Brim's VW Restoration New Hampshire

[pass6916]

PM me if anyone wants to go after him. With the money he has been paid by us and the amount of work he has done I am sure he can be put in jail for Grand Larceny. And it can't happen any too soon for me. 20+ calls made with no returns from this piece of ....... A coward and a thief. I would love to let his family and friends know what he has become.

[Tee Dub]

[pass6916]

No, I didn't take it home. No back seat, no battery, no hubcaps, an absolute filthy mess. After ten years and a ton of money what I wrote isn't "Drama" It's called anger and frustration.

[herbyderby]

Having previously spoken with Brim and a number of his clients, I've come to conclude that he is not a "slick hustling conman" as some believe but only a dumb simpleton trying to make ends meet. He is definitely not very bright and has some kind of developmental disability.
That being said, I suggest you patiently try to get as many of the cars and parts returned to the rightful owners before filing suit or else many people will lose both cars and capital all together. "You can't pull hair from a toad" and as far as I can tell, the guy has no assets aside from a few tools.

P.S. I for one have been very impressed with the work of Brims that I've seen at the shows, so there is SOME great work leaving the shop. I was considering using him for a resto but after reading all these horror stories, have decided to pass.

[frankraineri]

I went to see the 'progress' on my ghia after @8 mos. and there was brim working on my car. It looked the same as it did 8 months ago. but he did put the dash pad. vw logo, wheels and tires that I learned were not mine, and I would'ent get.. Where are MY wheels that I gave??The car was just polished up.put some shit on it. and then he asks for $1000
the doors were not painted with the car 1 year ago. this is a desaster. and its going to end.. Im going to get the car in boxes. I did not want to do it this way. but I have no choice. I'm calling the police to assist in collecting the parts that were my beloved ghia. If I get ALL the parts.. Ill play nice.. If not My lawyer and I will destroy him.
I gave him many chances. I paid. I listened to his shit. I trusted him. and he fucked me..
now its time for ME to do the FUCKING!!!
BRIM
BRIM
BRIM
GET MY SHIT TOGETHER..
I'M COMING TO GET IT..
IT ALL WILL BE THERE.
The police will make sure.. I have pictures. I have EVERY reciept for every nut and bolt that was on that car when I gave it to you. Get it together.
I want it. DON'T SELL IT!!!
this is NOT going to be good for you..
you better pull a car outta your ass. Im coming with horns on. IM SOOO PISSED..

[VWig]

I am another in the crowd of people being given the runaround. The latest is that he claims he is about to be evicted. May not be surprising if he is treating his landlord like he treats his customers.

One problem is that at the moment I am nowhere near NH to check up on his work, or even if my car is still there. Can one of the other customers in the area do me a favor and check up on it for me?

[EverettB]

[ROCKOROD71]

bwahahahaha!
Skillz nailed it!


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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[VWig]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

good. next time go to an unlicensed doctor or a unlicensed dentist and see what that gets you.

if the guy can't afford a legit business with all the insurance etc I would pass, no matter "how close" he was to me.

it's one thing to have a legit biz, do a quick job on the side for cash to buy beer and pizza for the crew, but to play shuck and jive with everyone...give me a break
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[2002EVC]

Like the Cyclone Pinball machine from the 80's:

"You pays your money, you takes your chances....." I wore that machine out at the local pizza joint between games of Gauntlet.

Go get your car, parts, etc before they end up like old WWF wrestlers in "parts unknown".

Good luck to all.

[VWig]

Again, skills, don't jump to conclusions. I said the close place had been recommended, so I started asking around where a good place to go was. When I said that he was described as THE guy to go with, I don't mean THE CLOSEST or THE CHEAPEST. I mean he was described as one of THE BEST. That he might have been unlicensed or uninsured was in no way obvious. I have even found mails I exchanged with people at the Bay State VW Owners Club where I was asking for recommendations and Brim was the name that kept coming up. I think his website was, in those days, linked to on their website.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. For your dentist story, say you needed dental work and so asked around. People tell you that there was a good guy in town, but he has retired. However they say there is this really good dentist five towns away. So you go there and see a few customers coming out with good looking teeth. Do you ask the guy if you can see his dental degree /certification / insurance documents? Probably not....

Anyway, as I said, lets see if the affected people can sort this mess out...

[skills@eurocarsplus]

sorry for the crappy pic

but, 99% state laws make it mandatory to post this stuff. that funny blue piece of paper cost me a lot of $$$ per year.

usually, the dr's office is littered with awards/degrees. no need to ask

good luck to all involved parties. I would pull my project now before it gets locked up in legal purgatory...
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[BugiWagen]

Hi All,

From reading the recent posts it is clear that this situation has continued to deteriorate and Brimm continues to deceive and steal.

I have thought long and hard about what to do-I was inclined to walk away-who needs this nonsense in their life? But then it occurred to me: Brimm's behavior cannot be allowed to continue. I cannot control how others behave, but I can maintain my own integrity and not turn a blind eye to his scam. It is because of this integrity that I am seeking to formally prosecute Brimm.

