All Over Albany

Roli's Auto

When someone says Schaghticoke you probably think of the fair. At least I do. Other than cow pastures and corn fields, there's not a heck of a lot else out that way.

Well -- except for a mural-covered muscle car showroom/garage.

Entrepreneurs and car collectors Brian Rohloff and Philippe Bourassa just opened Roli's Auto -- home to a large collection of rare cars and motorcycles. The business is focused on selling high-end sports cars, motorcycles and trailers. Right now the inventory includes two mint condition 1968 Camaros, a 1965 AC Cobra Replica, and a 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra.

The garage is covered in murals and doubles as a home for Rohloff's personal collection of muscle cars and motorcycles.

You'd never suspect that a place like this would exists right across the street from cow pastures and corn fields. There were cows literally loose in the road.

There's plenty for a car enthusiast to geek out on at Roli's. There are two Dodge Viper ACRs, a one of a kind HURST Edition Challenger, and two 40th Anniversary Shelby GT500 KRs signed by auto engineer and race car driver Carroll Shelby .

Everything in Roli's garage, from the neon signs to the leather couches to the cars, are American made. Roloff says he has a strong conviction that Americans need to be buying American products to keep money and jobs from ending up overseas.

But the mural covered garage is more than a business, muscle car collection or a monument to American made vehicles -- it's also part memorial. It was founded in memory of Rohloff's twin sons, who died in an ATV accident on Father's Day 2009. Rohloff and his sons shared a love of muscle cars, and the garage was created as a labor of love by a grieving parent. The murals, painted by a Disney artist, pay tribute to the boys, and to Rohloff's other children.

For now, Roli's Auto is more of a hobby business for Rohloff, who also runs a company called Rapid Inc. He says Roli's Auto is more about having fun than making money. This fun spirit is found throughout the garage where there is balcony space with couches, a pool table, foosball and an arcade racing game.

The garage isn't open for public tours, but Roli's is planning on holding an annual public car show. Until then, you can check out more photos on its website.

photos: Auto Focus Photography