Texas Classic Car Shop Owner Gets 60 Years for Fraud

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Richard Thomas Finley, the owner of Classic American Street Rods in Texas, was sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of felony theft of more than $300,000. Authorities say Finley took deposits from at least 72 customers for modernization jobs that largely never happened, stripping parts from some cars and selling them while offering shifting excuses and bogus progress reports.

Why it matters

This case highlights the risks classic car owners face when trusting restoration shops, as well as the challenges prosecutors face in cracking down on large-scale fraud in the custom car industry. The stiff 60-year sentence sends a strong message that such restoration scams will be treated as serious crimes, not just business disputes.

The details

Between 2018 and 2023, Finley allegedly took more than $498,000 in deposits from customers for engine-swap modernization jobs that he largely failed to complete. Investigators say Finley would demand hefty deposits, then stall for months or years, offering shifting excuses and bogus progress reports. Parts were stripped from some cars and sold, even as owners were told work was underway. More than 20 classic vehicles were eventually recovered and returned to their owners, but the money is long gone.

• Finley operated his scam between 2018 and 2023.
• Finley was sentenced in January 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Finley has appealed the court's ruling.