The roar of Porsche Spyders speeding on the Paramount Ranch Racetrack in the Santa Monica Mountains ended when the track closed in 1957.

But five decades later and three miles away, vintage sports cars from that era have found a new destination.

This time, it is World Class Motoring, an Agoura Hills-based automotive accessories retailer that opened its first store in December.

On a recent day, a 1933 Ford Coupe and 1959 Morgan 4/4 sat gleaming in the sunshine outside while their owners shopped or played — the store's high-end racing simulator is a popular draw.

The shop is what Fred LoBianco had in mind when he was dreaming about a destination for automobile aficionados.

"What we wanted to create here was an atmosphere where everybody was excited to be here and participate, share stories and share experiences," said LoBianco, president of the company. "In that way, we weren't a ... certain brand-specific store. We were just a kind of a store that was a slave to the romanticism of automobiling."

Southern California's rich automotive heritage of winding canyon roads and racetracks was why LoBianco and his partners, Eddie Kosakoski and Doug Schnetlage, decided to open the store at 5076 Chesebro Road in Agoura Hills, just over the Ventura County line in Los Angeles County.

The store carries a selection of upscale car-care products, books, DVDs, car artwork, and motor-themed and vintage apparel.

On a recent visit, Travis York of Mission Viejo bought some T-shirts printed with images of historic California tracks, including Indian Dunes Motocross Park where he used to ride. T-shirts cost from $25 to $45.

"They have things here that you can't find at Pep Boys," York said.

The main attraction, however, is the CXC Motion Pro II racing simulator. Kosakoski calls it an advanced video game.

"For car guys, it's like the ultimate dream," he said. "Every car you wanted to drive, even race cars you'll never have a chance to drive, you can drive them on any track in the world, even tracks gone and retired."

Featuring a racing seat that imitates a car's motion, functional controls and a panoramic LCD screen, the simulators can cost $25,000 to $40,000, depending on the model. The in-store simulator is free to ride or can be reserved for $150 per hour for private sessions.

"It's like having a hot chick in your store," Kosakoski said.

Jay Leno, host of "The Tonight Show," is a car enthusiast who has taken a few spins on the simulator during the four times he's visited, Kosakoski said.

The store sponsors car-themed events, including a party for the Indianapolis 500 and a visit from the Horseless Carriage Club of America.

The owners also hold a weekly gathering, Big Wednesday, when they serve barbecue from Willy's Smokehouse in Agoura Hills.

World Class Motoring was established in November 2004 as a Web site and mail-order catalog business. LoBianco said he anticipates that online and catalog sales will generate about 80 percent of the revenue, with the store providing the remaining 20 percent.

However, the total sales projection for the business this year is uncertain, with the store alone possibly generating $500,000, LoBianco said.

David Winter, president of Luxury Marketing Councils of Southern California, said a store like World Class Motoring can do well even in today's economic downturn.

"There's no shortage of people wanting to spend money on these luxuries," Winter said. "The market will always be very strong for these type of things."

Business has been steady and the response has been satisfying, LoBianco said.

"The one thing that's been prevalent since the day we opened is that people say that it feels really good to be here," he said. "And as a shop owner and marketer ... I don't know if there's anything better you can hear from a customer than that."

On the Net: http://www.worldclassmotoring.com