Rising Stars: Meet Hillary Desneux of Peculiar, MO (South KC)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Desneux.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
If we’re talking cars, my story really starts when I was a little girl. To understand how I got here, you would have to know my dad. He always had different cars and I loved being around them. Whether it was taking me to local car shows, picking me up from school in whatever he had at the time, or teaching me how to drive a manual in my grandfather’s old Pontiac Fiero, cars were something my dad and I always shared.

I wasn’t your typical “girly girl” growing up. I loved learning and usually had my nose in a book. You would never catch me playing with dolls but I loved animals, cars and rode dirt bikes. My teenage years were spent focusing on my studies and working in my dad’s lawn and landscaping business, often waking up between 2 to 3 a.m. and working 12 to 16 hour days, among other various jobs. Both of my parents had a very strong work ethic and that mindset was instilled in me early on.

In college, I pursued a dual degree in International Business and Spanish, with a minor in French. I was sure I would either start my own business or work in international intelligence. Languages have always been a passion of mine. I’ve studied French, Spanish, Arabic, some Italian and Hebrew and now Russian. After graduation, I landed a corporate logistics job that enabled me to travel some but I quickly realized the 9 to 5 grind wasn’t for me.

That same year, my dad had just sold a few cars to buy his dream car, a 2005 Ford GT, and eventually came to me with the idea of starting a dealership. We launched Desneux Motorsports in 2013 with only a couple of cars in inventory. I left the corporate world behind and haven’t looked back.

Since then, we’ve sold hundreds of Ford GTs, Dodge Demons and other American muscle cars, including some of my personal favorites: Shelby GT500s and Cobras. Throughout the years, I was still working on the side with my dad’s landscaping business. In 2025, I decided to dedicate myself fully to the dealership and continue pushing my own business to work more closely with private clients, offering a global, personalized approach to sourcing and acquiring luxury and exotic vehicles. My goal has always been to make the buying experience not just seamless, but something truly special—where my clients feel valued and understood, and they receive an experience far beyond the typical dealership where they’re just another number.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Absolutely not. This business can be extremely volatile and inconsistent, but if anything, it’s taught me a great deal of patience. Working with family has been a unique experience. I’ve always been closely involved with my dad and I’ve learned so much from him. He’s one of the hardest workers I know and I have immense respect for his work ethic and everything he’s accomplished. Much of my own drive comes from both him and my mom. That said, working with family comes with its own set of challenges—namely communication and navigating different perspectives on how to run the business—but that’s part of the journey. Despite the hurdles, we’ve come a long way and I wouldn’t change a thing.

As a woman in the automotive industry, I don’t want to play the feminine card but let’s be honest, it’s largely run by men. I started at 22 with a lot to learn. I already knew cars, but understanding market trends, sales, and how to communicate with buyers and sellers took time. Over the years, I’ve gained more confidence through experience and I find that most people I deal with respect that. I still get the occasional comment about my success or “whose” car I’m driving, but they’re pretty rare these days. Women in this industry are often seen in a different light, especially those who focus more on appearances than on the cars themselves, and that can sometimes lead to different levels of engagement. I’ve been fortunate to build meaningful connections with clients and colleagues, who have been generous with their knowledge, advice, and have even trusted me behind the wheel of their own cars. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and for how far I’ve come in this space.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When it comes to work, I specialize in high-end American muscle cars, particularly Ford GTs, which I became known for early on. In 2013, I co-founded Desneux Motorsports with my dad, focusing on rare, iconic cars like Ford GTs, Dodge Demons and Shelbys. Over the years, I’ve expanded my knowledge base to the broader luxury car market, building a global network of clients and friends in the car space.

Being known as the ‘GT Girl’ gave me the foundation to establish myself as a trusted figure in the industry. What sets me apart is the genuine connections I’ve made and the trust those relationships place in me. Whether it’s sourcing a specific spec, negotiating at auction, or handling logistics, my clients know they can trust and rely on me to deliver. I’ve built relationships where clients trust me not only to find their dream cars but to personally pick them up, coordinate service work, and ensure a seamless process from origin to their driveway.

From working with private collectors to auction houses, I’ve been able to offer a unique, full-spectrum level of service including car sourcing and sales, automotive detailing, inventory management, photography for auction houses and tailored marketing solutions.

That’s what truly sets me apart—delivering not just cars, but a fully tailored experience my clients can rely on. I’m most proud of the trust and personal relationships I’ve built along the way, many that last long after the original sale. It’s about creating an experience they can count on, from start to finish.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I guess you could say I was curious?… but really I was the nerdy kid that always loved learning and taking on new hobbies. Academically, I took my studies seriously. I definitely wasn’t the popular kid, but I strived to get along with everyone and had my few close friends. Being the girl who loved cars, dirt bikes, and quite literally getting my hands dirty at work made me stand out in ways I didn’t always embrace—especially after middle school, where I took my fair share of jabs, mostly from other girls.

I grew up splitting time between my parents’ homes and was an only child until I was 9. That experience taught me to adapt and become self-sufficient. Though it wasn’t always easy, I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work ethic and resilience both of my parents displayed and instilled in me, shaping my ability to stand on my own and appreciate life’s challenges.

Working in my dad’s lawn and landscaping business, I worked throughout school, even operating my own truck and plow pushing snow on snow days. Those long, early mornings and hours spent working taught me discipline and the importance of putting in the effort to build something meaningful. I also carried various part time jobs as well.

I always had a love for the finer things and things that were different. If anyone could have it or do it, I wasn’t generally interested but my interests were broad and I found joy in meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. Coming from a small town in Missouri, studying languages like Spanish, French, Arabic, and even Russian now have become my way of connecting to the world and broadening my understanding of different perspectives.

Life is meant to be fully lived… whether it’s through travel, meeting new people, or deepening my passion for cars, my curiosity has never stopped driving me to seek out new experiences. While I’ve come a long way from being the quiet kid, cars have always been my constant passion—the thread that connects everything for me. Today, I’m grateful for all the experiences, challenges, and lessons that have shaped me along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hillarydesneux.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillarydesneux
• Other: https://www.desneuxmotorsports.com