It was 2003 when Adam Combs and Zach Lindberg first met, or “a million years ago” as Combs puts it.

They were working for an auto dealership in Arizona, but they both had bigger dreams. They wanted to own their own business one day — to work for themselves, selling vehicles and making a living.

But years passed, and the two lived mostly in different towns and states along the way. About once ever year, for the past eight years, though, they would meet up and talk about future plans.

They wanted to own an auto dealer that dealt in 4×4 and off-road vehicles.

Fast-forward to October 2023, some 20 years after they first met. And the dream had a chance of becoming a reality.

“I came down to visit, and he was like, come check out this spot,” Lindberg said.

“I had my eye on the shop for a while. I just always wanted it, and I wanted to fix it,” Combs said. “It was falling down, and I wanted to help it.”

Combs had already bought and fixed up a couple different 100-year-old houses. He also owns a few old square-body pick-ups, which he also likes to fix up.

Lindberg moved here, and they are in the process of purchasing the building they are currently leasing at 933 E. Main St.

Most have probably noticed, because the shop was previously dilapidated and falling apart. And it hasn’t been occupied by a business for years. But after putting about $80,000 into the building, it has new life, and is no longer an eyesore, but a business in its early stages.

They said they worked with all local contractors to get the building looking right.

They plan to put another $25,000 or $30,000 to finish up everything with the building.

The City of Montrose also invested by repairing the sidewalks outside.

“We fixed this whole building,” Combs said. “It was falling down. And I just like to fix stuff. I like to fix old stuff.”

Their business is called Mountain Trail Motors, and Lindberg and Combs plan to do a few different things — all automotive related — out of the shop.

First, they are an auto dealer (they have their auto dealer license but are waiting for a certificate before they can start building up more inventory).

Combs said they want to sell four-wheel-drive vehicles, and Combs especially has a love for the old square body Chevys.

Second, they are a consignment vehicle dealer.

During their interview with the Business Times on Tuesday, one of their customers came in, who has an Jeep CJ-7 Levis edition on the lot.

“We want people to be able to assist people as a broker as well, so we do consignment,” Lindberg said. “They don’t have to do all the hard work of selling their vehicle. We will do that for them for 10% to get the best possible price they can get.”

Third, they plan to, in the next eight or nine weeks, start dealing and renting all-terrain and utility-terrain vehicles.

They said they will be the only Massimo Motor Sports dealer in Colorado once all the certifications come back from the state for them to be able to do business.

And lastly, they are also a detailing shop. They are experienced detailers and will do detail work on any make and model.

But their experience goes deeper than that. Lindberg has been in the car business for 20 years, and he was the GM at another dealership before leaving there to start Mountain Trail Motors.

Combs has been a car guy his whole life. He bought his first square body truck when he was 15, and he enjoys working on them and driving them.

“It’s such a good locations, right off Main Street, and we’ve been getting a lot of interest to start,” Combs said. “A lot people bring us some pretty cool stuff (for consignment).”

Asked how they feel about starting the business, Combs said they “feel great about it.”

“I’ve been wanting to do this for 20 years. And mostly I want to fix and build trucks, you know,” he said.

Asked what their favorite vehicles are, Combs kept with the same answer. Lindberg said anything that makes them some money.

They are currently open and taking consignments.

The inventory on their lot currently consists mostly of their own vehicles, but they welcome anyone to the lot.

Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.