AutoVino Brings World-Class Automobiles to Connoisseurs’ Marketplace
1991 Ferrari Mondial T Cabriolet (above) and 1987 Ford Shelby Cobra (below)
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Atherton City Councilmember Charles Marsala always dreamed of owning a convertible 2+2 Ferrari. In 2004, he bought the red Mondial T Cabriolet Al Pacino drove in the movie Scent of a Woman.
The exquisite Ferrari is just one of the rare, world-class automobiles that will be showcased this year at the AutoVino Collector Car Showcase making its debut this year at Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, Menlo Park‘s annual festival of the arts, July 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue.
Festivalgoers are in for a real treat, as they will be able to view gorgeous collector cars from various decades.
Among the prized possessions will be a 1942, Wedgwood blue World War II Willys Army Jeep; an elegant, burgundy open-air 1951 MG TD early English touring car; and an extremely fast, 1987 Ford Shelby Cobra — a street car version of the Shelby originally raced by racecar legend Carroll Shelby.
“We’ll be showing a wide range of cars stored at AutoVino,” said Phil Giurlani of Menlo Park-based AutoVino. “This is a perfect opportunity for us to share these collector cars with the community. We are a local business and we serve a niche in the area.”
World War II Willys Army Jeep (above) and VC Sims Racing Simulator (below)
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“AutoVino is a place for people who enjoy fine wine, collector cars and cigars to be able to sit back, relax and share their passions,” added AutoVino owner Buff Giurlani.
The AutoVino facility can store up to 65 cars and about 6,000 cases of wine. It is located at 205 Constitution Drive in Menlo Park. The facility also is the new home of Woodside Vineyards, which was the 120th winery established in California. Today, there are 3,000-plus wineries in California.
“We make wine and take care of 26 local vineyards in Woodside and Portola Valley,” Giurlani noted. “Wine, cigars and cars are my passions.”
In addition to the rare autos, AutoVino will demonstrate its VC Sims Racing Simulator. The 180-degree wrap immersion screen and state-of-the-art D-Box motion actuators provide the most realistic racing simulation available today.
“We encourage people to try their luck on the simulator racing a Formula One car at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca or a Dallara Indy car at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway,” Buff Giurlani said. “Connoisseurs’ Marketplace is going to be a wonderful day for people of all ages and we’re delighted to be a part of the festivities.”
For information on AutoVino, A Preserve for Fine Cars and Wine, visit http://www.auto-vino.org.
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