Let me be clear: I am willing to put my money where my mouth is. You need thick skin and a wallet to embark on a legal endeavor such as this, and I have both. That being said, for all of those that have been conned by Brimm's criminal ways, please contact me. I need everybody to come forward so that together we can present this to a court of law. My chances of successfully prosecuting Brimm increase dramatically with each individual who comes forward. Together we will be able to present to a Judge an accurate picture of his deliberate intent to steal and commit fraud. I have set up and email for this purpose. Please contact me at [email protected] so we can put Brimm where he belongs- prison.

[mainexile]

All, as another of Brim's victims, I strongly advise that you DO NOT initiate any business with this despicable person. I called him about 1.5 - 2 months ago to ask if he rebuilds VW transmissions. He said that he doesn't, but he has a subcontractor who could do the job for $850.00. I explained that I could get one from Rancho, MOFOCO, or another reputable shop, with a warranty, for that price or less. The matter was dropped.

Then, last Tuesday (the eighth) I received a call from Brim telling me that he was in Connecticut buying parts for some of his projects, and the seller had a "beautiful" Rancho for $650.00. Unfortunately, he said that he didn't have the cash to front the cost, and would I be willing to wire the money to him in CT whereupon he would bring the tranny back to his shop in Somersworth, NH (30 miles from where I live). After some internal debate, I agreed to wire the money to him and meet him the next day to pick up the tranny.

He called early the next morning to say that he ended up having to stay overnight in CT, and he asked if we could meet on Thursday at lunch. I agreed. However, Thursday morning he called to say that he had to go to Boston to take care of some "personal business", and could we meet on Friday instead. I explained that I couldn't meet on Friday and asked if we could conclude our business on Monday, to which he agreed. As you can imagine, he called early Monday morning to say that he was, again, going to Boston, and he asked to meet on Tuesday. Tuesday morning, he called to say that he would not be at his "shop" that day. So yesterday (Wednesday), I went to his shop and found it locked up. One of his neighbors told me that Brim hadn't been there "in a while" and that the power to his shop had been turned off.

I then went from his shop to the Somersworth police station to file a complaint. The office who took my statement said that his department was "very familiar" with Brim Bell and his con games. The officer allowed that he personally had taken a statement from another victim who had been conned by Brim for "many thousands of dollars".

I should add that when I arrived at Brim's shop, there were two shells on stands in the yard - one was a partially painted (yellow) Karman Ghia and the other was a (?) 60's gray/dark silver/blue beetle that was completely gutted with junk parts jammed inside. If either of these vehicles belong to you, you have my sympathy. As for what may be inside the shop, I couldn't tell because all of the windows were blacked out from the interior.

Finally, I received a call this morning from the thief asking for another week to get me my transmission. I told Mr. Brim Bell what I thought of him, and I advised him to NEVER return to New Hampshire. In fact, I suggested that he do the world a favor by taking himself out. He pleaded, "Let me explain what happened". To which I replied that I didn't want to hear any more of his lies. Brim is obviously a liar, thief, con man and a cretin who may actually believe his fabricated stories. I can't imagine how he sleeps at night. I concluded that I wasn't going to get mad (which I was), but I would certainly get even.

So if any of my fellow victims need someone to go to his shop and take pictures, I would be happy to assist. PM me with your contact info, and I'll call you. In retrospect, I wish I had searched this forum before I got involved with him, but I guess this is my $650.00 lesson - far less expense than most of you. Good luck, my fellow victims. Steve
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First, make sure it will stop; then make sure it will go; finally, make it pretty.

1974 Super Beetle Convertible, 1600 DP.
2016 Honda Accord Coupe (wife's)
2006 GMC Canyon Crew Cab (mine)
1978 Grady White Pacer 174 Mercruiser 470

[echobug]

Brim recently delivered my fully restored and sparkling white 1979 Bug convertible. I am very pleased with the outcome, as was my 10 year-old daughter who will inherit this car when she can drive.

There were aspects to the transaction that were unsettling - large advances, delays that were difficult to understand, and lapses in attention to the project. Although the cost exceeded the original agreement, the extra work that Brim put into this car was well worth the additional cost. I contracted with him for a paint job and a new top, and received a restored car with a totally new interior.

I learned that it is important to approach Brim as an artist - which he is. His ability to weld and hand-craft is amazing. However, he will work at his own pace, and it is important that new customers realize that before going in. He has a tendency to be too optimistic with his delivery dates.

Therefore, if you want an extraordinary product and are willing wait, even beyond updated but late delivery dates, absorb some additional cost along the way and tolerate some lapses in progress on the car, it is well worth it.
Brim's style may drive you crazy, but it is all about the deliverable in the end.In my case, he delivered a perfect product about 14 months after the beginning, and it was all that he said that it would be. I am considering another project for Brim at this time.

[ROCKOROD71]

If there is any justice in this country he will be in jail by the time you line up another project with him, provided you are NOT him. Count your blessings that you got your car back and enjoy it.
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[OB Bus]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

joined today....I smell a rat.
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