Country Classic Cars Cruises Into The Spotlight With A Wide Variety In Inventory

By Lynn and Nancy Neuhaus

Joshua Laurent became the Executive Manager and Partner of the new Country Classic Cars on Aug. 2, 2022. Laurent has been recreating the business and improving the inventory to make it into his vision for the company. There are 12 people employed at the business, including salesmen, office clerks and mechanics. Upon stepping foot into their offices, everyone is greeted with a friendly energetic staff. They welcome all to come in and browse their inventory of around 280 cars and there is no charge for browsing their wide range of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Laurent’s favorite car in stock can change daily. On the day of this meeting, which occurred on Tuesday, April 16 of 2024, Laurent’s favorite classic in stock was a 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack, which they had recently added to their inventory.

Country Classic Cars sells cars to buyers from Staunton to Saudi Arabia including several Hollywood movie studios and production companies. They have cars that are considered project cars for buyers looking to restore a vehicle, but Laurent is looking to move more towards cars that are ready to go.

To open the business more to the public, Laurent has car shows and community events planned. On Saturday, June 8, they are having their Summer Classic Car Show on Historic Route 66. There will be food, music and of course, a car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is to help celebrate the One-Hundredth Year of Route 66. They are in the process of receiving a Route 66 drive-through sign similar to the one in Kingman, Ariz. Everyone will be able to visit the dealership as well as take photos of one’s own car in the Route 66 sign. Lighting has been added to the main building and the cars have reorganized to allow better viewing of the inventory. There is a golf cart available for visitors with disabilities to be able to move around in the buildings. Laurent started a YouTube channel to do profile videos of some of the cars. He does all the photography for their website and provides as much information as possible for clients to help them understand what they might purchase.

The morning was spent walking through the various buildings looking at the inventory. There are police cars, delivery trucks and even an Official Cadillac Eldorado Pace Car from the 1973 Indianapolis 500. They have a wide variety of vehicles that will surely gain interest. One that brought back memories was a gold Corvair convertible.

Whereas other classic dealers in the area maintain a standard inventory of Camaros and Mustangs, Laurent likes to have a number of oddball vehicles. There is a Mustang with a retractable roof, of which there are only three in existence, as well as a 1906 Cadillac of which there may only be a handful remaining in the world. One can easily spend the better part of the day viewing the inventory. If the opportunity for a visit to the dealership doesn’t materialize, make sure to save the date of June 8, 2024 as a day to attend the Second Annual Summer Classic event at 2149 E. Frontage Rd., located in Staunton, Ill.