Streetside Classics in La Vergne is where the cars are coming from

If you’ve been following this blog for any time at all, you know there are a lot of car shows out there. But where do people get all those cars? Certainly, some people inherit them, build them, find them in barns. But not everyone wants to go through all the hassle. For them, places like Streetside Classic Cars exist. You can drive right up to La Vergne, Tenn., walk into an air-conditioned showroom, and take your pick from hundreds of detailed, show-ready classics. The thing that got me about this place was how nice most of the vehicles actually were. Whoever they’ve got out there buying these things must know what they’re doing. Of course, I went there and poked around the other day. Let’s check out some of the standouts.

Wagner's visit marks 800th story on Hover Motor Company

Today’s story marks a milestone with the Hover Motor Company blog. This is the 800th post on here in six years. We have looked at a lot of cars. Of course, avid readers know that before I moved to Nashville, I lived in Kansas City. Last week I went back home, and I figured a visit to Wagner’s Classic Cars would be a fitting article to put here. I was able to go with my dad, which is always great. Plus, they had some interesting things on the showroom floor. So here’s a look at what we saw during our journey to Bonner Springs, Kan. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed going there.

Nice cars indeed at Art & Speed

I was watching the Memphis news Wednesday morning when I heard about a food truck event at the Memphis Botanic Garden, and they mentioned that there would be a car show. That sounded like a good reason to eat a grilled cheese sandwich out of a Step Van. The “car show” turned out to be a display put together by Art & Speed, a classic car gallery in Collierville. I’m glad I saw them there, because it prompted me to go visit their showroom the next day. This is a really nice place with a great selection of cars. I mean it—seriously impressive. Let’s take a look at some of the standouts.

Gateway Classic Cars opens Nashville showroom

They don’t hold many car shows once winter comes along, so you have to find the old cars where you can. Luckily, St. Louis-based Gateway Classic Cars opened up a showroom in Nashville this year, so you can check out the inventory in indoor comfort. The large, well-lighted showroom offers a nice selection of mostly driver-quality classics, and if you find something you like, they’ll be happy to sell it to you. The inventory is always changing, so just because you see something here doesn’t mean it hasn’t already been sold and replaced. Let’s take a look at some of the stuff that was available during my recent visit.

Vintage Vettes, the Dement brothers, and the greatest job in the world

“This can’t be right,” I thought as the GPS sent me to a crusty old office building on Memorial Boulevard in Murfreesboro. According to their website, Vintage Vettes handles a large assortment of pristine straight-axle Corvettes. Even as I went behind the building and opened the steel door, I did not see how this dark, dismal place could be what I was looking for. I introduced myself to a couple of guys sitting at desks plugging away on their computers, and they welcomed me to take a look in the next room. Suddenly I realized that my initial impressions were way off.

Art's Corvettes isn't all Corvettes

For car aficionados, Bowling Green, Ky., is known for the National Corvette Museum and the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant. But if you can divert your gaze away from the museum for a moment, you may notice Art’s Corvettes, a classic car dealership that’s located right across the street. The location and name of this place might fool you, because there is a lot more here than just Corvettes. Art’s is an equal opportunity old car peddler, featuring everything from Chevys to Fords. I took a look inside the other day, and here’s some of the good stuff.

Wagner's fly-by

A couple of weekends ago, I was able to get back to Kansas City. Whenever I do that, I like to try and hit a car place or two. One of my favorites has always been Wagner’s Classic Auto in Bonner Springs, Kan. Yes, this is a dealership, and their primary function is to sell cars. But the inventory seems to change every time I go there, and the quality of cars on display often surpasses most car shows I go to. I always enjoy going there. Let’s look at some of the cars and maybe you’ll see why.

Cruise-quality classics at Maple Motors

I might not be completely with it as far as the car show scene here in Nashville yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find some interesting old rides to look at.  Last night I stopped in at Maple Motors in Henersonville, and there were quite a few things to check out at this family-owned business.  For some 30 years, Jim Fite and his family have been selling affordable, driver-quality classics from this location.  You might not find many councours-quality rides here, but if you’re looking for a fun car to take to the local cruise-ins, this is your place.

One last trip to the KC Classic Auto Display in Lenexa

When I first moved to Kansas City in the 1980s, one of the first places we visited was KC Classic Auto Display in Lenexa. My dad and I were always on the lookout for old cars, and they had a bunch of them in the old industrial warehouse off 435. The place is pretty fun to look through, as they always have a fun mix of both high-end and affordable cars in their inventory. As I’m nearing the end of my time here in Kansas City, my dad and I decided to take one last visit and check out what’s on sale now.

What's new at the KC Classic Auto Display in Lenexa?

As much as I have been enjoying working on all these new car reviews lately, I still need to look at old cars once in a while.  But since it just snowed here in Kansas City, it’s not likely that we’ll be going to any car shows any time soon.  Luckily, there are places like the KC Auto Display in Lenexa where you can go check out old cars no matter the weather.  So that’s just what we did recently.  Most of these cars are for sale; some of them are just being stored.  But there are some really interesting things hiding in this industrial, warehouse-style building.

