GTS Classic Motors

GTS Classic Motors is a small, family-run dealer of vintage Fords based in Waterford, Pennsylvania, a short drive south of Erie. The business concentrates on 1965 to 1970 Shelby Mustangs, along with Mustang fastbacks, convertibles and big-block Ford muscle cars from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Its owner, Ben Shearman, says he has been in the car business for more than 20 years, including owning several new car franchise dealerships, before opening GTS to focus on classic muscle cars.

Who runs GTS Classic Motors

The company's about page is written in Shearman's own words. He says he has been a car enthusiast all his life and personally owns his father's original 1965 Shelby GT350, which he hopes to pass on to his son. That family connection is the reason he gives for starting the dealership. GTS describes itself as family owned and operated. No founding year is published on the company's website, so this profile does not give one.

How the business works

GTS operates as a dealer selling cars it owns, rather than a consignment house. The company says it buys cars it is personally passionate about and does not treat them as quick flips, and that many cars in the inventory came from its owner's own collection. It also says it buys vehicles from the public, listing 1965 to 1970 Shelby Mustangs, 1965 to 1973 Mustang fastbacks, convertibles and low-production big-block cars "in all conditions", plus some 1980s and early 1990s Mustangs and specialty Fords. Owners with a car to sell are invited to call or email. GTS also says it has gathered rare vintage parts and collectibles over the years, which it offers for sale.

What GTS sells

The inventory pages split into available and sold cars. At the time this profile was researched, the available list included a 1970 Boss 302, a 1969 Shelby GT350 convertible, a 1968½ Mustang GT fastback with a 428 Cobra Jet and a 1969 Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet Shaker. The sold archive gives a clearer picture of the range: Shelby GT350 and GT500KR models from 1967 to 1969, several 1969 and 1970 Mach 1 Mustangs, a 1967 Mustang GTA with the S-code 390 and a 1965 Mustang fastback. The company calls its stock "investment grade" and describes cars as documented, restored or original. Those are the dealer's own descriptions, so buyers should confirm documentation and originality for themselves, ideally with Shelby registry paperwork and an independent specialist.

For a wider view of the market, see our page of classic Mustangs for sale.

Buying from GTS

Visits are by appointment only, arranged by phone or email. The company's site includes a finance page describing an online credit application with lenders that specialize in collector cars, with loan amounts from $10,000 to $300,000. GTS also invites buyers to describe the car they want, and says it can alert them before a matching vehicle goes online. The site does not publish details about shipping, deposits or pre-purchase inspection policies, so ask about each of these before agreeing to a purchase. Testimonials on the company's own website describe buyers flying in to look at a car, receiving documentation, and in one case having a car delivered to the buyer's home. As with any dealer, these are selected by the business itself. For general advice before you commit, our guide to buying from a classic car dealer covers the questions worth asking.

Reputation and public record

GTS Classic Motors has a Better Business Bureau profile that lists the business as not accredited and not rated, with no customer reviews and no complaints closed in the past three years. That is a neutral record rather than a verdict, since it mainly reflects how little the BBB has on file. The business also maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube channel, and its website is actively maintained, with inventory that is current as of this year. We did not find enough independent review data to quote a star rating.

Visiting GTS Classic Motors

GTS is at 5444 Route 97, Waterford, Pennsylvania 16441. The main number is 814-796-4006, and the website also lists a direct cell number for Ben Shearman. Because the dealership is open by appointment only, do not drive out without confirming a time.