Motor Car Company

Motor Car Company is a San Diego, California business that works with private collectors on buying, selling and managing collector cars. Its website names Dane Silvestri as founder and owner and describes the company's work as collection management, sales and brokerage. It operates by appointment rather than from a public showroom, and its published address is simply San Diego, CA 92101.

Who they are

According to the company's About page, Silvestri began detailing luxury cars while still in grade school and had started a detailing business called Professional Class by high school. The page says he later managed collections for Charles Cawley, founder of MBNA, worked as an account executive for the duPont Registry covering the West Coast, and served as sales manager at Ferrari and Maserati of San Diego before starting the company. The page does not state a founding year. A copyright line on the site runs from 2010, while a LinkedIn company page lists 2016, so the start date is unclear.

How the business works

This is not a conventional retail lot. The company describes itself as working with private collections around the world, from owners of a few rare cars to much larger collections. Its home page says it is always looking to buy great cars "with no condition or price limitations," and also offers "flexible consignment programs," along with brokerage. The About page lists a "Selling a Collection" service for managing the sale of one car or many, locating rare vehicles for buyers, sales representation, and marketing and dealer-management consulting.

No consignment fees or terms are published. Anyone considering it should ask for the terms in writing, and our overview of how classic car consignment works covers the points to settle first.

What they sell

The stock leans toward British and European sports and vintage cars, with some American cars in the mix. A check of its ClassicCars.com dealer page in October 2026 showed 14 vehicles, including:

• a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL at $185,000
• a 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 at $185,000
• a 1953 Nash-Healey Roadster at $145,000
• a 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider at $79,000
• a 1987 Porsche 911 at $77,000
• a 1972 Lotus Seven at $23,900

Listings change, so treat these as examples of the range. For a wider view of the market, see classic cars for sale around the state.

Buying and reputation

We found no published information about financing, shipping or inspection arrangements, so ask about each before you commit. For any purchase, request the VIN and title status, detailed photos and service records, and arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection.

We did not find a Better Business Bureau, Yelp or Google review profile for this business, so there is no review record to summarize. That is common for appointment-only collector dealers, but it means buyers and sellers should rely on direct references, written agreements and their own checks.

Visiting and contact

The contact page says showings are by appointment only and gives (619) 777-3659 as the phone number. It adds that replies may take 48 to 72 hours if the company cannot answer by phone right away. No street address or opening hours are published, so arrange any visit in advance.