Car Cruising in the Desert
Michael Olguin and his brothers Gary, Ruben, and John grew up walking through car lots after hours in a small California desert town. Their father Gillie, a diesel truck driver by trade, was a car and motorcycle lover who would take his four sons to car lots in the evenings.
"Given we were all between the ages of 8-14 most kids would think this was boring, but we loved it. We were fascinated by the shapes, sizes, colors, makes and models. Deep down we were dreaming about one day driving a Cadillac, a Mercedes or a sports car."Michael Olguin, Founder
Each brother developed their own passion: Gary fell for a 1949 Plymouth. Ruben gravitated toward Porsche and Mercedes. John loved Broncos and classic Mercedes. Michael found himself drawn to mid-60s European and American classics — the cars that blurred the line between engineering and art.
Those walks weren't about ownership; they were about respect for the machine, the craftsmanship, and the people around you who shared that passion.
Gillie's Auto Lounge brings that spirit to San Diego. Michael created the car community he grew up loving — a place where your car matters, where the community is real, and where storage is just the beginning.
