Showdown Auto

Showdown Auto, which also trades as Showdown Auto Sales and Showdown Motors Inc., is a family-owned classic car dealer in Fraser, Michigan, in Macomb County north of Detroit. The company says it has been a leader in the classic car business for more than 25 years and has bought, sold and traded thousands of cars. The Better Business Bureau lists a start date of March 1, 1992. Its website showed about 60 vehicles in early October 2026, a mix of muscle cars, Corvettes, hot rods and later collectibles, and most of its buyers live out of state.

Who they are

According to the company's about page, Showdown started in an old gas station in the early 1990s and later moved to an indoor location in Fraser. It describes itself as family owned and operated, with a team that travels the country to collector car auctions to find cars. Because the staff attend auctions, the company says it closes its offices on those days and asks visitors to call before driving out. The business also runs eBay auctions, which are linked from its site.

How the business works

Showdown mainly sells cars it owns, but its FAQ says it also buys, trades and consigns. It accepts trades on cars, motorcycles and, in its words, almost anything. It says it cannot quote a price on a car it has not seen, so offers to buy are made in person, and out-of-state owners are asked to call to arrange for the car to be brought in. The company does not service classic cars itself and says it works with licensed service centers instead.

What Showdown sells

The inventory leans American. Recent listings include several 1960s Corvettes, a 1966 AC Cobra, a 1966 Pontiac GTO, a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, a 1973 Dodge Challenger, a 1953 Dodge Meadowbrook and a 1941 Willys coupe, along with many 1980s and 1990s Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs and Fieros. Some modern vehicles appear as well, such as a 2023 Ford Bronco and a 2024 Corvette E-Ray. Homepage prices ran from about $23,900 for the Meadowbrook to $97,900 for a 1967 Corvette. The site also offers a car locator that notifies a buyer when a matching car arrives, and a sold inventory page. For a wider view of the market, see Michigan classic cars for sale.

Buying from Showdown

The company says it takes more than 100 photos and a video of each car, will describe the good and the bad on a call, and encourages buyers to hire an independent inspector before buying. Its FAQ is direct about the terms: cars come without a warranty, and a serious buyer is asked for a deposit of $500 to $1,000 to take a car off the market, which the company describes as non-refundable. Showdown says it does not offer in-house financing but works with banks and credit unions, and its financing page lists lender contacts and example terms from those lenders. On shipping, the company says over 85 percent of its sales go out of state and that it sells 20 to 30 percent of its cars overseas each year, arranging carriers or leaving the choice to the buyer.

Selling or consigning

Owners can sell outright, trade or consign. The FAQ describes the consignment terms in unusual detail. Showdown says it does not charge a flat percentage; the owner names a bottom-dollar price and the company adds its markup, with a minimum of 10 percent. It also lists a $200 monthly consignment fee to help cover climate-controlled storage, and says it pays for internet and print advertising and can arrange financing and trades to help a sale. These terms are the company's own and could change, so confirm them in writing. Our overview of classic car consignment fees explains how such charges are typically structured. Showdown also does appraisals on site, performed by a company it names as Hot Wheelz, and says it does not travel for them.

Reputation

The BBB rates Showdown Auto Sales A+. It is not BBB accredited, shows no complaints closed in the last three years and has one customer review on file, too few to draw conclusions. On Birdeye, listed as Showdown Motors Inc., the business has 4.1 stars from 79 reviews, all from Google. Reviews of any dealer vary with the specific car and the buyer's expectations, so read the most recent ones yourself, and note that long-distance buyers in particular should ask for the inspection and documentation steps described above before sending money.

Visiting

Showdown is at 32950 Utica Road, Fraser, Michigan 48026. The contact page lists hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with after-hours visits by appointment, and the site header says visits are by appointment only. Call (586) 791-0778 or email [email protected] before traveling.