Unique Classic Cars

Unique Classic Cars is a specialty and classic car dealership at 2015 Bassett Drive in Mankato, Minnesota, about 80 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. The company says Jeremy Thomas founded it on June 1, 2006, starting with seven cars on the lot. It now says it keeps around 150 vehicles in stock and handles both local and worldwide business. The registered corporate name on its BBB profile is Unique Specialty & Classics, Inc. It is not connected to Classic Cars Arena.

History and growth

According to the dealership's About page, its first showroom in Mankato covered 15,000 square feet. By March 2020 it said it had sold 4,000 cars, and that spring it moved into a 50,000 square foot building. In January 2023 the History Channel series Dirty Old Cars premiered with Unique as one of three shops featured, according to local station KEYC, which named owner Jeremy Thomas and sales manager Jeff Kuckenbecker as the people on screen.

What it sells

The company's own description is broad: pre-war classics, muscle cars from the buyer's past, and newer muscle cars. Its site also has pages for marine inventory and a vehicle finder service. Specific stock changes constantly, so check the live inventory and the sold inventory page the site keeps to get a sense of typical makes and prices.

Buying, trading and consigning

Unique says it is a one-stop shop that buys, sells, trades and consigns vehicles. Its site lists several services for buyers:

• Financing, with an online credit application and a loan calculator, plus an optional vehicle service contract.
• Trade-ins and outright purchases of vehicles from owners.
• Pickup and delivery of cars for service, which the shop says it can arrange.

The website also carries a pricing notice that a 3 percent surcharge applies to credit card payments, while cash, check and debit card payments are not charged a fee. Ask about this before you pay a deposit. Get all fees and terms in writing.

Consignment, service and restoration

Owners who would rather not sell privately can consign a car, and the site has a trade and consign section. Before signing, compare terms with a guide on selling a classic on consignment, and get the commission, any listing fees and the minimum acceptable price in writing. The company also runs a service department. It says its technicians have more than 60 years of combined experience, and its service page lists frame-off restorations, engine builds and repairs, carburetor rebuilds, convertible tops, upholstery, interior restoration, brakes, wheels and tires, and detailing.

Reputation

Under its registered name, the Better Business Bureau lists the company as not accredited, with an A+ rating and three complaints closed in the past three years. Review sites show a wide spread. In search results at the time of research, Birdeye showed 4.6 stars from 679 reviews, while Yelp showed 2.6 stars from 21. Dealer ratings differ by platform, so read a sample of recent reviews and match them to your own kind of transaction.

Visiting

The showroom is at 2015 Bassett Drive, Mankato, MN 56001, phone 507-386-1726. The company lists hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday. If you are planning a day of looking around, browse Minnesota classic cars for sale as well.