Happy times at Happy Days Dream Cars

Some of the best places to go look at old cars in the Kansas City area during the winter are at the dealerships that specialize in them.  This week, my dad and I went down to Warrensburg, Mo., and checked out the inventory at Happy Days Dream Cars.  The selection was a little light because they recently sold several of their cars at the Mecum collector car auction in Kansas City, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t several interesting things to look at.  Let’s check out a few of the cars that could be yours come car show season.

Quality is the key at Wagner's Classic Cars

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to check out the inventory at Wagner’s Classic Cars in Bonner Springs.  I really like going there, because they have some of the nicest cars around.  But I held the story back so I could present it when I had fewer car shows to write about.  But believe me, this place is as good as any car show.  Let’s take a look at some of the exceptional cars that were on hand during our visit.

Adesa Corvette and Specialty Car Sale is a well-kept Kansas City secret

Here’s one you might not have known about.  Adesa has a huge auction house in Belton, Mo.  Normally, they sell late-model cars for manufacturers and rental companies to dealers.  That’s where a lot of the cars that you see on the used lot of the local new car dealer come from.  But a couple of times a year they have a Corvette and Specialty Car Sale.  It is still only open to dealers, but in this case they have an interesting mix of classic and special interest cars.  It is hard to find information for, because they don’t publish it on their website.  But my dad works out there, however, which is why I can share some of it with you.

50 Silverados caravan to the Royals game for a good cause

Chevy trucks.  You gotta’ love ‘em.  There’s hardly a major structure built in the last 95 years for which there wasn’t some kind of Chevrolet truck involved.  From the farm to the city, and everything in between, you are going to find a cab, a box, and a bowtie. 

But the main function of trucks rarely changes, so you don’t see all-new models very often.  That’s why when they do, you know it’s for a good reason.  Enter the all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado.  With stiff competition from the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500, Chevrolet really needed to hit a home run with this one.

Heartland Chevrolet loaded with Corvettes during the Touch of Glass Corvette Show in Liberty

My mother-in-law had a garage sale in Liberty this weekend, which gave me a good excuse to go check out the Touch of Glass Corvette Show at Heartland Chevrolet.  Not that I really needed an excuse.  Any time a bunch of Corvettes are in one place, I am going to try to be there.  This wasn’t a huge show, but there were definitely some nice examples of Chevrolet’s flagship sports car.  There was even a handful for sale.  If only I could win that lottery.

Beautiful cars, finished and unfinished, at Wagner's Classic Cars

It’s really just a matter of weeks, maybe days now when we’ll find ourselves right in the middle of car show season.  That means the time for visiting the local indoor car collections is upon us now.  And there is usually no better place to check out than Wagner’s Classic Cars in Bonner Springs, Kan.

This weekend was no exception.  The showroom wasn’t necessarily cram-packed with cars, but the ones that were there were very nice.  There were also some interesting projects parked around the body shop area that were worth some attention.

Cool dusty classics hidden in a warehouse at Koury Investments

The Kansas City area is full of cool secret car stuff, if you know where to look.  This week I had the opportunity to visit one of those hidden gems, when we made a stop at Rich’s Classic Cars in Grain Valley, Mo.  When you look at this place on the outside, you’d never guess you’d find all the great cars inside.

Owner Rich Koury has been buying and selling cars for 40 years, and when you visit with him, you realize that he really enjoys the hobby.  As we toured his inventory, he was ready with a story on each and every car.  He’d tell you how long the guy owned it before him, where it came from, and sometimes even the dealership at which it was originally sold.

Hard to be sad at Happy Days Dream Cars in Warrensburg

Even though there aren’t many car shows scheduled around Kansas City right now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t go check out some nice cars once in a while. Take Happy Days Dream Cars in nearby Warrensburg, Mo. Owner John Meyer had a whole showroom full of very nice things to see. It was definitely worth the short trip out of town.

Dreaming of the good life at Drivin' Dreams

Taking a drive through southern Missouri can be an enjoyable opportunity for car aficionados. Once you get away from the big cities, the houses might be few-and-far between. But when you do see one, there are often lots of interesting old vehicles parked around the property.

As someone who lives in a typical landlocked sub-division that is tightly controlled by a homeowner’s association, I’m actually a little envious of people that can spread whatever junk they want all over their property. I’d love to have a lot full of beater cars that I could putz around with.

President's Day at the KC Auto Display

Despite being a little cold and damp, President’s Day was a good day. I didn’t have to go to work. I got to hang out with my son. The post office was closed, so no one could deliver any bills. And we got to go check out some cars.
For many years, the KC Auto Display has been a nice place to visit on a day off when there weren’t many car events taking place. They don’t always have the best cars. They certainly don’t have the worst cars. But they always seem to have an interesting selection of muscle cars, customs, and classics beneath the utilitarian roof of their Lenexa warehouse.