Reputable classic car dealers?
#2875452
01/17/21 12:24 PM
01/17/21 12:24 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,330 Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger
OP
Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
|
OP
Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,330
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
|
I have a friend looking to buy an old car. He prefers to work with a dealership due to volume/selection, since he's not entirely sure what he wants. Any recommendations? I'd heard good things about Goldenrod Garage in Maine, but I know that the owner passed away a few months ago. Volo seems to have a lot of really nice cars, but their prices are absurd. Country Classic cars in IL has a huge selection and decent prices, but I've read things here that suggest their cars are not very good quality. Motorcar Portfolio in NE Ohio is a dealer he and I are both familiar with. Nice condition cars, some real oddball stuff, but prices are just too high for what they have.
Does anyone have any recommendations or firsthand experience?
Earning every penny of that moderator paycheck.
DBAP
"They don't think it be like it is, but it do." - Oscar Gamble
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: not_a_charger]
#2875462
01/17/21 12:39 PM
01/17/21 12:39 PM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701 Northern California
lilcuda
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701
Northern California
|
You’re going to pay more for a car from a dealer. Your friend needs to come to terms with that. He’ll also have sift through the BS. I was interested in a car at Southern Motors in Michigan. Talked to them a couple of times, then checked their reviews online. Lots of bad reviews plus the car had issues (thanks to Sunroofcuda for checking it out for me). I passed on the car even though I really liked it.
I ended up finding a very original car on Facebook of all places. Bought it from a private party. The guy was super cool about the process and stored the car for me for nearly two months while I arranged shipping (long story).
Patience is a virtue. It took me 2 1/2 years to find my Belvedere.
'67 is an abbreviation of 1967 67' is an abbreviation of 67 feet They are not interchangeable.
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: TJP]
#2875538
01/17/21 02:08 PM
01/17/21 02:08 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,324 Southern Maryland
klunick
master
|
master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,324
Southern Maryland
|
One of the issues with dealers is often they are only pimping the car for the owner. We had a dealer down my way that was slamming 25% on top of the price and the prices were a bit nuts to start with. 77 Firebirds going for 45K and naturally the dealer couldn't tell you hoot about the car.
67 Barracuda FB
69 Superbee
"Southern Maryland: If you want a good looking woman, you had better bring her with you"
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: klunick]
#2875540
01/17/21 02:14 PM
01/17/21 02:14 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,062 NW/Indiana - Chi town
ricomondo
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,062
NW/Indiana - Chi town
|
I had a good experience with GR Auto Gallery based in Michigan. They have a few satellite locations around Michigan, and I dealt with the guys at the Grand Rapids location. Lots of pictures of the cars online, good honest descriptions. I was close enough to where I could still go and look at the car in person. No surprises and the car was represented honestly (I did purchase a vehicle there)
Last edited by ricomondo; 01/17/21 02:15 PM.
GY3 71 Demon 340
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: ricomondo]
#2875551
01/17/21 02:48 PM
01/17/21 02:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,463 A collage of whims
topside
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,463
A collage of whims
|
Unless the guy knows what he's looking at, or someone with him does, he's playing Russian roulette with 5 chambers filled. There are a lot of dealers in every Hemmings Motor News, if he just wants to browse & get some idea of what's out there. As already said, most every dealer is merely marketing cars, marking them up to cover expenses, and know nothing about them. I strongly recommend he figures out what he wants, does some research on his choice(s), and spends time carefully shopping. I've seen countless sh*#boxes at dealerships, where better cars were available from private parties at same or less expense. If he wants to hate his experience with the car, and the hobby, go ahead and charge blindly into it. The dozens of old cars I've bought through the years have all been private owners, for those reasons. I can think of only one that made it past my radar, and that dude was a skilled liar who seems to have disappeared from 2 Mopar forums he frequented.
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: not_a_charger]
#2875643
01/17/21 05:05 PM
01/17/21 05:05 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,451 Highland, MI.
Sunroofcuda
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,451
Highland, MI.
|
I will just say this. For many years & since the first one in Chelsea in 1981, I have been to the biggest Mopar event in the world - the Mopar Nationals. There are upwards of 2700 cars there, & I have looked at most of them. Narrowing it down to a car group - say 1970-74 Cudas, out of thousands I've looked at over the years, maybe less than 5% of them are what I would consider actual rust-free & never rusty examples. I'm not talking a small rust hole in the windshield & back glass areas, but quarters, doors, fenders, etc. rust repaired. They rusted through in the 4 corners typically within 5 years in Northern climates - it was no fault of the owners - just the design of the steel & the drainage. They rusted in Florida, TX, GA, AL, etc. Best survivors came out of super dry & hot areas like desert low altitude areas in AZ, CA, NM, NV, etc. Then there are cars that have been pampered their entire life - always garaged since day 1, & never driven in rain or snow. But truly rust-free examples I have found to be EXTREMELY rare!
Last edited by Sunroofcuda; 01/17/21 05:06 PM.
No Man With A Good Car Needs To Be Justified
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: birdtracker]
#2875674
01/17/21 06:31 PM
01/17/21 06:31 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,690 md
mopars4ever
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,690
md
|
I visited here some years ago and checked out some of the cars.. I never heard any bad stuff going around about them. The prices seemed fair. Might be worth checking out. https://www.brownsperformancemotorcars.com/There is a guy that is a member here on moparts that lived in that area IIRC.
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: mopars4ever]
#2875704
01/17/21 07:37 PM
01/17/21 07:37 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 6,244 ohio
ruderunner
master
|
master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 6,244
ohio
|
John Kuflightners? Warren Ohio area. Close enough to get a look at the vehicle before purchase.
Angry white pureblood male
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: not_a_charger]
#2875732
01/17/21 08:32 PM
01/17/21 08:32 PM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701 Northern California
lilcuda
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701
Northern California
|
What kind of car is your friend looking for?
'67 is an abbreviation of 1967 67' is an abbreviation of 67 feet They are not interchangeable.
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: not_a_charger]
#2875737
01/17/21 08:46 PM
01/17/21 08:46 PM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701 Northern California
lilcuda
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 701
Northern California
|
He's not entirely sure what he wants. Got it. Just have him start searching online to see what strikes his fancy. Not necessarily to buy, but just narrow it down to a few preferences. Then he can start a more targeted search.
'67 is an abbreviation of 1967 67' is an abbreviation of 67 feet They are not interchangeable.
|
|
|
Re: Reputable classic car dealers?
[Re: hergfest]
#2875964
01/18/21 09:56 AM
01/18/21 09:56 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,831 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
|
Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,831
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
|
You look up OXYMORON on the dictionary and it talks about Classic Car dealers. I live 5 miles from Volo so if there is anything he is interested in there I can take a look. I have transported cars to Country Classics and the majority are lower quality, but that reflects the prices also. They are all bought from swap meets and car shows, brought down there, then cleaned up and made running well. He also consigns like most dealers too.
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
|
|
|
|
|