Runnels Automotive

in the 70’s I worked at a foreign auto parts store in South Lake Tahoe and met John as he bought parts from us. He actually worked on cars in those days and I believe his shop was across the street from where it is now. We became friends of sorts and we shared a rented garage space where he kept a vintage Porsche and I kept a Sprite I was restoring. In those days John was thought of as a wheeler dealer, and a little different, but was smart and knew a lot about cars. At this point it’s just very sad to hear that he’s occupying one of the prime locations in the area, and behaving so poorly towards people drawn to his shop…

Pulled into parts store lot, illuminated sign flashed «OPEN». Before I was even able to step out of my car, this hunched over guy hobbled past, yelled «this is private property, there’s a sign». He gestured to a sign on other side of the lot by the junkyard he keeps on the busy corner. He then walked into his «shop» and slammed the door. Um. ok guy, guess I’ll spend my money at one of the many other parts shops in town. MUST be a front for some other operation, as he apparently turns away ALL customers – judging by the many reviews. I’ll bet the spends his vacation days yelling «get off my lawn» to neighborhood kids. The IRS should investigate this obvious business front. Second sign says «Rapco Auto Parts». Similar reviews under that name.

Went there to see the beautiful classic cars. Whatever this guy earns his money with — he came out of his shop after we parked our car and started yelling, treating us unbelievable, insulting and disgusting. If you want to have an argument with someone who deserves to get slapped — go there. If you want to have a nice day you must definitely keep away from this shop. Worst experience I made during my entirely time in the United States.

To everyone who has written a review and said something negative, most of you are correct… in some form or another.
John Runnels’ business isn’t much of a business at all. As I have heard from numerous anonymous sources around town, the business is simply a front. The guy who supposedly owns and runs this establishment is a trust-​fund baby. And in order for him to continue receiving a monthly check from that fund, he has to have some kind of functional business. I never got into whether or not he had to sell anything, but what I got out of it was that he simply buys stuff himself from his own business and then uses the receipts to say that people are buying stuff but in reality it’s his own little «ponzi scheme.»
Yes, he has a lot of junk cars on his lot… sadly! But what you don’t see or know about is the 2 – 3 hangars at the airport that he has rented out that are filled with even more classic cars also rusting away into time.
You’re talking about a guy who has absolutely nothing better to do with his time than sit behind a desk, tinker with a couple of cars, act like a complete ass to everyone, and still call himself reputable.
John truly is a really intelligent person, however he’s not exactly a people person. So if you happen to stumble onto his lot looking to buy «tire chains,» save yourself the hassle and go to Les Schwab, Ken’s Tire Center, Lily’s, Safeway or Raley’s.

This psycho doesn’t deserve one star. I’ve lived around Tahoe for 10 years and its been the same thing the whole time. The place used to look more abandoned. There has to be some reason he has an «OPEN» business but has it fenced off and has «NO TRESPASSING» posted but no one I have met has any idea, only speculation. I guess if some guy wants to have a pretend shop so he can play mechanic fine with me but he didn’t pick a very good spot to be left alone. Another example proving you don’t have to be smart to have money.

Yep, horribly rude. Talks to folks like they are animals. Classic cars should be about sharing and enjoying with others — otherwise they are just worthless pieces of junk rusting away. But maybe that’s what this guy relates to.

27^th sep 2012
Hi guys.
I was so pleased to read all your reviews as I had taken what happened to us today very personally
My partner and I are on vacation from England at the moment and we were driving past said car lot today and decided to turn back to have a better look as there are a lot of interesting classic cars there.
There were two open signs on show one by the office and one by the work shop so we pulled in to the parking bay and parked, we then started looking at all the interesting old cars. After about 10 minutes the owner came bursting out of the workshop door and ordered us to get off his property saying things like «can’t you fucking read this is private property you assholes»
We were taken aback and said «ok» and started to walk towards our car when he decided to come over and have another go this time with a much more
intimidating and aggressive manor.
«can’t you read you fucking assholes» he shouted again «this is private property»
To which I replied calmly «your signs say open so we thought we could look around»
He then put his face so close to mine I could feel his breath and said «read the signs they say no trespassing and no parking so get the fuck out of here»
I replied «don’t worry we are going»
He then started to walk off shouting «fuck off Fucking Faggots’ at us!
This was an extremely unpleasant and unnerving experience and having a character like that in such a prominent position in your beautiful town really does it no favours at all. I am not sure what the laws are in this state but he would deffinately not get away with that discriminating last comment in the uk.

