Buyers Beware
One of the worst car-buying experiences I've ever had.On June 5, 2025, I purchased a 1970 Chevelle SS from Gateway Classic Cars. I was told by Salesperson Justin Slaton that:* The car was in "perfect working condition."* The engine was new with only 400 miles and produced 700 HP.* The air conditioning worked great.* The vehicle was a true Chevelle SS.These statements were made verbally and in their ad materials. I relied on these representations when deciding to purchase the vehicle for $75,000.When the car arrived in Florida on June 18, (3 days late) the truth became immediately apparent:* The A/C didn't work at all.* The engine made loud noises and failed completely during my first short drive. The car had to be towed.* My mechanic confirmed catastrophic engine failure and advised not to even restart it.* An expert inspection by a local Classic Car repair shop revealed metal shavings in the oil and severe internal damage.Worse yet: After professional research, the car turned out to be a Malibu Sport, not a true Chevelle SS. This is a value difference of over $30,000.Total estimated damages:$15,000 - Engine rebuild and A/C repair$30,000 - Devaluation due to false SS claim= $45,000 in total loss.I understand buying a classic car "As Is," but misrepresenting the engine, working condition, and authenticity of the car is fraud--not just bad salesmanship.If you're considering a purchase--don't take them at their word. Triple-check everything independently. Their "quality control" and honesty are clearly lacking. If Gateway doesn't take care of this, litigation will follow. Is there anyone else out there that has experienced the same misrepresentation?
Paul Gray
Horrible experience
Horrible experience. Dan Collard contacted me to consign my 2005 Mercedes SL500. He fed me a bunch of lies and then once I had it delivered there asked me to lower my net price. They then listed it for $5000 over at a 35% commission, ridiculous! When my 90 days was up, I had no interest in resigning because they wouldn't lower the asking price and it was way too high so nobody was interested. Dan told me I has 2 weeks to pick up the car with no storage charges. On the 15th of September I received an email from Cheryl Hammond, office manager that said I owed $200 storage fees for the whe month of September. I sent her the email that Dan sent me stating that I wouldn't be charged for 2 weeks and she said Dan doesn't make the rules, she does. So Dan lied and misled me. I had sold the car myself in the meantime and sent someone to pick it up on October 1st. I called Cheryl on the morning of the 1st to pay the unwarranted storage fees so it could be picked up. Cheryl was very rude, told me she was very "pissed off" at me an I was an ignorant a$$hole and hung up on me. I then had to send my payment info through email because she wouldn't talk to me. When the driver picked up the vehicle they were very rude and uncooperative. VERY VERY DISHONEST AND MISLEADING WITH HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. BUYER/SELLER BEWARE!!
Steve Holtsmaster
Horrible service
Horrible service. I contacted them through their website. No response. I emailed them. No response. I called. The person i talked to found record of my attempts to contact them. i was promised someone will get back to me right away. That was two weeks ago. Nothing. Don't know the reasons for this horrible service as i have gotten no responses.
Sami Khawaja
77 Plymouth Gran Fury
I bought a 77 Plymouth Gran Fury in Spring of this year from the Phoenix, AZ location. The car was trailered to my home in Plymouth, MI. I inspected the car and the exterior is okay, however, there were safety issues with the car. The windshield wipers don't work, the A/C is so bad, I have to replace all the major parts, compressor, condenser, evaporator, etc. the battery was missing the hold down bracket, so when I took the car for a test drive in my neighborhood, it died when I made a right turn as the battery was tilting when I made my turn and the positive battery post hit the underside of the hood. I had the battery issue repaired and drove it a few miles. I came back home and parked it in my garage for several days. I had to use the inside of my garage to do some wood cutting for a project and backed the car out of the garage. There is now a 6 foot long, 1 foot wide trail of automatic trans fluid on the floor where the car was parked. There's also a courtesy light on the passenger side of the interior that stays on 24/7, thus wearing down the battery. I took the bulb out so it would not wear down the battery. These issues were sent to the "salesman", Todd Schneider, but never heard a word back. These cars may be sold on consignment as he told me, but they are the ones handling all the documents and charging the exorbitant doc fees. They need to have a checklist like I've seen other antique car dealers use to check off ALL safety features on a car, such as brakes, wipers, lights exterior and interior, tires, A/C, etc. If something does not work or needs replacing, THE dealer needs to be responsible for repairing said problem or noting it on a checklist. I will NEVER buy from them again. They give the hobby a bad name and I have sent out emails to friends of mine who are also old car enthusiasts to not even call them to look at a car. When someone is looking to buy a car from out of state like myself, the dealer needs to be trustworthy to list any issues with the vehicle if they are not going to do the right thing and have them repaired. I would trust EBay before I would buy another car from them!
