Cloud 9 Classics

Cloud 9 Classics is a classic and muscle car dealer in Alpharetta, Georgia, about 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta. According to its own About page, owner Roy Podolin launched Cloud 9 Classics, LLC in March 2010 after 28 years in retail and a few years of buying and selling cars as a hobby. The dealership says its goal is to help enthusiasts find a classic, muscle or specialty car they can drive and enjoy.

How the business works

Cloud 9 is primarily a traditional dealership that owns most of what it sells. Its FAQ says the cars are bought directly from private owners who restored and maintained them, and that the company researches each car's records before it is listed. It also takes selected cars on consignment. In that arrangement the FAQ says Cloud 9 does not work on a percentage. The seller names a bottom-dollar price and Cloud 9 adds its markup on top, plus a monthly consignment fee, listed as $85, to cover advertising. For a general explanation of the model, see consigning a classic.

What it sells

The current inventory leans heavily toward 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster replicas built by outside makers, listed on the site at roughly $48,500 to $74,500. These are replicas, not original Porsches, so buyers should confirm the builder, the title and registration details, and how the car is described. Past sales mentioned on the dealer's site include a Ford Bronco, 1960s Mustangs, a Dodge Charger and a Chevrolet Nova, which fits the muscle and specialty focus the company describes.

Buying from Cloud 9

Several policies are spelled out on the FAQ page, and they are worth reading before you call:

• Offers by phone. The company says it does not negotiate by email because of fraud concerns.
• Deposits. It usually asks serious buyers for $500 to $1,000 to take a car off the market, and says deposits are non-refundable.
• No warranty. Cars are sold without a warranty, which makes an independent inspection especially important for out-of-area buyers.
• Financing. It says it works with classic car lenders including J.J. Best and Woodside Credit.
• Shipping. It says it arranges shipping for buyers worldwide.
• Trade-ins. Trades are accepted occasionally and are typically valued at wholesale.

The company says it does not service or restore classic cars and does not issue official appraisals, although it will give an opinion on likely sale price.

Customer feedback

The dealer's website carries buyer testimonials from Georgia, South Carolina, California and as far away as Australia. These are chosen by the business, so treat them as the company's own selection rather than a neutral sample. Independently, an aggregate listing on Birdeye shows 4.6 stars from 25 reviews, drawn mostly from Google with a few from Facebook. We could not confirm a Better Business Bureau profile. As always, check the specific car, its paperwork and its condition rather than relying on a rating.

Visiting Cloud 9 Classics

The showroom is at 824 McFarland Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004. Some directories list the street number as 822, but the dealer's own site uses 824. Posted hours and phone numbers vary between the dealer's own pages and third-party listings, so call ahead on (770) 359-8400 to confirm that someone is there before driving out. For other options, browse classic cars for sale in Georgia.