Russo and Steele tent collapse pics and some auction pics too!

[xplantdad]

We drove by the Russo and Steele auction area today on the way to Barrett-Jackson..so I snapped some pics from the freeway...
I talked to Stefano and Jacquie today...and they still don't know the outcome of any of their cars there.
There are certainly lots of rumors flying about...which doesn't help

Click here:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=440646&page=0&vc=1#Post440646

[Don_Lightfoot]

It just sickens me to see this. I hate to imagine some of the legal ramifications that may have to go on here between R & S, car insurers, tent providers, etc. Finding out your car is damaged could just be the beginning of the nightmare. Hopefully a decision on the responsibility issue will be made quick.

According to a post on the Yemko board, apparently the compound will now not be open to owners until Sunday. That must be agonizing for the people involved. I sincerely hope the damage is very minimal.

[BlueSS454]

I agree Don, I think it will end up being a legal nightmare as to who is responsible. Weather related damages can be tough depending on how weather related instances are written up.

[ssal396]

What happened??? Big storm roll through there??

[xplantdad]

Yes...a BIG series of storms!

Just heard from Jacquie. Her car has minimal damage...they are going to open the auction up again tomorrow...and try to auction cars on Monday.

[Chevelle_Nut]

Seems to me the that tent auctions will always be a risk, brick and mortar facilities should be the norm.

[CDN70SS]

Yes...a BIG series of storms!

Just heard from Jacquie. Her car has minimal damage...they are going to open the auction up again tomorrow...and try to auction cars on Monday.

Which car is Jaquie trying to sell..the 62?

[Shevelle]

Yes Luis, it was the 62 Impala and it sold today. Didn't do as well as we had hoped, but not bad for a car with dents and needing a paint job. We will get insurance reimbursement on top of what it brought at auction so we were happy with the way it was all handled. The first day was frustrating because they wouldn't let us in to see. That was a decision of the fire marshal, not Russo. We finally got access on Saturday morning. It was a sad sight to see. A lot of nice cars were heavily damaged...but on the bright side there were a lot that escaped with no damage at all. I was concerned about the Tucker...turned out the only damage it received was a pretty good dent in the front fender that could be fixed so I was releived to see that. It's not like you are going to run out and find parts for that one! Still, it was sickening to see all the other rare cars with so much damage. Here is a link to some of the most detailed photos I've seen so far. Beware...they're graphic :frown:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kingsfp/RussosteelAuction110?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGlh-XG2vSxrQE&feat=email#

[CDN70SS]

When you work hard to get a car to a great level of restoration that hurts right in you heart. I can see that the Hemi Cuda and the orange Ford received the most damage. I'll guess there are lots of changes for next year when it comes to tents.
I don't know how you felt just wating to see the car...I'll bet supense was killing you. Time for some blood pressure medication.

[BlueSS454]

Seems to me the that tent auctions will always be a risk, brick and mortar facilities should be the norm.

I agree. Those auctions are out there very year and rake in millions of $$$ every year. You would think they would just build a permanent structure just for that and rent it out when not in use so it pays for itself. why would anyone want to put millions of $$ worth of cars under a tent.

[Shevelle]

Yes, it was a looong wait. You could see the carnage from the highway, but our car was one of them that was trapped under one of the tents that collapsed...the tent was lying on top of it so we couldn't see it from the highway. It was like it wet-sanded the paint right off of it. The other tent blew completely away. Convertibles were left to sit in the pouring rain (and hail) all night long. People wanted to get in to cover them but the fire marshal wouldn't let anyone, not even Russo personell, in. The big center poles that held the tents up were about the size of light poles. Those fell across cars and did damage like you see on the Cuda and the Torino. The tent stakes (like 4' long nails) that were connected to the tents with long straps did a lot of damage as well...as they hung over cars, blowing in the wind, they broke out windows, stabbed holes in them...made it look like someone had just beat them to pieces with a ball ping hammer. Truly a sad sight to see....

[69supersport396]

I agree. Those auctions are out there very year and rake in millions of $$$ every year. You would think they would just build a permanent structure just for that and rent it out when not in use so it pays for itself. why would anyone want to put millions of $$ worth of cars under a tent.

Not that easy. The town of Scottsdale (or where ever) has to build the structure for the auction entity to use. Scottsdale is the "ritzie glitzie" part of town, and I'm sure those residents do not want another big tent like Westworld in their town.

Luckily for Barrett Jackson, the Westworld tent is used for other activities, so improvement costs can be justified I guess.

[xplantdad]

Bingo...Rick is correct! (He must be getting ready to become an AZ resident :) )

[DougA]

What did the Tucker sell for,anyone know?

[Shevelle]

What did the Tucker sell for,anyone know?

I'd like to know that too. Poor thing got a big dent in the drivers fender. We saw them trying to beat it out Saturday. :frown:

[jfkheat]

The Tucker ended at $1.4M but didn't meet the reserve. All the questions about it's authenticity hurt it. The Tucker people say there never was a convertible built. There is no documentation or before or as found pitctures.
James

[xplantdad]

James...I was watching it streaming on the net...and I thought that it went as high a 1.55 mil before they rolled it off to discuss it later on offstage...

I could be wrong (It happens a lot these days :) )

[jfkheat]

I was watching it too. I don't remember any bids higher than $1.4M but I've slept since then. :biggrin: Either way, in my opinion, it's not worth near that for a car that was built in the last few years. Tucker may have planned to build one at some time but never did.
James

[CDN70SS]

Any pics of the Tucker?

[69supersport396]

Bingo...Rick is correct! (He must be getting ready to become an AZ resident :) )

Gee, how'd ya guess that. :tongue:


Any pics of the Tucker?

That was on Bruce's side of the tent. :biggrin:

[xplantdad]

Sorry no pics...where was it Rick?:speechless::wacko:

[69supersport396]

Sorry no pics...where was it Rick?:speechless::wacko:

I just remember seeing it right when we walked into the first tent outside. It was blue. :cool:

[Shevelle]

There are a few photos of it here: 48 Tucker (http://www.carpictures.com/vehicle/10A8H390914549.html)

Of course those are before the big dent in the fender. :eek:

[DaleM]

Has to be gut-wrenching for a lot of car owners. A lot appears to be cosmetic but quite a few have some serious, heavy damage with smashed roofs, A-pillars, etc. :speechless:

[66ss396]

Here are a couple more links showing the damage. No matter what make you favor - still hard to see this damage.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kingsfp/RussosteelAuction110?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGlh-XG2vSxrQE&feat=email#

http://www.allclassicsllc.com/home/2010-russo-and-steele-damages

[RoyalPlum67SS]

All I can say is WOW.... I feel for all the people involved... I would venture to say as well, we will all see an increase on our collector car insurance premiums as well.