GREG BASHARA
Gateway engages in illegal title jumping
After paying $57000 for a classic car with Gateway Classic Cars, they first lied to me about the time required to receive the wire transfer. Then they scratched the car severely during final prep. Next, they delayed the title transfer more than 3 weeks. I found out through research that this tactic is called "title jumping" wherein they tell the seller that the funds have not been received, and they make several hundred dollars on the interest float. They put off the buyer with lies and deception while they rake in the interest. This company has numerous "shell" LLC's listed as follows: CVP HOLDINGS, LLC a foreign limited liability company. Normally, when a company is owned by one of these shell corporations, they are committing tax fraud and avoiding taxes in each state where they operate. A search of CVP HOLDINGS revealed that they received a Coronavirus-related PPP loan from the SBA of $1,380,798.00 in April, 2020. That is YOUR tax money, folks...going to support this foreign owned business. Coming up on 4 weeks post sale, and these criminals have still not initiated the title transfer. BUYER BEWARE- GATEWAY CLASSIC CARS is a shill company.
Mark Schofield
Terrible experience
On May 4,2022 I put a $1000 deposit on my 1966 ford fairlane to Gateway classic cars in Philadelphia.. What a mistake....Gateway supposedly has such a good reputation, so I thought.I put my trust in the salesman named Dominick.He said the car was in great condition, and suggested Ihave Lemon Squad inspect it , for my own satisfaction.Lemon Squad also spoke very highly of the car, and found nothing wrong with it. Those people are a big joke also, and cannot be trusted.In conclusion, please take the advice of someone wholearned the hard way. DO NOT EVER use Gateway Classic carsI am a very trusting person, so I took their word for itand bought the car,OMG!! What a mistake. The car is a mess. I am embarrassed to show my friends.The top does not go down, the engine has at least 2 or 3 major leaksthe Right rear axle seal is leaking,transmission also has a leakThere is a tear in the left side door panel, also on the right side. I could go on and on. Terrible paint job, also , missing door handle.I went to drive it and could barely keep the car on the road.I would like to get it fixed, but cannot even find someone to work on it. It has been sitting in my garage for 2 months.I would NEVER NEVER recommend Gateway Classic Cars to anyone. They were quick to take my money, if the car was in good shape it would have been worth it.Do not trust what they say.Then I called Dominick afterwards to complain, and hedid not really care, it was not his problem.The other thing was that it took them 7 weeks to send the title. They lied and said it was a clear title, but it was not. They did finally get that resolved.In conclusion, please take the advice of someone who learned the hard way. DO NOT EVER use Gateway Classic carsfrom a very unhappy customer
Very unsatisfied customer
I bought a car that was a dream
I bought a car that was a dream. They delivered it and the car was a mess. it cost me over 4,000 dollars to fix the electrical problems i inherited from gateway. But all that being said. Yhanks to diligent attorneys i received a check on a settlement where gateway was ripping off customers. Shame on Gateway. I hope your business falls flat on its bogus, untrustworthy ass!
joseph weaver
I was very nervous about purchasing a…
I was very nervous about purchasing a 1990 corvette from USA and shipping it to Ireland without ever physically seeing the car or taking it for a test drive.Eric in Louisville sold me the car and I admit I was nervous when I wired the payment. However, Eric was awesome. He went above and beyond the call of duty to help me get my dream car to Ireland.I examined all the pics and videos on gateways site in great detail. When the car arrived it was EXACTLY as depicted. Yes, it’s a 30year old car and I was not expecting showroom condition.On BBC arrival, I was happier than ever. The car is amazing. Gateway were great and Eric is awesome. Thanks guys
Brownell OConnor
Read this BEFORE you sign any papers to…
Read this BEFORE you sign any papers to have Gateway sell your vehicle in order to avoid the bait-n-switch unethical contract tactics. You will be asked by an agent for your MINIMUM price who will want you to agree to the lowest number possible. The Lie you will be told is they will list the car for a higher price so "you will at least get your minimum price." This lie sounds like you will get an amount greater than your Minimum if they sell the car for a higher price. However, Gateway keeps every dollar above your minimum price whether they sell it for $100 or $100,000 over your minimum price. Calling this a minimum price is also a lie. Gateway management does not stand behind the words, tactics, and ethics of its listing agents. The contract fine print could end up costing you thousands ... as it cost me $5,000 more than Gateway's commission and fees. I reached out to three levels of management at Gateway to discuss this issue and did not receive a single reply. They took the money and ran. I will allow Karma to respond to this unethical practice.
