Dusty Cars

Dusty Cars is a classic car buyer, consignment seller and storage provider based at 3440 Stanley Boulevard in Pleasanton, California, in the East Bay. The company says it has been in the classic car business for more than 20 years, and its website describes it as a top-rated buyer of classic cars. Its focus is European marques, especially Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, with a secondary line in American cars from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Who runs Dusty Cars

Dusty Cars operates as Dusty Cars LLC. A Better Business Bureau business profile names Douglas Berry as owner and manager, and customer reviews on public sites mention him by name. The company's own About page says its buyers have traveled the U.S. and abroad to locate cars, and that its team brings purchased vehicles back to the Pleasanton base for restoration work. The site does not publish a founding year, so how long the business has operated under this name is best confirmed with the company directly.

How the business works

Dusty Cars does three things, and it helps to know which one applies to you. It buys classic cars outright, offering what it calls cash offers after a free, no-obligation valuation. It sells cars from its own stock, listed on the Inventory and Sold pages of its site. And it takes cars on consignment, meaning the owner keeps title while Dusty Cars markets and sells the vehicle from its Pleasanton lot. The company also offers valuation and appraisal services for owners who simply want to know what a car is worth.

What it buys and sells

The site lists Porsche (911s are mentioned most often), Mercedes-Benz roadsters, Jaguar E-Types, Alfa Romeo, BMW and Austin-Healey among the cars it wants, along with Ferrari, Corvette, Mustang and other Ford and Chevrolet models. Its About page says it buys cars in any condition and that it prefers restoring cars to flipping them, a claim the company makes about itself. It also says it will travel anywhere in the country to see a car.

Because the stock changes, check the current inventory rather than relying on any description here. Shoppers who want to compare what else is available in the state can browse California classic cars for sale.

Consigning a car

The consignment page publishes its pricing, which is unusual and useful. According to the company, there is a $995 fee to clean, photograph, film and list a car, plus $299 a month for storage while the car is being sold. Commission is on a sliding scale: 15 percent on cars up to $50,000, 10 percent from $50,000 to $150,000, 8 percent from $150,000 to $250,000, 6 percent from $250,000 to $1,000,000, and 5 percent above $1,000,000. Race cars, replicars and prewar cars are listed at 10 percent.

The company says sellers keep the original title and must supply a copy plus proof of insurance where applicable. It carries liability coverage but not comprehensive insurance, so owners are told to keep their own policy until the car is sold and paid for. Owners weighing these terms may want to read about classic car consignment fees before signing anything, and to confirm current rates by phone.

Storage

Dusty Cars also rents space to owners who are not selling. Its storage page lists indoor secured storage starting at $299 per month and outdoor, surveilled storage starting at $199 per month, with flexible rates for longer stays and multiple cars. The company describes the facility as monitored, gated and climate controlled, and says a car can be ready for pickup with one day's notice during business hours. It recommends that customers carry private insurance and says it cannot assume liability for damage from events such as fire or earthquakes.

Reputation

Public ratings are generally favorable. At the time of research, search listings showed a 4.6 average from 20 reviews on Yelp and a 4.9 average from 75 reviews on Birdeye. Those figures change and come from different review pools, so read the recent comments yourself. Dusty Cars is not BBB accredited, and the BBB summary seen during research carried no rating because it lacked enough information to issue one. As with any classic car purchase, get the title status and VIN in writing, ask for a written purchase or consignment agreement, and consider an independent inspection on any car you buy.

Visiting and contact

The company lists its address as 3440 Stanley Boulevard, Pleasanton, CA 94566, with hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Its main phone number is 415-387-8922, and the site also gives a toll-free line. Email is [email protected]. Because the business does much of its buying by phone and online and travels to see cars, call ahead before driving to the lot.