For a business owner, nothing puts a smile on your face quite like moving into a new location.
That’s undoubtedly true for Todd & Kelly Willoughby, owners of American Street Machines. And honestly, they have every reason to be excited, and so should you.
Because the moment you darken their doorstep, you’re greeted with jaw-dropping, rolling works of automotive art. And as we quickly found out, the well-appointed lobby was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Their spacious showroom was filled with rare, highly sought-after vehicles that would make any collector jealous.
Though we weren’t surprised. Curating rare, collectible vehicles has been Todd Willoughby’s “stock and trade” for over 20 years.
Also, we weren’t surprised to be drawn to a stunning, black 1969 427 tri-powered Corvette coupe sold by Yenko and to Todd’s backstory.
Passion & Knowledge
Rod Worley – Editor – Todd, what drove you to start this business?
Todd Willoughby – American Street Machines Owner – In the early 2000s, I was getting sick of the corporate world and wanted to get back to my passion. So, I started American Street Machines in 2003.
All through high school, I was buying and selling cars. I was that kid who had a different car every week or two.
Also, I was the kid who was always reading magazines about Camaros, Corvettes, Chevelles, and other big muscle cars. I studied production numbers, options, and what makes certain cars collectible.
So, I took that knowledge and passion for cars, started the business, and shared a building with Tal from Best Metal Polishing. Early on, the number of photos we took per car set American Street Machines apart from the competition.
We were the first to put over 100 pictures per car on our website. Whatever you wanted to see on the car, we had you covered. VINs, engine stamps, date codes, and more were on our website for potential owners.
We quickly became the king of sight-unseen sales because we were the only ones giving that amount of detail. Sales blew up because of it.
Reputation among high-end collectors grew to the point they would call me to sell part of their collection or if they were in the market for something rare.
Yenko In The House
Rod Worley – Editor – We’ve got to talk about that stunning black 1969 tri-powered Corvette you’ve got for sale in the showroom.
Todd Willoughby – American Street Machines Owner – You’re right, that’s something special. It’s a real triple black, 1969 tri-powered 427/435 horsepower Corvette.
And from what I believe, it is one of only three like it sold through the Yenko dealership in Cannonsburg, Pa. That year, they sold a yellow model, a blue one, and a black one.
This is not a Yenko-built Corvette, but they did sell it through their dealership. That’s why it has the distinctive Yenko badging.
It is a matching number car with the correct drivetrain. We also have the original sales invoice from Yenko, the original protect-o-plate, and other paperwork.
It’s a five-owner car that did go through the Mecum auction. So Dana Mecum knows about this car, and Terry Michaelis from Pro Team Corvette also has his name on some of the paperwork.
Great New Location
Rod Worley – Editor – We can’t leave without discussing your new location. You can’t help but be impressed when you walk into the lobby.
Plus you’ve got a large, well-lit showroom, which you definitely need. Any thoughts on using the site for more than housing your business?
Todd Willoughby – American Street Machines Owner – Thanks, we appreciate it.
It’s a great facility with lifts and a mechanic all under one roof in a safe, secure location. Back in 2006, I made the mistake of having two locations.
I had one in Acworth and one in Newborn, and the commute between home and the two shops was killing me.
I’ve lived in Lilburn for over 20 years, so it’s great to have a showroom so close to home.
Now, about future plans for the facility? Yes, we want to do more than sell collectible vehicles here.
We want to host local car club meetings and be a hub for the local car community.
Kid In A Candy Store
From a magazine editor’s perspective, Todd & Kelly Willoughby’s new American Street Machines location is filled with potential articles.
As you might imagine, many of these rare, collectible Corvettes have fascinating backstories. We were like a kid in a candy store all morning.
If you have a collectible vehicle to sell or are in the market to add to your collection, you can’t help but feel the same way.
Either way, you owe it to yourself to stop by their impressive new location at 5395 Webb Pkwy NW, Lilburn, GA 30047.
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