Michael W
I recently had a very bad experience…
I recently had a very bad experience with the Scottsdale location. The salesman named Allan W. was extremely unprofessional, and had no respect for the customer. I highly recommend you be very careful with their deposit process. They will charge your credit card early in the negotiation process and it's non refundable. Be aware.
Anthony Romero
Sold me a "ready to drive" truck
Sold me a "ready to drive" truck, when it arrived fortunately I had my mechanic go over it only to find that the flywheel was installed incorrectly. They had no interest in hearing about it let alone doing anything about it, so they can talk with my attorney.
Michael Farrington
Gateway Classic Cars
Gateway Classic CarsJul 16, 2021gtp98 "DO NOT BUY FROM GATEWAY!!I purchased a truck from..."DO NOT BUY FROM GATEWAY!!I purchased a truck from Gateway Nashville. I looked at the truck in person but I did not drive it. BIG MISTAKE! I took the word of the salesmen Cody and Bob on how it drove. The video they posted showed a nice and straight track. When it was delivered I put it my garage and it sat for a couple of weeks. I had to change the serpentine belt, battery and oil and filter. The first time I drove it I noticed that the front end was trash. I took it to a local hot rod shop and they said that it wasn't safe to drive. .The front clip was welded on crooked, all of the steering components were trash. Of course Gateway said too bad so sad.I implore everyone to heed my word. DO NOT BUY FROM GATEWAY!!Cody and Bob are the quintessential SNAKE OIL salesman. Everything you have ever heard about used car salesmen holds true for these two. No car knowledge what so ever and no blood in their veins.
John Turrentine
To every person who wrote a negative…
To every person who wrote a negative review, I would ask one simple question- "Did you get off your lazy @ss, look at the vehicle in person and have a mechanic check it out?" These vehicles are DECADES old, and the sales staff at Gateway is not responsible for the customers performing their own due dilligence. Would you go to a heart surgeon without checking the credentials? Would you buy a house without having it inspected? Would you have someone take care of an elderly parent or one of your children without checking their background? All vehicles at Gateway go through a general condition, 40 point check and must meet basic driving and aesthetic standards. The cars are represented to the public as they have been represented to Gateway by the SELLERS. They are further presented through photo and video demonstration and the staff is HAPPY to WELCOME potential buyers and their MECHANICS to inspect ANY vehicle. The buyer is then welcome to make ANY OFFER THEY DESIRE based on the vehicles condition, which Gateway offers in turn to the SELLER. If you had a bad experience with Gateway, you have ONE PERSON to blame. Go find a mirror and say, "Hello"
Steve Shnabel
Horrible company
Horrible company. Would never do business with them again. One star is too many.
Martin Bowen
happy with purchase
the people at Classic Cars are very professional and helpful, would gladly purchase from them again, very pleased with all interaction
EB Monroe
Never again
They sold me a car that was presented as a 1980 Trans Am for $30k. Turns out it was an esprit made to look like a Trans Am but value was less than $20k. They even presented a fictional VIN. I will never deal with these people again.
Roger Grimsley
First class experience! A+++
First class experience. I love the approach Warren and the rest of the team takes. They allowed me to browse at my own pace and when I was ready with questions they were super informative. I ended up buying a car and the transaction was as smooth as the classic car we bought! I am on their site daily now, looking for a second car to add to the collection.
