Speciality Auto Sales in Pleasanton

It's a consignment store with, I believe, 3 locations (Pleasanton, Benicia and San Carlos). The salesmen know little to nothing about the cars' specifics. They will happily share whatever information they have on file and readily agree to test drives. The quality and condition of their inventory is all over the map. It's a brick and mortar Ebay.

 

They have been around long before eBay ever came about, so I wouldn't really consider them "A Brick & Mortar Ebay". But, I have seen the inventory be from piles of crap to very well maintained. It depends on who brings in what to have them sell it. Anything you may be interested in, you may want to have well inspected by someone that is worthy of doing so. Me personally, I wouldn't buy from them. That is only because of the mark up.

 

BAD...That's all I'm going to say.
BTW, their Benicia location seems to have shut it's doors.

 

I have no idea as to what kind of dealings david1175 may have had with Specialty Sales in Benicia, CA, but my experience with them was all positive.

I bought the blue Dino 246gt from them after having looked at and driven 5 others, and PPI'd 3. Unlike some other exotic and muscle car dealers, they told me everything that they knew was a problem or potential problem with the car first before I flew down, drove it, and had a PPI done by Patrick Ottis. The car is a great driver, which was exactly what I wanted after having owned a near perfect 246gts for over 12 years. (If the blue Dino is still up on their website, I apologize because I told them that if they wanted to keep it up there that it was fine with me).

It is pretty easy to anonymously smear someone on FCHAT with innuendo and warrantless comments like "their Benicia location seems to have shut it's (sic) doors," and mislead readers. A simple call would have confirmed that they are open and still in business (as I did this morning).

With respect to their inventory, it is true that they have a wide range in quality from mediocre to very good to excellent, and for the most part, I believe their prices reflect that variation, and I saw some cars there that I would have been very interested in if I had been considering some good American muscle. Let's face it, not everyone has the money for an original build 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet or a 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible, so Specialty offers vehicles that they hope will appeal to their market. One surprise that I saw at their Benicia location was the 1939 Charles Lindbergh Travel Trailer - this was way out of the norm for a standard exotic or muscle car dealer. They have an interesting write-up about it on their website.

With respect to mark-up, Specialty Sales didn't seem unreasonable to me, and they were very helpful in setting up a test drive for me and arranging to trailer the Dino to Patrick Ottis on very short notice. And, BTW, the salespeople at Fantasy Junction were also very helpful.

A tip of the hat from me to Johnny Duenas (and Jared) at Specialty Sales, to Spencer Trenery at Fantasy Junction, and to Patrick Ottis. All of them were very professional and generous with their time.

Mark Nerheim

 

Just giving a heads-up to anyone thinking of doing business with Specialty Sales....

They recently sold a Ferrari of mine, and have yet to pay. The consignment contract says it takes up to 20 days to get paid, I am now around 30 days with no end in sight. The car is gone and I have no money. Soon it will be a legal matter, with the car reported stolen. Their business manager won't take calls and their owner is out of town. Nobody can resolve it. Am told they have financial problems.

Imagine you buy a car there and one day while driving it, you're pulled over for receiving stolen property and your new ride is impounded. I truly hope it doesn't come to that, but it might very soon...

Do NOT do business with Specialty Sales unless you like high risk...