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Unread 12-05-2010, 05:29 PM   #7
Rich Z
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Crawfordville, FL
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Name : Rich Zuchowski
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Adam, you apparently did not notice that I copied your original post to an already existing thread about Harwood, where it was pertinent.

http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forum...=50585&page=24

Perhaps you don't realize that there were a number of cars in that shop when it folded that were also missing a substantial number of parts, and none of that stuff was labelled where is sat in the shop, nor in the storage areas in other rooms. So, quite frankly, the first people to get there who knew they were missing items had to assume that whatever parts they found that fit the description of what they knew they were missing were for their car unless they saw proof otherwise. They really had no other choice but to do it that way, in my opinion. Fortunately my engine was all together at the time I had it towed out, so the parts I needed to find were rather minimal, in comparison to the disarray others suffered.

Mike Elmore (vetteguy61) has a blue and white Corvette that was towed out of that shop sans heads and nearly everything else other than the short block, engine wise. I believe he found a set of heads that he believed belonged to his car, which at this point, I doubt anyone will ever really know if they actually belonged to anyone other than the first person to lay claim to them. This is certainly not a case of anyone "stealing" parts that may have belonged to someone else, as they really had no choice but to try to find whatever it is they needed in order to get their cars back. Harwood was not at all helpful at this stage of the game, and certainly John Arnold didn't know what belonged to whom. Bear in mind that at this point, the locks had been changed on the building by John Arnold, and Chris Harwood had been evicted from his shop.

I believe Harwood told me that he also gave a set of heads to Dan Halpin (Fatbum) as compensation for all the troubles (which are also documented within this forum), so there is no telling whose heads they may have been. It is my opinion that Harwood engaged in quite a bit of "robbing Peter to pay Paul", to try to keep his business afloat as all the pigeons he set loose began to come home to roost on him. Unfortunately, from what I have seen, he ran out of "Peters" before he satisfied all the "Pauls". Which was inevitable trying to run a business in that manner. Of course, this is all my opinion, based on my observations over the months I was involved with Harwood with my own car at his shop, but I believe it is likely pretty accurate.

Anyway, please understand that you are coming into this rather late in the game and you are quite likely just left holding the bag because of how Chris Harwood handled his business and his customers. I strongly suggest that you view the thread mentioned above and contact the investigators at the Division of Consumer Services, and also the Calhoun County Sheriff's office. At this point, this really needs to be within their hands anyway, unless you are also considering a civil suit against Mr. Harwood. Which, if that is the case, their investigative reports will be beneficial to your case anyway.
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