Affordable VIP Classics

Affordable VIP Classics, which also trades as VIP Classics, is an appointment-only classic car business in Spring Valley, in San Diego County, California. It is run by a British-born dealer named Roy, and its website says the business buys, sells, consigns and ships European, American, vintage, exotic and specialty cars. The company describes itself as "a personal dealership" built around one person's eye for interesting cars rather than a large showroom lot.

History and who is behind it

The company's site says it has spent more than 50 years buying and selling classic, exotic and specialty automobiles. A Better Business Bureau profile lists a business start date of 1980 and names Roy Sayles as the principal contact, and the company's own site presents Roy as the person buyers deal with directly: calls, emails and appointments all go to him. The site describes his approach as informed, personal guidance on character, provenance and value.

How the business works

VIP Classics mixes cars it owns with cars it handles for others. The company's home page says its automobiles are "bought, sold, consigned, and shipped," and the contact form on the site offers separate options for buying a listed car, selling or consigning, locating a specific car, and shipping or export help. Consignment terms, such as fees and how long a car stays listed, are not published, so ask Roy before agreeing to anything. For background on what those arrangements usually involve, see our guide to selling a classic on consignment.

What it sells

The current showroom is small and leans British, but it ranges widely. At the time of writing the site listed six cars:

• A 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II convertible, which the listing describes as matching-numbers, with a hardtop and soft top.
• A 1966 Jaguar XKE coupe with a custom, dyno-tuned Ford 302 V8, described in the listing as a driver rather than a concours car.
• A 1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody convertible that the listing says is a former Antique Automobile Club of America Senior National first prize winner.
• A 1998 Aston Martin DB7 Volante and a 1970 Volkswagen Baja Bug.
• A 1931 Bianchi S8 with Graber coachwork, which the listing says is believed to be the only long-wheelbase example of its kind, restored by 2012 and shown at concours events including Pebble Beach. It is the top of the range at $1 million.

Asking prices on the site run from under $20,000 to $1 million. The sold archive gives a better sense of the usual mix: prewar Fords and a Chevrolet stake-bed truck, a 1953 MG TD, a 1965 Superformance Cobra, a 2001 Porsche 911 and a restored 1966 Volkswagen Beetle, among others. If you want to compare what is available elsewhere in the state, browse California classic cars for sale.

Buying from VIP Classics

The company's site says it can arrange delivery to a buyer's door anywhere in the U.S. or to a nearby international port, by open or enclosed transport, with export cars secured in shipping containers. It also says wiring funds is generally the easiest and most economical way to pay. Financing is not mentioned on the site. Individual listings carry long written descriptions with condition ratings, and the company says photographs and, for some cars, video are available, which helps for a long-distance purchase. Because many buyers will not see the car in person, ask for the VIN, title status and service records, and consider an independent inspection.

Two extra services are listed. The company says it will search for a specific car, locally or through a national network, at no charge to buyers, and it offers appraisals for insurance, trust and bank purposes.

Reputation

The Better Business Bureau profile shows the business as not BBB accredited, with an A+ rating and no complaints in the past three years. It lists no customer reviews. The company is also listed on the ClassicCars.com and Autotrader Classics dealer directories. These are directory entries, not endorsements, so judge each car on its paperwork and condition.

Visiting and contact

The company's website gives 2820 Via Orange Way, Suite L, Spring Valley, California 91978 as its mailing address and says viewings are by appointment only. Call (619) 708-3180 or email [email protected] to arrange a visit or ask about a particular car.