he's reading any of this he might see it and feel like shit.
No pics of Billy Tomes. I am trying to find him by a few means, and at this point know that my roadster is probably parted out. It is just so different that I would think a frame like this will eventually show up. I may be pissing in the wind here, but I really loved that car. I am sure some can relate.
I had a bad experience back in my mini truck days with a shop. The place went under but I have seen the guy at two Goodguys shows this year. He had a booth at Indy and he was walking around at Columbus. Get an Attorny and do your best to get records of any moneythat you have paid to this guy. PM me and I will give you some more info on how I went about my situation.
I have gotten an attorney, and have filed the proper police reports with values and items gone. These cars were not being built by him, as much as they were being built by both of us. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent on this thing. I guess that is why it hurts a little more. When you actually build something yourself, as opposed to having somebody else do it. I will pm you, as I am curious now as to what came of your incident.
here is a simple google search. this is an article that appeared on 6/30/05 and it list his address and phone number. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7FE2B803-B3DC-49D5-8D99-D94F62AA9182 A lady answered the phone and said that he was not home but would be happy to work on my "project"... Here is a listing for William Tomes in San Antonio. http://www.mcesi.com/staff_listing.php I don't know if that is the same guy....
Thanks man. I have actually called that number, and have gone by the address. No sign of him, and nobody wants to tell me where I can find him either. I really appreciate the help though. It makes me feel better to know that others are willing to give an effort. "What goes around comes around". Thanks again.
I think it is the same guy. I hope this helps you out Rick....and I hope billy is dis-membered of one hand to teach him a lesson. Im sorry? Gimme a break, Im sure he still had most of the customers numbers to at least call them....if the news didnt jump out and take the story, he would have never apologized Im sure.
Did the cops take a report on the stolen car(s). if so call the lead investigator and tell him that you found where the guy lives. Screw ebing friendly. if that is the guys moms house have them serve a warrant for his arrest. no mother in the world is going to put up twith the cops at her house. if that is his wife tuff shit there too. have the cops show up with a search warrant. tell em you saw your stuff in the back yard. The other thing you could do is put a mechanics lien on the house. they cant do anything financially until that is statisfied. it is pretty simple to do and won't cost much. put the lien on for the amount of work you put in on the car. You could always send the local bad ass biker bunch over there and tell whomever is there that they have 24 hours to get your shit back your that place is going to become their new club house...
BTT With so many ppl chasing vintage parts daily how does anyone pull of a parting out sell job like that without catching the customer's or firends' of customers attention? Sorry to hear and good luck
I found THIS: Looks like he has family in the area, not that I would suggest that the cars MAY be 'hidden' away...
Maybe I/we are missing somethign here....there is a lot of info out there and now on this site about this guy. If I had this info and this guy did the same thing to me I would have either my shit back or that dudes scalp on my belt....Yeah I am 1/2 indian so I would do it right.... get some people together and talk to the law and get your shit back. I know it is Texas and all you cowboys are armed but fuck man...I think you should be able to reason with someone and get your stuff back (or some of the cash). wasn't this a friend of yours/ go talk with his pops and settle this shit.
No kidding we got everything but his finger print.... I would have his ass as a lampshade in my garage, and that Pompador hanging from my rear view mirror. Do we have any updates of action against this guY?
Yes, thanks for all the documented info on his parents and phone numbers. Like I had stated earlier, the guy has split. There are no cars at his parents, no cars at the old shop, and he is not in town. The police have visited his residence as well as his parents. I have spoken to his mother, and his father is sick and not around right now. Nobody can find the guy. I have not just sat back and cried about this, with no action. I have realized that he is not going to make himself easy to find, so I have asked you guys here to keep an eye out for the cars. I figured that there are many people here that will attend cars shows, swap meets, etc.. and could possibly notice one or two of the missing items. Don't get me wrong, I have given all my info to the local police, and have made my own trips to locations where he might be.. I also DO appreciate the assistance, and really just wanted people to keep an eye open. Yes, once found, he will be dealt with. But he is nowhere to be found right now. Thanks again,.. I was just wanting people to keep an eye open. Rik
Wow, now thats F' up. You need to hunt him down and beat his ass. You find him... you'll find your cars.
Have you gone up to the door of the house he was staying and checked a window to see if he has moved out. Man the idiot could easily be hidding his car around the corner. No cars in the drive DONT mean theres no one home..... NEVER give up.....
If that is the dude in the phot you might want to give us some info on his tats. They are a lot harder to hide then the car parts. a guy looking like that won't stay out of the "scene" for long. there are tons of places to hide that shit but ya gotta go to bars and get your drink on. you gotta go to swap meets and see what junk is out there. I would give us some info on his tats if they are unusual and easily seen. he could have hopped a ride to the west coast to hide out. if that is the case there are some big swap meets that he would go to just to cruise.
Rik, BTTT. This is the kind of issue that gets peoples attention here. And where we can stick together and help each other out. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. I'll keep my ears and eyes open here in AZ. All you guys who frequent Ebay, keep a look out for the parts, especially the frame. With that tall suicide mount on the front it should be easy to spot.
Not much goes on around here in terms of swaps and stuff, but I'll keep my eyes wide for ya'... TTYL. Later, peace... Troy.
man, this whole thing is fucked. i second the tattoo idea, i for one always look at people's ink, and if he is on the west coast, i'll run into him eventually at the bar where i hang out, it's like a filter for greaser types out here...we'll see what the bouncers have to say...
Rik, Im shocked that you had no idea and didn't fully expect such a thing was inevitable. Billy has always been really nice to me, but he has screwed over no less than 5 of my friends an aquaintances. This has all been pretty well publicized over the past 10 years. Every 6 months or so a new group of Billy worshippers comes along and determines that he's turned over a new leaf and the old timers just don't understand. I recently bought a car that had been in Billys shop for an oil change for 18 months. The owner eventually tracked down Billy's mom and got the car back. This seems to be the only way to get things back from him. I would hate to be Billys mom (told she's a very nice lady) and having to deal with all of this. Im not saying that Billy is a bad person, just that he gets into situations and sometimes doesn't make the best choice in resolving them. Unfortunately, cool folks get screwed in the process. With all of this said, I'll be on the look out for your rides.
bad deal , sorry to hear it , the annual muscle car ranch swap meet stated today in chickasha okla, will look it over for any sign of your shit there this weekend...........
I really dont think you have far to look. Everything is here in town. It just belongs to the next generation of greaser who will spend the next five years doing nothing with it, just talking about it. I know this cause he calls me up every 6 months or so trying to sell me shit! The Hemi has probably been sold a couple of times right under your nose cause he offered it to me and I know someone else who actually bought it but never recieved it as well. Parts is parts and those are easily sold, traded, and dangeled about to attract the Pepsi Generation of greasers who will look at him like he's god of the fucking Rockabilly world! Expensive lessons are also the easiest to remember, just be sure not to forget! I'll put my feelers out about the delivery and where it went! A pic would be nice! Last I remember it had a Pontiac grill! As far as finding Billy, good luck! Just be sure to stand in line behind some local undesirables to whom all of your stuff was sold to pay-off. If they cant find him? You, your father, the po-po or the newspaper wont be able to find him either! Oh, and next time someone says there's a snake in the grass, there probably is!
that is really fucked up wtf is up with that shitdick selling parts that arn't even his to i will do what i can from here and that an't much. ya need to cut this guy's nuts that way he won't forget
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