Raymond and Joey Wilkes, a father-son team with more than 50 years of automotive experience, on Friday opened Capital City Auto Auction, a new independently owned and operated facility in Ohio.

The owners highlighted their management and staff are committed to combining the warm and friendly feel dealers enjoy at auctions with technology and all the automotive services needed to fully recondition vehicles. 

“We just want to do things the right way,” Raymond Wilkes said.  “We want dealers to be happy.”

Capital City AA boasts several unique features. 

First, with 135,000 square-feet of interior display space, Wilkes plans on filling four auction lanes. He pointed out that somewhat rare to an auction facility is the ability to house nearly 400 vehicles inside the space, alleviating the burden adverse weather on buyers and sellers. 

From lane-side pub-style seating, dealers can see each vehicle, while wait staff delivers refreshments thus ensuring an accommodating buy/sell atmosphere.  

Technology abounds with specially designed in lane speakers and sound walls.  

Furthermore, dozens of monitors flank the arena for ease and convenience. 

While Wilkes prides himself on the aesthetics of the venue, he insisted what will be a major draw for dealers is the fee structure. 

On average, Wilkes indicated, fees at Capital City AA are roughly half of what dealers have become accustomed to paying.  Capital City AA also mentioned dealers can take advantage of $99 buy and sell fees during March.

Wilkes’ automotive background has given him insight into ways to streamline services to be conducive to dealers’ time and budget. The grand opening for the 60,000-square-foot auto body shop is slated for the spring. 

The body shop has all new equipment including five car tunnel paint booths and four prep booths. 

Also on site is a mechanic shop, detail facility and transportation solutions. 

Soon, the new auction will begin construction on an express tunnel car wash that will be open to the public on non-auction days. 

“The simplicity of titling and floor planning will be a welcome bonus for dealers with a myriad of options,” Wilkes said.

Capital City Auto Auction will run sales every Friday beginning at 11 a.m. 

For additional information, visit www.capcityaa.com.

Southeastern AA of Savannah Breaks Records & Supports Shriners Hospital for Children

This past Wednesday, Southeastern Auto Auction of Savannah held its Cars, Cash & Caring Sale.

 The “cars” portion of the sale featured a record breaking number of vehicles sold to a record breaking number of dealers in attendance.

The “cash” portion of the sale featured $30,000 in cash and prizes that were given away after the sale including $10,000 cash, a golf cart, green egg grill, 70-inch televisions, drones, a Bose surround sound system and much more. 

The “caring” portion of the sale featured a donation of more than $3,000 to Shriner's Hospital for Children. This donation came from money raised through 50/50 drawings and an auction contribution for every transaction made over the previous five weeks. 

Shriner's Hospital for Children is committed to providing the best care for children in the specialty areas of orthopedics, burn care, spinal cord injury and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

“It was a perfect day for selling cars, giving away prizes and helping a great organization like Shriners Hospital for Children,” Southeastern vice president Bill McCready said.

“The great 80-degree weather we had was just one more reason to smile,” McCready continued. “I want to thank everyone, especially our generous and caring dealers, for helping to raise this amount of money for children in need.”

Southeastern Auto Auction is located in Savannah, Ga., and holds a dealer-only sale every Wednesday at 10 a.m. and a public sale every Thursday at 7 p.m.