I don’t understand why anyone would willfully run a «business» on prime real estate in South Lake Tahoe with interesting cars to talk about on the lot, and then yell menacingly at everyone that comes by. Are the cars for sale? We didn’t even get that far before the crazy guy that inhabits the garage told us to leave.
To Mr. Runnels (or whatever your name is): I’m glad to join the other 10 people here on Unilocal,and I’m sure countless non-​Yelpers who have completely ruined your day. In fact, I’m sure your day was ruined before I even showed up. Enjoy tomorrow, I know mine’s going to be grand!

I could not BELIEVE how balls-​out, in your face rude this guy is. See the «Good Fun Notes» at the end of the review for my presumption on why.
We’ve recently acquired a 1953 Willy’s Wagon (awwww yeaaaah) and though we’d been warned by our gear-​head friends that this place is a waste of time and space, we decided to go see for ourselves. When we arrived, the owner had his head in the trunk of a car. The conversation that ensued:
Hubby: «Hi. We just purchased a 53 Willy’s Wagon, and wanted to see of you carry compatible parts or have any information»
Ass Hat Owner from Ass Hat Land: «No. No Jeep parts. No information.»
Hubby: «…Is it possible for us to order parts through you?»
AHOfAHL: *exaggerated sigh* «I’ll look when I’m done here.»
Not once did he pull his head out of the trunk to speak to us, and while his actual words weren’t excessively rude, his attitude certainly was. There are many situations in which I would love to rub one of our daughter’s poop diapers in someones face, but never before have I actually come close to doing so.
Good Fun Notes: When checking in at Runnels on Unilocal Mobile app, I noticed a tip from another patron stating that this guy is a Trust Fund baby, and only keeps the shop open because he has to have a legitimate business open a certain amount of hours a week to continue receiving his trust. If that’s true, this is three things:
1) An asshat who’s giving the local vintage car guys a bad name
2) An asshat who gets a business write-​off for what is obviously his hobby
3) A complete waste of time, space and air.
Seriously? If he wants to run a trust fund shop, it’s his choice. But why pick one of the most obvious spots in Tahoe to place it? If he’d found something off Third Street he wouldn’t have anyone «bothering» him. Save yourself the grief of dealing with this jerk and drive on by.

Yep… I see a pattern here :)
Pulled into his business as the signs said OPEN. Got out and asked if it would be OK to take a look at the classic cars on the lot. Apparently I had missed the signs painted on the GROUND that says no trespassing. (heres a novel idea, if you don’t want customers then simply put up signs that can be read by normal people and take down the open for business signs.)
My request to look at the classic cars was met with a reference to my size and to my intimacy with my wife. Neither of which are any of this companies business. For a second I thought the cameras were going to come out and I was going to be staring on «What would you do…» Unfortunately not, just a well known community looser that should think about vacating a high traffic street corner for a little black windowless warehouse box.

We got yelled at for just walking in front of his place during the last snow storm. He was outside shoveling snow and In order not to be buried in the slop we had to step on his property for a moment. He yelled at us telling us it was private property. Strange someone running a business in a town were places are closing left and right would act like that. I live here and would never take my truck to that man. Why is it this guy is open?

It took me every bone in my body to not smash this old mans fucking teeth in. IF YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE LOOKING AT YOUR CARS, DO NOT PUT THEM ON THE BIGGEST INTERSECTION IN TOW. SECOND OF ALL PUT UP SOME SIGHNS SAYING «NO TRESPASSING». THIRD DONT PUT THEM IN FRONT OF YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. you are not only rude, your retarded! those cars were ment to be rebuilt and seen by all and you do NOT deserve them. the only thing you deserve is a relentless beating.

This guy is a world class asshole. He has a beautiful lot and gorgeous cars but don’t dare step foot on his property. Altho this asshole has full blown business signs and cars for sale in open public view, the second you step foot onto his property you will be hostly approached and verbally and perhaps physically abused. The owner obviously has issues and its a shame he has his hands on any of these beautiful vehicles. Least deserving man to walk the face of the earth.