Lawrence Eidson
I bought a 1990 corvette from Gateway…
I bought a 1990 corvette from Gateway Atlanta . Received car with cracked windshield , didn't run well needed fuel pump, air condition didn't work power antenna does not work, radio does not work. Battery went dead ticking noise in dash. was told car was in great condition. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY. I LEARNED A TOUGH LESSON
Lawrence
HERE IS THE COMMISSION SCAM AT GATEWAY CLISSIC CARS
PEOPLE, PAY ATTENTION. Gateway Classic Cars has very questionable business practices. I wanted to list my 1970 SS El Camino with this company in the fall of 2020. I called and asked all the question about the process. They tell you what you want to hear, and then they send you a contract. Like most people, I really wanted to sale my car, and was willing to pay a fair commission to have someone else do it. In short, paragraph 1 of the contract is all about getting you ready for the game, it is called "NET AMOUNT". This is where you agree to the, and let me quote "Initial net amount for the sale of the vehicle". "This amount is also referred to as Net To Owner". There is some other wording in this paragraph, but here is and I quote the wording you need to understand: "Any amount earned over final written Net To Owner amount will be retained by Consignee as commission." Now, we can move on to paragraph 2 of the Gateway Classic Car contract. Minimum Consignment Commission. I am going to quote the part you need to read and understand. "The minimum consignment commission retained by the consignee will be $2,500 or 12.5% of the sale price, whichever is greater". "The consignee reserves the right to charge a buyer's Fee up to 12.5% of the sale price, although this does not create any agency relationship between the Consignee and the buyer, and the Consignee is not acting as a broker for the buyer.".Just to make a few things clear. The buyers premium is included in the asking price of any vehicle price you see posted for a vehicle sold by Gateway Classic Cars. Now, stop and read the above comments over and over until you are blue in the face and think you have understood paragraph one and two of the Gateway Classic Car contract.Now I will explain how this worked for me. I arrived for my appointment to deliver my car to the Atlanta show room. My appointment was with Dennis Vanterpool. Dennis went over the contract with me. He pulled Chris Hicks into the process when we were trying to agree to the Net to Owner price. We agreed that if we went with $35,000 as the Net to Owner, the car would be listed for just under $40,000. We knew there would be some potential negotiating before it was over, but we all agreed this price would bring potential buyers. Two weeks later, I called Dennis to find out why my car was never listed on the company website, or any of the sites they say it will be listed. Dennis was unaware the car was not listed, and said he would call me back. One week passes, and no return call from Dennis, so I call the show room and spoke to Chris Hicks. He told me he was just about ready to call me, yea right..... You see at that point my car was pulled outside for photos, but they could not get it started again. I drove three hours back to Atlanta the next day to find they had run the battery dead trying to start the 454 Blower motor. After showing Chris how to start a motor like this, we were back on track to get the car listed. A few days later, my car was listed, and much to my shock, it was listed at $46,000. Now do the math, that makes it 32% over the Net To Owner. Now they have me because the Gateway Classic Car contract states they have the right to list the car at any price. I called Dennis, and asked him about the listing price. He told me corporate set the listing price. He then told me that it was only after he did the paperwork on my car that he learned that every car was listed at 32+% of the Net to Owner because they have expenses of running a business. I told him my contact stated 12.5% commission, but he pointed to the contract that states they can list for any price above the Net to Owner price. Dennis wrote a letter to Gateway Classic Cars owner and copied me on email. Dennis told the owner that what they were doing was confusing and wrong. Dennis was no longer employed after that. After many unanswered phone calls, I found myself talking to Chis Rockwell at Gateway Classic Cars Corporate. His solution to the problem was for me to lower my Net To Owner, so they could lower the asking price. I refused, so he agreed to lower the asking price to $44,000, this would allow them to make just 26% on this sale. My car sit on the show room floor in Atlanta until I picked it up at the end of the contract.I am trying to tell you readers two things. First, if you are going to list a car with Gateway Classic Cars, the commission is not the 12.5% they talk about before you drop off your car. The only way to lower the advertised price, is to reduce your Net to Owner, but the 32% Gateway commission will not be changed. Go back to the quote about paragraph 1 where they talk about "Initial amount" for the Net To Owner. They know the Net To Owner amount is going to change, they count on it.The second point is for all you buyers. Keep in mind that EVERY advertised price you see from Gateway Classic Cars has a chump bump that could choke a horse!
John Clifford
This not in defense of Gateway
This not in defense of Gateway. But if you buy a car sight-unseen you can easily be blindsided. I have a 1954 chevy that I bought after I saw it but due to my own ignorance, it needed work.
Ron Steltz
