Hyman Ltd Classic Cars

Hyman Ltd. Classic Cars is a St. Louis dealer of high-end collector cars, led by founder Mark Hyman. The company says it was created in 1989 out of Hyman's interest in antique, classic and special interest automobiles, and that it began in a rented garage of about 4,000 square feet. It is one of the larger independent collector car dealers in the Midwest and sells to buyers well beyond Missouri.

History and facilities

By the company's own account, Hyman Ltd. moved into a 12,000 square foot building in 1992, then into a 35,000 square foot facility near St. Louis Lambert International Airport in 2004. It added another 32,000 square feet next door in 2014. The site describes the campus as about 67,000 square feet, housing sales, restoration and repair, a showroom and offices, with inventory it says typically exceeds 200 cars. Published profiles say Hyman restored his first car at 16 and began his business sourcing cars for clients in Europe.

What it sells

Hyman Ltd. says it focuses on prewar Classic automobiles, post-war American collectibles, and both pre-war and post-war sports cars. A published profile of Mark Hyman also mentions early brass era cars, and the dealer's listings have included Cadillac, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Bentley models. This is the upper end of the market: its ClassicCars.com listings ranged from about $59,500 to $925,000 when we last checked. A Missouri buyer with a smaller budget can compare other sellers through Missouri classic cars for sale.

Buying from Hyman Ltd.

Many of its customers buy at a distance. A newspaper-style profile in Town & Style described clients across Europe, the Middle East and South America, and the business is set up for remote buyers. The company's site says it will arrange transport anywhere in the world through insured, licensed carriers, and that it works with several lenders that specialize in financing and leasing collector cars. It also accepts trades. As with any long-distance purchase, ask for a detailed condition report, extra photos and the title status, and consider an independent inspection.

Selling or consigning

Hyman Ltd. runs a consignment program that it describes as a way to broker a private sale through its global network while the owner stays in control of the process and the final price. The company says it prepares the car, presents it to buyers and can handle transportation, insurance and storage. Terms are not published in what we could review, so owners should ask about commission, minimum fees and how long a car can sit before the agreement can be changed. A guide to consigning a classic explains the usual structures. The site also has a form for submitting a car to sell outright.

Restoration and repair

Published profiles say the company keeps in-house staff and facilities for mechanical repair and cosmetic restoration, which lets it prepare cars before sale. Specific restoration capabilities are not spelled out in what we could review, so ask what work is done in-house on a particular car.

Reputation

The Better Business Bureau lists Hyman Ltd. as a classic car dealer, with a business start date of 1992 and a file opened in 1996. According to search results for that page, it is not BBB accredited and carries no rating, which means only that the bureau does not have enough information to issue one. We could not open the BBB page directly to confirm complaint counts, and we did not find enough verified reviews on a single platform to quote a star rating.

Visiting

Hyman Ltd. is at 2310 Chaffee Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146, near the airport. Its phone number is (314) 524-6000. Because stock changes and some cars may be stored elsewhere, call ahead to confirm that a specific car is available to see.