Episode Details

In this engaging Wealthyist episode, host Kent Haleen and co-host David Panitzke (both proud new owners of the same-year manual-transmission Corvettes) welcome Jay Shiek, aka Jay the Car Guy — a passionate collector, appraiser, broker, and key figure reviving the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance.

Jay shares his origin story: a lifelong car enthusiast who turned his passion into a business helping clients buy, sell, and appraise vintage and collector cars. His favorite part? The priceless look on someone’s face when they finally get behind the wheel of a car tied to childhood memories or long-held dreams — whether it’s a nostalgic Sunday driver, a race-pedigree machine, or a serious investment piece.

Key Highlights & Advice

• Why classics hit different: Modern cars lack the emotional history; older ones reconnect people with their past (e.g., “My uncle had one”).
• Jay’s personal passion: Unrestored, original “survivor” cars like his beloved Packard (bought new in Wisconsin, passed through careful owners, now a family wedding chariot). He’s a caretaker, not a modifier — no power steering/brakes, original everything.
• Common mistakes for wealthy newcomers:
  • Impulse/heartstring buys or auction bidding wars (set a hard budget).
  • Skipping professional appraisals (leads to overpaying, under-insuring, or missing provenance value).
  • Sentimental restorations that don’t make financial sense.
• Market insights: Values fluctuate dramatically (muscle cars, limited-production models like Charger Daytonas or GNX). Japanese 90s icons (Supra, RX-7) are heating up. Rarity, provenance, and condition drive big premiums — but buy what you love and will actually enjoy.
• Car collections: Get them appraised, properly insured, stored (especially Wisconsin winters with battery tenders), and driven. Enjoy them, show them, share them. Don’t let them sit and degrade out of fear or sentiment.
• Driving vintage cars: Requires extra care — they’re not modern in braking/handling, and other drivers don’t always respect them.

Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance: J is leading the revival (post-COVID) with plans for next year at the zoo in partnership with Autism United. It aims to be “Middle America’s Pebble Beach” — competitive, invitation-only, judged classes celebrating original/unrestored excellence. They need deep-pocket sponsors and ~450 volunteers. Get involved via carguymke.com or “Jay the Car Guy” on social media.

Final advice for successful retirees entering the hobby: Buy what tugs at your heartstrings, not what others think is cool. Work with experts to avoid pitfalls, and drive/enjoy your collection.

The episode blends lifestyle passion, practical wealth strategies for automotive assets, and community-building around classic cars. It’s motivational for enthusiasts and informative for those treating them as investments. Perfect listen for anyone with (or eyeing) a garage full of steel dreams.