Down South Industries LLC

Down South Industries LLC is a vintage truck and 4x4 dealer that recently moved its operation from Middle Tennessee to Jacksonville, Florida. Its stock leans hard toward classic American pickups and SUVs, especially Chevrolet K5 Blazers, Suburbans and square-body Chevrolet and GMC trucks. Alongside sales, the company runs a vehicle transport brokerage and offers service and custom work on vintage vehicles by appointment. It says it has more than 20 years of experience buying and selling vintage cars.

From Tennessee to Jacksonville

For most of its history the business was based in Chapmansboro, Tennessee, northwest of Nashville. The Better Business Bureau lists a business start date of December 2016 for that location, and the company is organized as a Tennessee limited liability company, whose state filings now give its head office as 2402 N Main St in Jacksonville. The company's homepage announces that it has "recently relocated" to North Florida and that Jacksonville is its new home. Its sales and transport phone numbers still carry Tennessee's 615 area code, which is worth knowing if you find older listings or reviews under the Chapmansboro address.

What Down South Industries sells

The company describes its showroom as a tribute to the golden era of American vehicles, "from lifted square bodies to patina-rich survivors." It sells both original and restored vehicles. In its seller profile on Fourbie Exchange it describes the stock as clean, Southern-sourced classic trucks, vintage SUVs and 4x4s, many from dry-climate ownership with little corrosion, and favors straightforward, well-kept trucks over heavily modified builds.

At the time of our check the showroom listed a 1972 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer with a 350 V8, automatic and four-wheel drive at $89,500, along with a 2014 Porsche Cayenne S at $35,500. Recently sold trucks on the same page included a 1973 K-5 Blazer, a 1985 Chevrolet K-10 and a 1972 Chevrolet Suburban with a 6.0 V8. Its social media posts have featured a 1985 Silverado with a built 6.0 LS, a 1986 GMC Sierra Classic and a two-door 1996 GMC Yukon. The company notes that some trucks sell before they reach the website, and it offers to help buyers find a specific vehicle.

Buying from Down South Industries

The company publishes unusually clear terms in a FAQ on its showroom page:

• Pricing and fees: prices are open to reasonable offers. A $199 documentation fee applies to every vehicle, plus applicable sales tax, tag, registration and title fees.
• Warranty: all vehicles are sold as-is with no warranty. The company says it inspects and road tests its vehicles before sale.
• Inspections: third-party inspections are welcome at its shop by appointment, and buyers can also inspect a vehicle in person by appointment.
• Deposits: a deposit holds a vehicle for 72 hours. Deposits are non-refundable, though the company says it can move a deposit to another vehicle or hold it for a future purchase.
• Financing: there is no in-house financing. The company works with the specialist lenders J.J. Best Banc and Co. and Woodside Credit, and with a buyer's own bank or credit union.
• Payment: cashier's check, wire transfer, business or personal check, or cash in person. Remote buyers sign electronically and receive paper documents by tracked parcel.
• Trade-ins and buying: the company takes trade-ins and buys vehicles outright. Owners are asked to send photos by email or text.

The non-refundable deposit and as-is terms put the burden on the buyer, so it makes sense to arrange the inspection before paying a deposit rather than after. Our guide to buying a classic car from a dealer covers the questions to ask. The company also says it will consider consignments case by case and at its discretion.

Shipping and transport

Transport is a separate part of the business with its own phone line and email. The company ships to all 48 contiguous states, and shipping is not included in vehicle prices. It explains that it works as an auto transport broker rather than the carrier: it posts loads, vets carriers for insurance and track record, negotiates the rate and manages pickup and delivery. Open and enclosed trailers are available, as is transport for non-running and oversized vehicles. Alaska, Hawaii and international moves are handled case by case. The company asks for one to two weeks' notice and says pickup is usually scheduled within two to seven days.

Reputation

The BBB profile for the Tennessee location gives Down South Industries an A+ rating with no complaints closed in the last three years. The business is not BBB accredited and had no customer reviews on the BBB site. On Google, as aggregated by Birdeye for the Chapmansboro listing, it had a 4.9 star average from 38 reviews when we checked, with reviewers mentioning both truck purchases and shipping. Those reviews predate the move, and the Jacksonville location has a shorter public record so far.

Visiting and contact

Down South Industries is at 2402 N Main St, Jacksonville, FL 32206. Its website lists hours of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with Saturday and Sunday by appointment only. Sales can be reached at (615) 504-9834 or [email protected], and the transport desk at (615) 946-9103. For more trucks around the state, see our listings of classic trucks for sale in Florida.