Vintage Motors of Sarasota

Vintage Motors of Sarasota is a collector car dealer in Sarasota, Florida, that buys, sells, consigns, services and stores classic cars. The company says it was established in 1989 by its founder and owner, Martin Godbey, and its website carries the line "Vintage Motors & Cars Since 1989." Florida records show the current corporation, Vintage Motors of Sarasota, Inc., was registered in June 1991 and remains active. Martin Godbey's son Blake is listed as president in state and Better Business Bureau records.

A family business with deep roots

According to the company's team page, Martin Godbey grew up in England and later moved to central Illinois, where his uncle ran a Lincoln-Mercury and Studebaker dealership. He started out selling one car to buy the next, then traded cars across the United States and Europe before founding Vintage Motors. Blake Godbey, born in Sarasota, works in the showroom and travels to events to find cars for the business. The team also includes Don Toms, a car historian and automotive literature dealer who, the company says, has been with Vintage Motors since 1997.

The company says its staff attend auctions run by RM, Gooding & Co., Mecum, Bonhams and Worldwide Auctioneers, as well as shows such as the Amelia Island Concours, Cavallino in Palm Beach and Pebble Beach. It also hosts its own monthly car shows. In January 2025 the Venice, Florida, region of the Antique Automobile Club of America toured the facility and described the company as a club sponsor and "high-end classic car dealer."

How the business works

Vintage Motors works both ways with sellers: it will buy a car outright or take it on consignment. Its sell and consign pages say "We can purchase one vehicle or your entire collection!" The company says it keeps a list of standing requests from buyers looking for particular cars, handles the paperwork and arranges shipping for the cars it sells, and accepts trades. Buyers and sellers, it says, come from the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

What Vintage Motors sells

The company describes itself as a specialist in classic European and American cars and in what it calls the "celebrity collectors market." Its stock leans toward older and less common European cars. A snapshot of its listings on a large classic car marketplace in October 2026 showed 15 cars, all located in Sarasota, including:

• Pre-war cars such as a 1921 Renault Type JP, a 1932 Delage D8 and a 1940 Buick 50.
• European sports and luxury cars such as a 1950 Bentley coupe, a 1962 Alfa Romeo 1600, a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL, two Jaguar E-Types and a 1973 Citroen SM.
• Other eras and makes, such as a 1957 BMW Isetta, a 1958 Corvette and a 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish.

Asking prices in that snapshot ranged from $42,500 for the Isetta to $285,000 for the Delage, and a few cars were listed with the price on request. To compare with other Florida classic cars for sale, browse listings from sellers across the state.

Buying from Vintage Motors

Buyers can visit what the company calls its "large Sarasota, Florida showroom." Its website says Vintage Motors can help with financing through several lenders that specialize in collectible cars, help buyers find collector car insurance, and arrange domestic or international shipping through transport companies it has used for years. As with any high-value purchase, get the car's history and title paperwork, and consider an independent inspection before you commit, even when you buy in person.

Selling or consigning a car

For sellers, Vintage Motors says it handles everything from a single car to a full collection. Its collection service includes preparing and cataloging each car, professional photography and a targeted marketing plan. The company says estate sales are "a frequent event," and that it will buy or consign estate vehicles, vintage motorcycles and classic boats. Its valuation team offers appraisals for collectors, estate executors and attorneys and helps owners set a reserve price. Sellers are asked for photos first, then a copy of the title, proof of insurance and any records, manuals, tools or spare parts that add value. The company does not publish its consignment fees, so ask for terms in writing. If you are new to the process, our guide to consigning a classic explains how these arrangements usually work.

Service and storage

The company runs a service department for classic and vintage European and American cars, including luxury and muscle cars, and offers detailing. It also rents secure, climate-controlled storage for cars and motorcycles, with pricing given on request.

Reputation and visiting

The business has operated under the Vintage Motors name for more than three decades. A review aggregator showed a 4.6-star average from 76 reviews in October 2026, most of them from Google and Facebook. The Better Business Bureau lists the company but it is not BBB accredited. The showroom is at 7519 Pennsylvania Avenue, Unit 101, Sarasota, Florida 34243. Some older directory listings still show a previous address on North Tamiami Trail, so use the Pennsylvania Avenue address. The company's website says the showroom is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. Call 941-355-6500 or email [email protected] before visiting to see a particular car.