In a world sanitized by silent EVs and touchscreens, there is a specific frequency of partnership found only in the raw and the mechanical. For Core Timepieces, Austin’s Petrol Lounge is the ultimate sanctuary. It is a cathedral of internal combustion where the scent of high-octane fuel meets the high design of chrome and metal combining to pay tribute to the rebellious spirit of lowbrow art.
To call Petrol Lounge a “storage facility” is an insult. Located in Austin, Texas, it is a fortress for the horsepower-obsessed. Inside, the vibe isn’t just “luxury garage”; it’s pure Kustom Kulture. It is a space where the polished perfection of a Ferrari shares floor space with the patina-rich soul of a chopped hot rod, and a custom built Lego Iron Giant!! It captures the same energy as a Robert Williams painting—precise, artistic, and unapologetically loud.
The Autozam AZ-1 (pictured above) is a sports car which was manufactured by Mazda from October 1992 to October 1994 and sold under its Autozam brand.... I felt like a kid in a go-kart. I want one!!!
The collection of over 200 vehicles is a rotating gallery of steel and paint. But the facility’s true genius lies in its “Lounge” factor. The walls are alive with art that channels the spirit of Coop and the underground scene—think vibrant murals by local legends like Color Cartel that blend photorealism with the grit of street art. It’s heaven for gear heads, a spot to argue about carburetors and cam profiles while surrounded by the visual language of speed....
Just as Core Timepieces rejects the conformity of the smartwatch, Petrol Lounge rejects the soullessness of the daily commute. It is a celebration of the “Anti-Algorithm.” It is a place where gears grind, exhausts roar, and the art is as loud as the engines. In the heart of a tech city, Petrol Lounge is keeping the flame of the analog outlaw alive. We sat down with Jack McCauley, Co-Founder, CEO of Petrol to chat......
The Epicenter of Everything Automotive
When asked what he wants Petrol Lounge’s legacy to be 10 years from now, Jack is quick to dismiss the idea of mere car storage.
“We celebrate everything... Ferraris, Porsches, hot rods, custom cars, whatever it is, you take the top of that off, you distill it down, combine it together, and that’s really who we are,” he explains.
The real mission, he reveals, is to be the ultimate connection point. He envisions Petrol Lounge as the trusted hub—the place a specialty shop goes to when they have a client with a car outside their expertise, or the network that makes an essential introduction.
“I love that people come to us expecting, if anybody has the answer, it’ll be those guys. They know it,” Jack says with pride.
Celebrating the Controversial
This celebratory ethos even extends to the industry’s most polarizing figures. Take the Cybertruck, for instance. Many revile its radical, stainless-steel geometry, but Jack sees it differently.
“I celebrate that thing too, because the way I look at it is, somebody built something that doesn’t look like anything else. They built something dramatically different.”
He points out that people spend years complaining that all new cars look the same, and when a manufacturer finally breaks the mold, the world recoils. While its digital nature may render it a “brick” in 10 years when the software is unsupported, Jack believes its unique design will ensure its collectible status. “They’re gonna look back and go, this is so distinct and different and unusual.”
The Hacker’s Mentality: Unlocking the Digital Ride
Jack’s take on the Cybertruck’s digital mortality leads to an even more fascinating subject: the future of wrenching. Coming from a software background, he views modern car complexity not as a barrier, but as a challenge for the next generation of gear heads.
He recalls the vulnerability of the original Tesla Roadster, a car so complex it can be “bricked” by misuse, requiring constant vigilance. Yet, he sees a silver lining: a new type of hot-rodder emerging.
“I was a hacker. And I’ve known a lot of hackers over the years, and this is the kind of stuff these guys love,” Jack says, referring to those who want to crack a car’s operating system. “They just want to plug a computer into that car and… reprogram it themselves just because they want to know how it works. They want to unlock it.”
In 20 years, he predicts the cross-piston logo of the classic hot rod may be replaced by the icon of a car diagnostic plug—the key to reprogramming and customizing the digital heart of a car.
Philosophy: Enjoy Your Cars, Don’t Be Owned By Them
Petrol Lounge’s mission statement is refreshingly simple: “Enjoy your cars. Don’t feel owned by them.” This philosophy is the true foundation of their business evolution.
What started as a place for overflow collections—a garage that outgrew a client’s home—has morphed into a full-service Collection Management firm.
“We don’t want people to have all of the day-to-day drudgery of dealing with their automobile,” Jack explains.
When a client has a collection of 10 cars, the simple touch points (tires, oil changes, registration) multiply into 30, meaning something needs attention nearly every week. “It feels impossible to stay on top of.”
Petrol Lounge steps in to manage it all—not just the cars under their roof, but the entire collection across all locations. This service extends into high-level advisory on acquiring, selling, and managing the car collection as if it were any other financial or art portfolio. It is this total dedication to removing the “work” of car ownership that allows their busy, global clientele to truly enjoy their passion.
The Unusual Requests: Beyond Expectations
When a service becomes this bespoke, the requests inevitably get strange. While many customers join after a typical six-month discovery period—realizing they no longer have to choose between a new Ferrari or selling an old McLaren—Jack shared two of the more unusual demands he’s had to field.
"First, the simple and sweet: a client who wanted a big, plushy black puma stuffed animal displayed on the hood of her Dodge Challenger every time it was parked. “She thought this was going to be the most outrageous request we’d ever had,” Jack laughs. “It’s definitely unusual. But it’s easy to fill and, you know, we don’t ask questions. It fine. This is what you want. This is what you’re going to get.”
The second story, however, illustrates the ultimate level of service.
“A client’s wife called seeking an unforgettable Valentine’s Day gift: a boudoir photo shoot with his priceless, multi million-dollar collector car. The catch? The owner was tracking the car constantly, and it was at another service shop. We had about a, I’m gonna say 18 hour window to get all of this stuff done,” Jack recounts.
Petrol Lounge coordinated with the wife, the service shop, and the photographer to secretly retrieve the car, bring it back to the Lounge for an after-hours shoot, and then quietly return it, all without the husband knowing.
“He was ecstatic, but he couldn’t figure out when it had happened,” The ability to execute a complex, deeply personal, and highly secretive logistical operation epitomizes the Petrol Lounge experience—and their total dedication to the enjoyment of their clients’ cars.
The Road Ahead
Petrol Lounge is first and foremost a functional business, but Jack admits that some days, with a car like the rare 1925 Hispano-Suiza on the floor, it does feel like a museum.
As for expansion, Jack is currently focused on a move to West Austin and finding a “big crown jewel” building for their main operation. While they’ve had interest from other states and countries, he’s wary of diluting the brand and would prefer to grow through a franchise model led by trusted, local partners.
“I don’t really want to move to another city,” he quips. “I’d much rather work a franchise agreement... and teach them. This is how the business runs. This is how you do it.”
Petrol Lounge is not selling storage; it’s selling freedom. The freedom to simply appreciate a beautiful machine without the burden of registration deadlines, low-battery worries, or oil change reminders.
A Shared Mission: Core Timepieces and Petrol Lounge
As our conversation with Jack wraps, it becomes strikingly clear that while Petrol Lounge deals in horsepower and highly polished metal, and CORE Timepieces crafts precision instruments for the wrist, the DNA of both companies is remarkably similar. Their missions, while operating in different spheres, are rooted in the same philosophy: eliminating the friction between a passionate collector and the enjoyment of their prized possession.
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Whispers on the Windshield