Universal Autosports Grand Opening

Where are you when you’re surrounded by beautiful women, exotic cars, hand-rolled cigars, five-star food and endless Champagne? Where else? You’re at the Grand Opening of Universal Autosports! On Sunday, 18 May 2008, New York’s only authorized Koenigsegg dealer opened their doors to the public and announced that we are officially in business. The turnout was incredible with people and exotic cars coming from as far as Boston. The masses came to see the rare and exotic automobilia on display in our new showroom and state-of-the-art service facility. Many of those people brought more cars on which the public feasted its eyes.

Universal Autosports is one of only two authorized Koenigsegg dealers in North America, and the only authorized service facility here in the states. The Grand Opening marks a new age of automotive passion and excellence, with a dedicated team of automotive professionals and enthusiasts. Universal Autosports’ owners Giacomo Ciaccia and Luke Vuksanaj have decades of experience between them. Ciaccia, known to friends as Jack, was the General Manager of Ferrari of Long Island for ten years after working at Ferrari North America. Luke’s experience in and pedigree with the automotive aftermarket world brings a refreshing and diverse aspect to the table.

The state-of-the-art service facility at Universal Autosports isn’t touted just for its new equipment. That’s not to say that the four two-post lifts, nitrogen generator, sand blaster, and alignment machine aren’t impressive. But the real gems in our service department are the two master technicians: Luigi Scala and Kent Woodworth. Scala and Woodworth are both former Ferrari and Maserati technicians with ample experience working on a wide array of vintage examples to the latest and rarest exotica. And I don’t mean “former” like they’re rusty and out of practice. These guys haven’t stopped wrenching since they started. Talking to them is like reading the most comprehensive service and technical manuals ever written; they know their stuff.


The showroom floor was host to only two cars during the Grand Opening: a white 1989 25th Anniversary Edition Lamborghini Countach, and a brilliant blue 2008 Koenigsegg CCX. But all of the other cars that were supposed to be in the showroom were parked out on the street. A sample of the automobiles on display included a Regal Turquoise 1958 Corvette Roadster, a blue Ford GT, a fire engine red Viper SRT-10 Roadster, a yellow Ferrari 360 Modena, a silver F430 Spider, a red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS (original numbers-matching with a 454!), a 1969 Camaro Z/28 and much more. It was an enthusiast’s paradise; an automotive garden of Pininfarina curves, Bertone wedges and American muscle.

As if the contents of our showroom weren’t enough, our visitors brought some amazing examples. Jim Glickenhaus brought the famed Ferrari P4/5, a one-off, modern-day, road-going interpretation of Ferrari’s sports prototype 330 P4 racecars from the ‘60s. Renowned collector and private racer Benny Caiola brought a Maserati MC12 – one of only 50 in the world. The raging bulls from Sant’Agata Bolognese made a nice showing with a gaggle of Murcielagos and Gallardos – and an orange 6.0 Diablo VT even graced the event with its stunning presence. A Lotus Elise, Audi R8, Acura NSX and Maserati’s latest iteration of a roadworthy sports car were also strutting their stuff.

Local authorities closed off the road so that attendees and locals alike could roam the streets and enjoy the show. The DJ pumped music into the air that, combined with sunshine and the staggering automotive visuals, yielded the feeling of being at a surreal, car-based carnival. Inside the showroom, a quiet gentleman in a Cuban hat and white, short-sleeve button-down, hand-rolled cigars for anyone who had a hankering for a good stogie. “Salute!” was heard periodically as Champagne glasses clinked and guests mingled about the cars and hors d’oeuvres. It was a beautiful day, made that way by the beautiful cars and people who made it all possible. The only down side to the event was that it had to end. But that’s okay because rumor has it that their next event is just a few weeks away. If it’s anything like their Grand Opening, it’ll prove to be a blast.