After nearly five decades of fixing, selling and swapping stories about Corvettes along El Cajon Boulevard, Corvette Specialty in Normal Heights is shutting down for good. Owner Dave Meyer is retiring, and the shop's cars, parts and equipment are headed to a liquidation auction rather than to new shelves.
Meyer opened the business in La Mesa in 1977 before relocating it to Normal Heights, according to NBC 7 San Diego. A 2011 profile from Voice of San Diego described the shop as part dealership, part service garage and part hangout for Corvette enthusiasts, noting that Meyer had moved the operation to El Cajon Boulevard roughly 20 years before that article was written. Meyer has put the property into escrow and expects the sale to close within the next few weeks, per the station's report.
Meyer said the decision to close brings mixed emotions, but that it's simply time to move on, the station reports. He's ready to close this chapter after nearly 50 years in business and plans to spend his retirement volunteering and with family. He also offered a parting piece of advice for other entrepreneurs: take opportunities when they come, because they may not come around again.
An Auction to Clear Out Decades of Inventory
Jason Hanks, who owns Cal Auctions, is helping Meyer sell off the shop's inventory through an online sale. Cal Auctions describes Meyer as ready to retire after more than 40 years operating Corvette Specialty in San Diego. Hanks and his team have spent several weeks sorting through the vehicles, parts and equipment that built up over the shop's long run, according to the station's report.
The liquidation listing includes a 1966, a 1971 and a 1993 Corvette, along with a drag car and a 2002 Buick, plus tools, shop equipment, Corvette parts and automotive accessories, per the Cal Auctions listing. The inventory also includes specialized equipment built for Corvettes and other Chevrolet vehicles alongside general automotive repair gear. Hanks called Meyer a great guy and a hard worker whose determination built the business, the station notes.
Viewing and Bidding Details
Auction items will be available for public viewing Monday from 9 a.m. to noon at the shop itself, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Bidders may continue placing bids until Tuesday, the final day of bidding. The Cal Auctions listing also notes an 18% buyer's premium and lists auction-related windows on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 in Coordinated Universal Time.
For a shop that spent nearly 50 years as both a business and a gathering spot for Corvette lovers, the final sale marks the end of an era for one corner of Normal Heights. Meyer's own words, as relayed in the station's report, sum up his outlook heading into retirement: it's time to close, and time to move on.
