Mancini Motors, one of the oldest businesses in the area, was started in 1919 by Ugo Mancini, who at that time operated a one-pump service station and repair shop on the El Camino near the elementary school.
Business grew, and he moved into larger facilities several times. In 1930 he took over the Nash franchise and sold Nash until 1933, at which time he took over the De Soto Plymouth Franchise for the area.
In 1939 Ugo Mancini purchased from Chrysler Corp. the Chrysler exhibit at the San Francisco World’s Fair, valued at over ¼ million dollars. This material was incorporated into a new building—our present location, which was completed in 1940. The tower with the world on top, one of the outstanding features of the exhlbit, bas been a landmark in Mountain View.
In 1941 the firm took over the GMC Truck Franchise for this area, and we have been selling GMC trucks for the past 18 years.
In 1947 Ugo Mancini retired, and his son Ernest Mancini and nephew Harry Sforzini took over as partners. Harry had been associated with the firm previously since 1936.
We (at Mancini Motors in 1959) have a payroll of 30 employees working full time. In addition to handling the full line of De Soto-Plymouths and GMC trucks, we have complete service and repair facilities, including the area’s largest body and paint shop, operating 3 tow trucks on a 24-hour service.
Also unique in our service operation is our Trim and upholstery Dpt., handling home furniture as well as automobile upholstering.
During the year 1958, our firm handled over a million and a quarter dollars of business in both the sales and service of cars.
Thanks so much for writing. I
Thanks so much for writing. I am forwarding this to Harry's daughters, Sharon and Charlotte.
My parents bought a brand new
My parents bought a brand new beautiful navy blue metallic 1963 Chrysler New Yorker station wagon from Mancini Motors. It was even ordered with air condition (a luxury for 1963 motoring!) I think it cost over $4,000 with all the options! My parents always had an eye for quality and style. Mom and Dad drove their New Yorker coast to coast every summer for the next 10 years. They loved that car. The old Chrysler had nearly 200,000 miles on it and still ran great when they sold it. Wish I had that car today.
Thanks very much for the kind
Thanks very much for the kind note about Harry. He was a lovely man and is missed very much. I will share this with his daughters, Sharon & Charlotte.
Anne (favorite grand-daughter-in-law)
I was trying to date a
I was trying to date a picture of the past presidents of the Kiwanis Club of Mountain View when I went in search of the date of Harry Sforzini’s passing. He one of the men in the picture. It has been my honor in the last few years to help award our Kiwanis scholarships in his name. He is remembered as the best example of a Mountain View Kiwanian. I was lucky to have benefitted from the Kiwanis Scout Center whee my troo pmet. Harry was the driving force behind the development of the scout center. As I grew older I remember attending the annual picnic, where Harry was the hardest working Kiwanian there. It was the dedication and service to the community From Kiwanis members, that brought me to Kiwanis as a member, many years later. I thank your family for what Harry and his fellow Kiwanis has given me. I only hope that I can follow in their footsteps, in the service to make our community “a better place one child at a time”
Thanks for the lovely note.
Thanks for the lovely note. He was a gem.
Sincerely,
his favorite grandaughter-in-law – Anne
I had the privilege to know
I had the privilege to know and work with Harry Sforzini as a member of Mtn. View Kiwanis. He was a great friend and mentor. I miss his laugh, his compassion and his generosity.