NICE HOUSE, NICE CAR

Luxury homes and luxury cars go hand in hand. Michael Prichinello, Owner and Director of Classic Car Club Manhattan, shares his insight on the symbiotic relationship between cars and homes.

CENTURY 21: How do you think luxury homes and luxury/classic cars complement one another?

Michael Prichinello: Ordinary design is completed to check a box—it’s about necessary everyday objects that exist in the background. It’s all function, which is usually limited, and no form. Luxury homes and cars are both objects of high design; before either is built, a designer has a vision or a dream composed of shapes and function. Next, there’s the pursuit of addressing a need, such as shelter or mobility at the highest level, and shaping it into the sculpture of their vision. A beautiful luxury car in the driveway of an equally special home is one of the greatest visual combinations there is.

C21: What does a person’s choice of car say about them?

MP: A car is like a pair of shoes: it’s a window into someone’s approach to life. A car can identify someone’s dedication to utility or their passion for irrational speed. Flamboyance, conservativism, adventure and precision—a car can be a mirror of who we are and what we’re thinking.

A vintage car with a period property: a match made in heaven.

C21: How can you choose a car that suits your home?

MP: Cars can complement a home by considering the era of the house and the environment it’s in. For example, a midcentury modern home on the beach pairs nicely with an early-year International Harvester Scout, while a contemporary, cantilevered affair in the hills of Westchester would do well to have a technological wonder like the McLaren 720S in the driveway.

C21: What should classic car owners consider when purchasing a home?

MP: A classic car is more than a vehicle; it’s a piece of antique machinery that requires constant upkeep. A garage with two or more bays is ideal so that an owner can move around the car and perform needed maintenance comfortably indoors. Also consider a garage that is as much of a gallery as it is a utility. Think of Cameron Frye’s garage in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” One part functionality, 10 parts display case.

C21: What’s the most impressive automotive integration you’ve seen at a residence?

MP: If you live at 200 11th Avenue in Manhattan, you not only enjoy sweeping views of the Hudson River and proximity to fine dining in the West Village, but you also have your own private sky garage. Each residence has

its own car entrance and elevator that brings the car and driver to their apartment, high above 11th Avenue. Owning a car of consequence in New York can be difficult, but 200 11th made it both convenient and a feat of engineering.

A beautiful car parked in front of a beautiful house is an unbeatable visual combination.

C21: Should people’s considerations when buying a home be similar to when they’re buying a car?

MP: The considerations of a car and home are similar. Both must adapt to their environment, seasonality, topography and design, but at the end of the day, Classic Car Club supports splurges of meteoric proportions. Sometimes homes or cars just speak to you. Don’t do too much matching. Just act on the impulse. 

Classic Car Club Manhattan is located at Pier 76 in Manhattan, New York. Check out their range of cars at classiccarclubmanhattan.com.