Desert Private Collection

Desert Private Collection is a classic and specialty car dealer in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs and Palm Desert. The company calls itself family-owned and owner-led, and names owner Dimitri as a point of contact. It sells classic American cars, European sports cars, vintage trucks and modern collectibles, takes cars on consignment and runs a restoration program. If you are looking for the business under its older Palm Desert address, note that it has moved: the dealer's own site now lists Indio.

Who they are

The company says its work comes from more than 25 years in the automobile business and that more than 5,800 vehicles have passed through its sales, including hundreds of Corvettes. Those figures are the dealer's own claims and we could not verify them. A Better Business Bureau record lists the business as starting in July 2018, and customer reviews on the dealer's site from 2017 to 2019 refer to it as Palm Desert Auto, so it appears to have traded under an earlier name. We treat the BBB date as the formal start of the current business and the 25 years as the owner's experience in the trade.

How the business works

Desert Private Collection sells cars from its own inventory and also buys cars outright and takes them on consignment. Its published materials describe discussing a direct sale, a consignment plan, ownership documents, presentation and transportation, but they do not publish consignment fees or terms. If you are thinking about selling a classic on consignment, get the commission, contract length, storage, insurance and marketing arrangements in writing first.

What it sells

The inventory on its home page in early October 2026 listed about 30 cars. Chevrolet was the largest group, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, then Ford, with single examples from Bentley, Cadillac, Lotus, Mercury, Plymouth, Pontiac and Volkswagen. Notable cars included a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible, a 1989 Porsche 911 25th Anniversary model, a 1963 Lotus Elite, a 1968 Corvette with the 427 engine, a 1969 Camaro Pace Car SS and a 1975 Ford F250 4x4. ClassicCars.com showed about 34 listings with prices from under $14,000 to about $128,500. For other options near the desert, see more classic cars in California.

Buying, financing and shipping

The dealer says many customers buy remotely and publishes guides on buying a first classic and on buying a car sight unseen. It encourages independent pre-purchase inspections, and its site also describes its own inspection service performed at remote locations by appointment, with pricing available on request. For payment, the dealer says it is not a lender and does not provide in-house financing, but welcomes third-party financing and lists lenders such as Woodside Credit, J.J. Best Banc & Co. and LightStream plus a leasing provider. It coordinates enclosed and open transport within the United States and gives guidance for international shipments, but the carrier sets rates and terms. As with any long-distance purchase, confirm the title, request detailed photos and video, and get the purchase terms in writing.

Restoration and other services

The company describes a restoration program covering bodywork, PPG waterborne paint, upholstery and mechanical work, planned around the individual car. It also lists a dry ice cleaning service for underbody and component cleaning, which it describes as new. Scope, timelines and pricing are discussed per project, so ask for a written estimate and for the work to be itemized.

Reputation

The BBB lists Desert Private Collection Motorsports as not accredited and not rated, with no complaints closed in the last three years and no customer reviews on the BBB page. The BBB entry still shows the former Palm Desert address. The dealer's own reviews page carries customer testimonials from 2017 to 2024, including several about cars bought sight unseen and shipped, but these are published by the dealer. Third-party scores vary: a Yelp listing showed roughly 3.6 stars from 25 reviews when we looked, while some dealer directories show higher averages. Read recent reviews on several platforms and judge the specific car.

Visiting Desert Private Collection

The dealership is at 43160 Madison St, Indio, CA 92201. Its site lists Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday by appointment and Sunday closed, and recommends calling before you travel to confirm that a car is available. The phone number is (760) 600-5284, and the site uses an inquiry form rather than a public email address.