Left Coast Classics

Left Coast Classics is a classic car dealer in Sonoma, California, run by founder Donn Dabney. It buys, sells and consigns classic, exotic and specialty vehicles, and it works by appointment from an office on West Napa Street. The business describes itself as built around detailed photography, video and long-distance buying, serving collectors in Sonoma, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Marin County and beyond.

Who they are

The company's site names Donn Dabney as the founder and says he has a background in marketing and technology. Its services page says he founded the business in 2004, while the home page says that since 2003 Left Coast Classics has set the standard for marketing classic and specialty cars, so the starting year is given as 2003 or 2004 depending on the page. The company calls itself "enthusiasts, not car salesmen" and says much of its business comes through referrals.

Dabney also appears on MotorTrend's Wheeler Dealers alongside host Mike Brewer, according to the company's site.

How the business works

Left Coast Classics offers both consignment and outright purchase. For consigned cars, the company says it takes on the marketing and the sale for the owner, and that it generally does not charge upfront fees. Percentages and other terms are not published on its site, so ask for the agreement in writing. Our guide to consigning a classic lists the questions worth asking any consignment dealer.

The services page also says the company handles detailing, can arrange specialist repairs while overseeing costs, and manages the paperwork, liability release and payment once a car sells.

Photography and marketing

What the company stresses most is presentation. Its site says it shoots hundreds of photos of each car in an unobstructed setting, sorts and tags them for search, and records driving footage with multiple GoPro cameras, narrated from the driver's seat, along with walk-around and test-drive videos. Sellers receive a set of the photos taken as a keepsake. Cars are advertised on multiple websites, on social media, by email to prospects and on the company's YouTube channel, and the site describes its listing pages as hand built.

What they sell

The company's description covers vintage European sports cars and exotics, American muscle and luxury cars, and West Coast classics. A check of its ClassicCars.com dealer page in October 2026 showed 12 vehicles, including a 1967 Pontiac GTO, a 1941 Chevrolet AK Series pickup, a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, a 1975 MG MGB, a 1974 Volkswagen Transporter, a 1968 Morris Minor 1000 Traveler and a 2001 Porsche Boxster. Listed prices ranged from about $6,900 to $68,500 that day, with an older 1916 Willys-Overland also in the mix. Stock turns over, so check current availability. You can also browse classic cars for sale in California to compare similar cars.

Buying from Left Coast Classics

The company says its photo and video approach is meant to make long-distance purchases easier and describes buyers all over the world. The pages we could read do not describe a financing program, a shipping process or an inspection policy, so ask about each before committing. As with any remote purchase, request the VIN and title status, ask for extra photos or video of anything unclear, and consider an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Reputation

Review platforms show high ratings with modest review counts. A Yelp listing showed 15 reviews averaging 5.0 stars as of May 2026, and a Birdeye page listed 4.9 stars from 31 reviews. We did not find a Better Business Bureau profile for the business. Ratings of this kind are a useful signal, but they cover a small number of transactions, so weigh them alongside the specific car, its documentation and your own inspection.

Visiting and contact

Left Coast Classics is at 255 W. Napa Street, Suite E, Sonoma, CA 95476, and says it operates by appointment only. Its contact page lists 707-332-8331 for calls and texts. Because visits are scheduled, contact the company in advance to arrange a time to see a car.