Monday, July 20 | Opening General Session
John Clay Wolfe
One Million Cars. One Lesson: Buy Right or Lose.
Opening General Session
What separates Texas independent dealers who scale from those who struggle? According to John Clay Wolfe, it starts with how you acquire.
Wolfe, President and Founder of GIVE ME THE VIN™ (GMTV), built a $2 billion wholesale platform on a single 60-second valuation process. Over 30 years and nearly a million vehicles across consumer, classic, and luxury markets, he's developed an approach to acquisition and vehicle liquidity that cuts through the noise — and translates directly to your dealership.
In this session, Wolfe shares the strategies behind GMTV's growth — from consumer acquisitions and auction remarketing to what he's learned from industry veteran Robert Hollenshead and how AI is already reshaping the way smart dealers value and move inventory. You'll leave with a sharper eye for the deals worth taking, and the ones worth walking away from.
ABOUT JOHN CLAY WOLFE:
John Clay Wolfe revolutionized consumer vehicle selling with a 60-second valuation process as President and Founder of GIVE ME THE VIN™ (GMTV). Established in 1994 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, GMTV is one of the largest, most powerful wholesale trading platforms in the U.S. automotive market with nearly $2 billion in annual revenues. It boasts an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. To date, Wolfe has bought and sold nearly a million cars, making him an automotive market expert with keen insight into the economics and value of any given vehicle. Given the success and longevity of GMTV, Wolfe expanded operations to include GMTV Classic & Collector and GMTV LUX Exotic & Luxury.
Always on the hunt for rare car collections to purchase, Wolfe has earned the reputation for finding the most desirable cars in surprising locations. He captures the behind-the-scenes negotiations and adventures of these pursuits to share weekly with fellow automotive enthusiasts on his YouTube channel. He then sells the cars from his GMTV Manheim Dallas auction block to dealers worldwide.
With the intensity of the car business, Wolfe blows off steam with his national radio and YouTube audience, of which the most loyal fans are affectionately known as “the wolfe pack.” With his quick wit and bawdy sense of humor, he revs them up, likening the show to Saturday morning cartoons for adults. As a life-long car enthusiast, he talks about anything car related, buys cars sight-unseen from listeners, and laughs with his co-hosts about their daily musings. Heard by more than a million weekly listeners on 55 stations nationwide and live on his YouTube channel from 8 a.m. to noon CT, The John Clay Wolfe Show is one of the most listened-to Saturday morning shows in the country.
Anything Wolfe puts his mind to, he achieves. He defies adversity with his keen intellect, positive outlook and unparalleled work ethic. This is how he overcame a tragic motocross accident that nearly severed his spinal cord in 2004. He was just 32 years old and was told he would never walk again. Only 18 months after his accident, he was walking. Despite a slight limp, he still has his swagger and an indomitable spirit.