Dealership determined to be dependable

Looking to buy or sell a vehicle? There is now a dealership in Hill City that might be able to help. 

Alex Inskeep has been buying and selling cars since he was 14. When he was 12 or 13, Inskeep raced motocross. This was expensive so he started selling firewood through Trailside Park Resort which his dad, RJ, managed at the time. 

From there, Inskeep bought and sold four-wheelers, dirt bikes, bicycles and other random things. Eventually, he worked his way up to cars and trucks. 

In 2022 Inskeep learned that he had bought and sold enough vehicles to require a dealer’s license. Previously, Inskeep had a construction company and did real estate on the side. With this news, Inskeep said, “I decided to start my own dealership and run that.” 

Originally, Inskeep launched Top Tier Truck & Auto Sales (TTTAS) at Trailside Park Resort where his dad is now a part owner. That lasted about a month before the business started outgrowing the space. This led Inskeep to move his business to a property owned by Victor Alexander. 

“I’ve known Vic since I was a little kid, and my dad’s known him for years. So we just happened to call him, and he said that he’s got that lot ready,” Inskeep said. 

TTTAS is now located on the property adjacent to the Heart of the Hills Car & Truck Wash off Main Street, Museum Drive and Major Lake Drive. 

“One thing we really liked is how many cars drive by every year. There’s huge drive-by potential there,” said Inskeep. “I like it being here. I feel like it brings more traffic to the town and just helps grow the community.”

In February, Inskeep and his dad added a temporary building to the lot. They have since remodeled the inside to make it comfortable for customers and create a space to do office work. 

“That’s definitely nice, because trying to sell cars out of the little shed that was there was not very nice,” said Inskeep. 

The lot can easily hold nine to 10 vehicles at TTTAS, and Inskeep said, “We specialize in diesel trucks, but we also do some cars. And then we do four-wheelers, side-by-sides, boats, trailers—we do basically everything.”

This includes higher-end cars like BMWs and Mercedes, selling new cars on consignment, taking trade-ins and buying used vehicles to repair. 

Inskeep got into mechanics at an early age too. 

“I used to work on dirt bikes a lot when I raced motocross so that helped a lot. From there it went into building diesel trucks,” said Inskeep. “Honestly, I just kind of did it all by myself with friends and stuff. We just learned watching YouTube videos and learning from my dad and other people who taught.” 

Along with repairs, Inskeep customizes vehicles out of his shop to customer’s specifications. This includes wheels, tires, lifts, paint jobs, headlights and anything in between. 

“Anything you can think of, we can do it,” said Inskeep. “That’s my favorite thing about it is making it look cool. So if they want a cool car or truck, I can do it.” 

TTTAS is open every day year-round. The hours are usually 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If Inskeep is working offsite, people can call or text 605-389-7682 and he will come right over. 

“Feel free to go and take a look at anything,” said Inskeep. “I can come show them the cars. They can go for a test drive. They can take it to their mechanic if they want to and have it looked at, which I know a lot of bigger dealers don’t want you to do. I’m pretty proud of my vehicles so I’ll let them go do whatever they need to do to make sure it’s the right car for them.” 

If anyone has any questions, Inskeep said, “To be honest, I know just about everything about cars. If they have any questions, I can usually answer it. If not, I’ve got people I can call that same minute, and they can tell you the answer to it.”

“The main thing I want to be known for is just dependable cars and trucks,” said Inskeep. 

Inskeep chose the name Top Tier because he wants his vehicles to stand out and he wants to build a reputation for being dependable. 

While working with other dealers, Inskeep has been told a vehicle was in good condition only to have it break down shortly after buying it. 

“I don’t feel like that’s right. I want the car that I buy and spend thousands of dollars on to be dependable. If something does break, I can give them a call and work something out,” said Inskeep. “I’m not going to be like the bigger dealers who say once it’s sold, it’s gone and we’re not doing anything about it.”

“Nobody now wants to trust used car dealers because they’re all con artists, so I’m trying to change it up and get a reputable name so people can trust my vehicles,” Inskeep said. 

Inskeep said it is cool to have a dealership in Hill City, and he can help locals if they need to purchase a car for their child or have a car break down. His favorite part of the job is seeing people drive off with a smile knowing they are happy with their purchase and got a good deal. 

“Honestly the best part is meeting new people and making people’s day when they get to come and get a new car. They get to drive home in style,” said Inskeep. 

To learn more about TTTAS, visit their Facebook, Instagram or TikTok pages.