Vern Roberts stands with his recently purchased 1965 Corvette Roadster at Southern Motors in Clarkston. Roberts will compete in the Vintage Car Races July 28-29, 2012 at Waterford Hills Road Course.

From The Oakland Press

Dealership specializes in classic Cruisers

Last Updated: 8/8/2012 2:52:08 PM

By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press

Vern Roberts opened his classic car dealership, Southern Motors, in 1978, long before anyone imagined the Woodward Dream Cruise.
But you could say the two share a common bond.
“There is always a lot of excitement around the event,” said Dave Witt, sales manager at the Clarkston-based dealership at 6605 Dixie Highway in Clarkston.
The dealership, which carries an inventory of early 1930s street rods to 1960s-70s muscle cars, sells up to 300 each year.
“We get to meet people from around the world who come here just to see us,” said Witt.
Business is steady leading up the big annual cruise that attracts up to a million people along Woodward Avenue — set this year for Aug. 18.
“We see a lot of people from out of the area who travel here and schedule appointments to look at our cars,” said Witt.
He recently talked with a Chicago man who is interested in a sweet 1967 Pontiac GTO listed on the Southern Motors website.
“He’s hoping to be here (soon),” said Witt.
The GTO is a knockout — 400 cubic-inch engine and 360 hp.
“It’s pretty rare that it has the bigger horsepower engine in it,” he said.
People also stop in during the week of the Dream Cruise to check out the cars, he said.
Vern Roberts, a former Pontiac police officer, opened the dealership first in Pontiac with three cars.
Roberts retired in 1994 and devoted his time to the dealership. Witt joined the operation in 1990.
“Vern took me under his wing when I was in high school and we built a bond that is unbreakable,” said Witt on the business’ website.
The dealership buys and sells cars, but does not rent its vehicles.
Witt is waiting for a car coming into town from Tennessee will catch people’s imaginations.
“It’s a 1965 white Ford Mustang, and our buyer just found it,” he said.
“We are aiming to get it before Dream Cruise.”

Contact Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oakpress.com. Follow her on Twitter @OPCarolHopkins or on Facebook @OPcarolhopkins.