Harwood Motors, LTD.

Harwood Motors, LTD. is a collector car brokerage in the Cleveland, Ohio area, run by co-owners Matt and Melanie Harwood. The couple say they officially incorporated the business in 2014, although the company traces its roots to a family hobby that began in 1973, when Matt's father bought a 1934 Ford at a town-square event. Today the business sells antique, classic and muscle cars from its own showroom and advertises them on several national marketplaces, including ClassicCars.com.

Who runs Harwood Motors

According to the company's About page, Matt Harwood has spent roughly four decades in the car hobby, restoring a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, racing a showroom stock Mustang and working with a major Corvette tuner and General Motors during the development of the C5 Corvette. The page says he previously worked for large antique and collector dealers and wrote much of the advertising, photography and descriptions there. Melanie Harwood, who grew up in Toronto, handles operations and logistics. Both are listed as serving on the management boards of several car clubs. The Harwoods describe themselves as "matchmakers rather than a mere car dealership," and call the business a family operation.

How the business works

Harwood Motors is not a pure dealer-stock lot. Much of what it sells comes from private owners who ship their cars to the Harwood showroom, where the cars are photographed, described and advertised. The company says a car typically appears online 7 to 10 days after arrival and that selling usually takes several weeks to several months, with sales in under 90 days described as rare. For buyers, that means the cars you see are generally on the showroom floor rather than at a seller's home, which makes in-person viewing and inspection straightforward.

What it sells

The inventory is mixed and mostly American. A recent look at the company's ClassicCars.com page showed 38 vehicles, including a 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, a 1961 Dodge Dart, a 1961 Chevrolet Impala, a 1957 Ford Ranchero, a 1956 DeSoto Firedome and a 1941 Plymouth P12 Special Deluxe wagon. The company also lists a 1962 Ford Thunderbird convertible and a 2003 Ford Thunderbird, and its own site points to antiques, classics, 1950s cars and muscle cars as its core. Asking prices on those listings ran from the teens into six figures. Inventory turns over, so check the current listings before planning a trip. For a wider view of the market, see classic cars for sale in Ohio.

Buying from Harwood Motors

The company's buyer pages set expectations plainly. Harwood Motors says it performs visual inspections only and does not disassemble vehicles or components, and its site disclaimer states that it cannot guarantee the accuracy of every detail in a listing. Vehicles are sold without a warranty, and a documentation fee of $150 per vehicle applies. Buyers are encouraged to inspect a car in person and the company says it welcomes professional inspectors and appraisers.

• Financing: arranged through lending partners that the site names as J.J. Best Banc and Woodside Credit.
• Shipping: the company says it can arrange transport from its showroom anywhere in the world, or help load a carrier the buyer chooses. Cars are not loaded until payment in full has cleared the bank.
• Payment and paperwork: ask for the title status and VIN in writing before sending funds.

Selling through Harwood Motors

Owners who want to sell can use the company's seller program, which works on a different pricing model from most consignment arrangements. In short, consigning a classic here costs a one-time $199 listing fee. The company says it charges no commission and no percentage; instead, it sets the asking price above the seller's stated bottom line and keeps the difference, so the seller knows the payout in advance. The fee covers a write-up of 1,000 words or more, a shoot of 250 to 350 photos, and advertising on Hemmings, ClassicCars.com, eBay Motors, club publications and the company's email list. Sellers should read the agreement carefully and ask who pays for shipping, detailing and any repairs before the car arrives.

Reputation and track record

The business has been incorporated since 2014, and its principals say their experience goes back much further. ClassicCars.com identifies it as a Priority Seller. We did not find a Better Business Bureau rating or a published review score to cite, so judge the company on the specific car in front of you. One practical note: a 2017 trade-press item placed the company in Macedonia, Ohio, in a 25,000 square foot facility, and some older directory entries still show that area. The company's own contact page now lists a Cleveland address, so use that one.

Visiting Harwood Motors

The showroom is at 26101 Miles Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44128. The phone numbers are 440-565-5335 and, toll free, 844-565-5335. The company's site lists weekday daytime hours, roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with weekends closed, though the hours shown on different pages of the site do not fully match. Call ahead to confirm before you drive out to see a particular car.