FM of Silicon Valley Grand Opening

AutoConcierge · Apr 29, 2005

Here's some pictures of tonight's grand opening. I got there very early so I took some pictures of the service department when no one was in there. Art has done a wonderful job with the new dealership. Here are the pictures for those of you who didn't make it to the grand opening...

Bob Willis
Auto Concierge
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Rosso · Apr 30, 2005

Ahhh! Awesome pictures, Bob. Looking good.

Edit: Nevermind...read the article in the SJ Merc. Wow, even a little feature on Channel 5 (following their report that Atherton is the most expensive zip code in the US).

taber · Apr 30, 2005

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/30/BAGKNCHQFP1.DTL

Starting today, window shopping in Redwood City takes on a whole new meaning.

Walk in front of 2750 El Camino Real, and you can spot three red Ferraris that are far rarer and costlier than even the 200 grand or more than an "entry- level" Ferrari would set you back, said Giacomo Mattioli, CEO of the Ferrari Maserati of Silicon Valley dealership that officially opens there today. The dealership will be among the largest offering Ferraris and Maseratis in the world, with a 10,000-square-foot showroom, a 12,000-square-foot service area and even an Italian bistro that opens in another month.

So much for the dot-com bust.

"I think the wealth in the Silicon Valley has not deteriorated at all," said Art Zafiropoulo, the CEO of Ultratech in San Jose who co-owns the dealership with Mattioli. The Atherton resident and car collector -- those are his Ferraris in the window, including a one-of-a-kind Ferrari GT1 race car signed by champion Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher, along with a rare blue and pearl white Maserati MC-12 -- said the valley had tons of rich people before the dot-coms, and most of their fortunes didn't suffer from death by Nasdaq.

Mattioli, who already owned dealerships in Beverly Hills and Pasadena, said many of the Bay Area residents who could afford to buy the few thousand Ferraris sold worldwide each year came from Silicon Valley.

"Our location for the next three years is presold," Mattioli said. "The supply is very tight, and the demand is very high."

The Maseratis, not so much. People can get some models right away, he said, assuming they can afford the $85,000 or more that the vehicles cost. A few Ferrari models ordered now might be available around the end of this year.

Mattioli's eyes light up most when he talks about the Ferraris. He grew up in Modena, Italy, where the factory is, and has worked with the cars all his life.

"To me, the brand means passion," he said. "I want people to experience that."

Part of that passion involves racing, which is why the dealership had a 350 Spider race car in action Friday at the San Mateo County Expo Center, where it invited Ferrari owners and community leaders to test drive Maseratis and ride a couple of laps in the Spider with driver Ryan Negri. Ferrari has a 360 Challenge series of races around the country, and the Redwood City dealership will even service race cars for local enthusiasts.

Negri said he was only able to get the Spider up to about 75 mph, but that doesn't feel like an itsy bitsy speed in a parking lot.

"That was the best roller coaster I've ever been on," said Ryan Spencer, a sixth-grader from San Mateo whose family has been involved with car dealerships for decades and who had the rare fortune of having a school holiday Friday.

The second of two parking lot laps was the most exciting. Negri turned off the Ferrari's traction control, letting the wheels skid like a tech stock, but without the crash.

As he watched the race car roar through its laps, father Richard Spencer said he understood why Ferraris had stayed so popular.

"Part of the mystique about the Ferrari is the noise and the aesthetics," Spencer said. The nuances in the design continue to intrigue people, he said.

Phil White of Atherton, a high-tech consultant and restaurateur, likes the design of the older Ferraris. He has two, from 1966 and 1973. The timing of the dealership is good, White said, because he can see the Silicon Valley's economy starting to bounce back.

"I think you're seeing all the venture money and biotech," White said.

Anne Carr of Palo Alto said she and husband Gavin had owned cars from Porsche and Mercedes, but never a Ferrari or Maserati, so she took advantage of the opportunity to test drive a Maserati Sport.

"I loved it," she said, but she was intimidated by the thought of shifting gears manually, even though no clutch is needed. "I stayed in automatic the whole time."

Dealership General Manager Daniele Fancello said the Maseratis let drivers choose between operating the car with an automatic or manual transmission with the flick of a switch, but there is no such option with the Ferrari. It wouldn't fit the passion.

"I've never really met a Ferrari customer who wants an automatic," Fancello said.
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tr328 · Apr 30, 2005

Are they open on Sundays?

Thanks,
Darryl

Rosso · Apr 30, 2005

No, unfortunately only open Monday-Saturday.

I ahve to say, very ncie job they did on the inside of the building, the place looks great!

PS: Got to meet Art today too. He's a very friendly guy, and drives that slick SL65 as his daily driver. He even gave my family and I a personal tour of the whole place.

One of my pictures with no people in it.
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Grigio 512TR · May 1, 2005

Bob,

Nice to see you there at the event yesterday. Man, I'll say it again....you looked really sharp all cleaned up. Thanks for the pics.

Eric

Premier Protective Films · May 3, 2005

Great pics Bob. We need to stop by and take a look at the facilities as well!

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