Damage at Russo Steel Auctions

[Jon Cole]

Mother Nature has a hissy at the Russo Steel Auto Auction in Arizona, many collector cars wet and damaged.

I hope this link works...

http://www.azfamily.com/video/featured-videos/Russo-Steel-car-owners-still-not-allowed-in-to-assess-storm-damage-82364787.html

[JamesW]

WOW, that really sucks, I hope those cars were insured.

[SoCalCarCulture]

More video at my Blog

[crazyjim]

Hello. Is this my attorney? We need to talk about a lawsuit.

Edited January 22, 2010 by crazyjim

[PatRedmond]

Outdoors with tops/windows down under flimsy tents with bad weather coming?

Stupid.

[george 53]

Yeah, LAWSUIT CITY!!!! AND they WON'T let the owners it to cover them? Yeesh, they'll be lucky if they even EXIST after THIS! Yeah Pat, i agree, STUPID!!!

[Chuck Most]

Eh... serves 'em right for being wealthy!

[charlie8575]

Oh no! We're gonna get sued!

Good.

Morons.

Charlie Larkin

[Harry P.]

I'm pretty sure that the organizers have insurance to cover this sort of thing. All the rich guys will be paid, don't worry about it.

And just think... with unemployment high as it is, this means a lot of work for restoration shops!

[Jared Roach]

Yea I heard about this last night while watching Barrett Jackson. They were going on and on about it and said they might of had to stop the acution for the night, well it didn't happen to them but sucks to be the other auction company. They said one of the tents blew on the freeway, but if I were going to leave my car in a tent over night with a storm coming I think I would put up the top and roll up the windows.

[tuffone20]

Here is a slide show of the damaged cars, just makes me sick to see all those cars damaged.

https://sites.google.com/a/allclassicsllc.com/www/home/2010-russo-and-steele-damages

[Guest Johnny]

No lawsuit there! They were only kept out until there was no chance of anything falling on anybody! I believe the authorities had something to do with that!

Heard Haggerty Ins. say they were stepping up and taking care of their customers!

Real shame the damage done! So much for claims of "never seen rain"! I know it's really not funny but if they couldn't laugh they would only cry.

I'm just glad that no one was seriously hurt!

[Joe Handley]

Is it me, or did it look like there was a good amount of Bondo in some of those cars beforehand:huh:

[Crusader101]

Is it me, or did it look like there was a good amount of Bondo in some of those cars beforehand:huh:

I was thinking the same thing!

[Custom Hearse]

That must've been a pretty nasty storm... One of the cars is one of eleven 1970 Hemi 'Cuda convertibles... and the windshield was laid back. A Sox and Martin car, couple of Superbirds, T/A's, and some exotics... Oh that was bad.

[Joe Handley]

I was thinking the same thing!

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn't seeing things

Now that I think of it, makes me wonder about how good the restorations of some of those cars actually was vs how much was being asked for them:angry:

Edited January 25, 2010 by Joe Handley

[Crusader101]

Now that I think of it, makes me wonder about how good the restorations of some of those cars actually was vs how much was being asked for them:angry:

Edited January 25, 2010 by Crusader101

[Joe Handley]

Yea, that's very true

[Demon9115]

That must've been a pretty nasty storm... One of the cars is one of eleven 1970 Hemi 'Cuda convertibles... and the windshield was laid back. A Sox and Martin car, couple of Superbirds, T/A's, and some exotics... Oh that was bad.

That cuda was the one that made me lose it when i watched that and those poor Shelbys................

[Jon Cole]

you will find some sort of filler in easily 95% of all restored cars. it's just part of the body work stage and very common. how do you think you get a perfectly straight car or truck?

Dave

True that, Dave. "Bondo" is not the enemy, it's how it is used. As a skim coat, when applied correctly, it's not a problem.

I'm not 100% sure about todays cars, but I remember just a few decades ago, every car on the new car lot had some kind of filler on it... how do you think they (the assembly line) dealt with that seam between the roof and C pillar?

BTW, feel terrible for that Cuda convertible... with that windshield frame laid back. Add to that this damage has been "publicized", they cannot hide the history of that car from future transactions. One of eleven? What a shame.

As for the tent comments, large event tents have always been used for these events. Hindsight... it's always 20-20. It will be interesting how the automotive community react at future car auctions.

[Crusader101]

Perhaps its my aging eyes, but it certainly appears that good ole pink bondo was used in copious amounts on a few of those cars.

If I were a high end collector, I would certainly be leery now of purchasing anything at these auctions without first going over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. I wonder how many of these spur of the moment buyers (phone, internet bidders) later regret their purchase.

[crazyjim]

Forget the fine tooth comb - go over the car with a magnet.

I'll bid $500.00 for the 'Cuda as is.

[Chuck Most]

I don't see what's so great about the magnet trick. I tried it on a Corvette once and it seemed pretty much useless.

[crazyjim]

Yo Dave. Lighten up. I was trying to make a joke.

[Junkman]

Man, what a loss of cultural heritage.

But: I would not leave my car in a tent overnight, in winter, in Arizona. No, I wouldn't. I just wouldn't. Actually, I wouldn't leave my car in a tent overnight anywhere anywhen. I just wouldn't. Nope.