Classical Gas Motors

Classical Gas Motors is a family-run classic car business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, trading formally as Classical Gas Enterprises, Inc. It is run by Cris and Sherry Lofgren, who sign the company's website, and it buys, sells and consigns classic cars, muscle cars, street rods and special interest vehicles. A local magazine profile reports that the business has kept the Lofgrens and their son Taylor busy since 2003. Outside the car business, the company is best known locally for Nostalgia Nights, the free Friday evening cruise-in it has hosted in Arlington for more than two decades.

Who runs Classical Gas

The company grew out of Cris Lofgren's interest in collector cars, and it has stayed a small, owner-operated business rather than a large showroom dealership. Its own site describes the goal plainly: to give customers the chance to "purchase and sell quality Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Street Rods and other special interest cars." Contact runs through the main line, (682) 429-1010, and through email, since the site notes that its web form is temporarily down.

The website places the business in Arlington, in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Its listings on ClassicCars.com give a Mansfield, Texas location (zip 76063) and state that visits are by appointment only. No public showroom address or opening hours are published, so buyers should call before planning a trip.

How the business works

Classical Gas sells a mix of cars it owns and cars it sells for other people. The company says it runs "a very flexible consignment program," and its FAQ explains that the fee is "normally an agreed upon percentage based on the clients sell price and particular circumstances." It describes this as cheaper than what is typical in the industry and at auction, though no standard rate is published. Owners weighing the options can read our guide to consigning a classic before they call.

The company also buys cars outright. Its FAQ says it is "always in the market for a nice classic or muscle car," and it accepts trade-ins on classic and collectible vehicles that are in good condition and priced fairly. It offers written appraisals as well: $100 if the car is brought to them, with on-site appraisals quoted case by case.

What Classical Gas sells

The inventory is large for a small operation. ClassicCars.com showed 139 listings at the time of writing, with asking prices from under $5,000 to about $105,000. The mix is mostly American and runs from the 1930s to the 1970s: 1932 Ford and 1935 Chevrolet sedans, a 1955 Chevrolet Nomad custom and 1957 Bel Air, a 1963 Corvette, a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner and 1970 El Camino. Pickups and work trucks feature strongly, including a 1948 Chevrolet 3100, a 1954 GMC, a 1965 Ford F250 4x4 and a 1970 Dodge tow truck.

There are less expected cars too. Recent stock has included a 1972 Jensen Interceptor III, a 1953 Kaiser Henry J, a 1941 Cadillac Series 62, a 1949 Packard custom pickup and a 1975 Fiat Abarth 695SS. If a buyer is after something that is not in stock, the company offers to help locate one.

Buying from Classical Gas

The terms are spelled out on the website, which is useful for remote buyers:

• Deposit: 10% holds a car. Half of the deposit is a non-refundable retention fee and half is refundable.
• Payment: cashier's check, cash, bank wire or money order. Credit cards are not accepted. The title is mailed within 24 hours after payment clears.
• Financing and shipping: arranged through partner lenders and transport companies listed on the site, and the company helps with shipping quotes.
• Inspections: buyers can inspect a car themselves or hire someone to do it, and the company can help find an inspector.

All cars are sold "As Is" with no warranty unless something else is agreed in writing, and all sales are final. Cris Lofgren's own note on the homepage strongly recommends a physical inspection, or a professional pre-purchase inspection when that is not possible. That advice is worth following: confirm the VIN and title status, ask for extra photos of anything unclear, and get every promise in writing before money changes hands.

Nostalgia Nights and the local car scene

Classical Gas hosts and sponsors Nostalgia Nights, a free come-and-go cruise-in held every Friday from 6 pm to 10 pm in the Albertsons parking lot at Highway 287 and Sublett Road in Arlington, co-sponsored by the store. It is cancelled when it rains or when temperatures fall below 50 degrees. Local coverage describes it as running for more than 20 years. For buyers, it is an informal way to meet the people behind the business before dealing with them.

Reputation

Classical Gas has operated under the same name and phone number for many years and lists cars on several national marketplaces, including ClassicCars.com, Autotrader Classics and Carsforsale.com. Its website carries a references page of customer letters, one dated 2011, from buyers in Fort Worth, New Mexico and Canada, several of whom describe buying a car without seeing it in person. These are testimonials the company chose to publish rather than independent reviews. We did not find a Better Business Bureau profile. As with any dealer, judge the specific car on paperwork and inspection.

Contacting Classical Gas

Call (682) 429-1010 or email the sales address listed on the company's website. Because there is no published showroom address and visits are by appointment, arrange a time before driving out to see a car. Shoppers comparing options can also browse more classic cars for sale in Texas.