Mad Muscle Garage Classic Cars

Mad Muscle Garage Classic Cars, which also trades as M.M.G. Classic Cars, is a Minnesota classic and muscle car seller based in Waconia, a lake town in Carver County about 30 miles west of Minneapolis. Local business listings date the company to 2015 and name Matt Thoraldson as its founder and owner. He is described there as having more than 25 years in the classic car trade. The business buys, sells and consigns cars, and it also offers appraisals, inspections and restoration work.

How the business works

M.M.G. runs two sales channels side by side. Some cars are bought and held as the company's own inventory. Others are consigned by owners who want help selling. A local magazine profile described a rotating stock of 50 to 60 vehicles and said the shop handles roughly ten sales a month, many of them shipped out of state. That profile also said sales are appointment-based, so it makes sense to call before visiting rather than just stopping by.

What it sells

The company's focus is finished, road-ready cars rather than unfinished projects. The same profile quotes the owner saying "we don't really deal in unfinished projects" and places most of the stock between the mid-1950s and the early 1970s. The company's site lists muscle cars such as GTOs, Chevelles, Barracudas and Challengers, along with pre-war and 1950s classics, hot rods, street rods, restomods, pro touring builds and classic pickups. It also mentions occasional exotics and project cars. Listing sites showed roughly 69 vehicles in stock at the time of research, with prices starting near $9,950, though the stock changes constantly.

Buying from M.M.G.

The company says a good-faith deposit holds a car for seven days, and that in most cases it completes paperwork and shipping within 24 hours of final payment. It also says it arranges shipping worldwide and helps buyers find financing, naming lenders on its site that include LightStream, Woodside Credit, Collector Car Lending and J.J. Best Banc and Co. Buyers who cannot visit can ask about the third-party inspection service the company runs. Before you commit to any dealer car, it helps to read up on what to check before you buy, and shoppers comparing options in the area can browse Minnesota classic cars for sale to see how prices and conditions compare.

Consigning a car

Consignment is a major part of the business. According to the company, its program will "guarantee its sale within 90 days, without any upfront or concealed fees," and the company handles the shipping logistics for buyers. That is the dealer's own claim, so owners should ask for the agreement in writing, including the commission, what happens if the car does not sell in the window, and who pays for transport and any detailing. For background on typical terms, see how classic car consignment works.

Inspections, appraisals and restoration

Beyond sales, M.M.G. offers pre-purchase inspections that it says it performs nationwide, with reports that include photos and video. It also provides appraisals through a sister operation, M.M.G. Appraisals, and mechanical and restoration work that ranges from tune-ups to full rotisserie restorations. Anyone commissioning restoration work should confirm scope, timeline and rates up front, as with any shop. The magazine article also notes the owner's involvement in the Minnesota Street Rod Association and sponsorship of local car shows, including the Scott County Fair event.

Reputation

Customer feedback for the business is spread over several listings and categories, and we did not find a BBB profile. We have not quoted star ratings here because the review pages could not be verified directly. Prospective customers can read recent reviews themselves on Yelp and Google and compare them with the company's claims. As with any classic car purchase, ask for the title status, a VIN, a detailed photo set and, where possible, an independent inspection before money changes hands.

Visiting M.M.G.

The office is at 24 S Olive St, Suite 302, Waconia, Minnesota 55387, and the phone number is 952-220-2993. Because directory listings disagree on opening hours, call ahead to arrange a viewing.