Q and A: Why Russo and Steele? -

"Russo and Steele unquestionably has its collective finger on the pulse of the Monterey environment..."
- Sports Car Market

"This is way more fun than any of those other auctions…I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. They can have their Bugattis. Gimme this any day."
- AutoWeek

"Russo and Steele has skillfully distinguished itself from competing auctions."
- Car Collector

"Bidders feel most at home at the pre-auction preview of Russo and Steele."
- The New York Times

Q and A: Why Russo and Steele?

Andrew Alcazar addresses some Frequently Asked Questions.

Why the same dates as other auctions?
We offer a unique alternative! From our specialized market of Sports, Muscle and Hot Rods to the many exclusive amenities we provide, a change of pace and environment can be a welcome respite. We present the best market for our sellers. As the saying goes: "You gotta fish when the fish are running"! Multiple events are good for everyone and each auction has a distinctly different environment so the enthusiast has many options to choose from.

Why is Russo and Steele the only Auction to "Niche Market" the type of cars?
We offer for auction exclusive types of collector automobiles: American Muscle, European Sports, Hot Rods and Customs. These wide ranging markets include everything from Shelbys to Ferraris, full blown customs, to Hemis, Lamborghinis to Lead Sleds. Contemporary muscle and sports from Vipers to Enzo's we ARE this marketplace. By design, we feel our clients will appreciate the sharp focus on "their kind of cars".

What is the benefit of Russo and Steele's "Boutique Style" to both Consignors and Bidders?
Keeping our sales small and intimate allow the enthusiasts to be at the center of the event. It is difficult to have any car, no mater how nice, rise above a sea of over 1,000 plus cars. From a buyers perspective, getting asked to move as someone takes a picture to hang on their wall or be run over by a baby stroller when one is inspecting a potential purchase compromises the integrity of the auction. Also, buyers can be easily desensitized by hundreds of venders, fashion shows, general public mayhem and other activities that simply do not lend themselves to the collector car auction experience.

What is your exclusive "Auction in the Round" format?
Russo and Steele is interactive, and that creates excitement! The buyers are right on the floor with the cars. No cars on stages, no separation. With a ground level auction 'arena' and elevated platform seating 360 degrees around the stage, a virtual 'boxing ring' or 'coliseum' effect funnels buyers to the epicenter of the action. Interactive sound and lighting effects contribute to the excitement that is uniquely Russo and Steele!

Why does Russo and Steele limit the number of Entries in Scottsdale?
The excitement and success of an auction comes from the quality of the offering. Small sales can bring together the very best of a particular market. It's impossible to fill 1,000 lots with specific, quality inventory of a focused market. There aren't enough cars available to fill them all with out compromising integrity. In addition, we focus our buyers on a select group of vehicles. I have seen many outstanding cars simply become lost in a field of cars once the buyer's attention span has been diluted.

With the success of Russo and Steele over the last seven plus years, why do you continue to maintain the lowest fees and commissions?
Our effort is to produce the high quality of event offering the very best Sports, Muscle, Hot Rods and Customs to our clients. We, as enthusiasts ourselves, know that keeping costs and fees reasonable will continue our proven track record creating loyal clients. Building equity in the relationships with our Buyers and Sellers is what we seek to foster. The reputation of integrity and personal attention that we have earned in just seven short years speaks to the successful efforts of our entire organization. The best deals are the ones that are good for everyone.

How fast does Russo and Steele cash out their sellers?
We make every effort to be the "fastest guns in the west"! Once we have received cleared funds from our buyers, it is our obligation to cash our sellers out quickly. One of the very best ways to say "Thank You" to our selling clients, and have them continue to bring high quality consignments to our seal is to get their sales proceeds delivered promptly.

Why is the Preview Gala limited to the first 650 Registered Bidders Only?
This is the very first impression and kick off to the event. The Preview Gala is open exclusively to Registered Bidders. A full sit down, served dinner on linen, china and crystal featuring the very best local chefs showcasing their culinary delights sets the tone for the experience that makes the Russo and Steele unique. In addition to checking out the cars in a relaxed atmosphere, we are benefiting a great charity!

Why do you allow only Registered Bidders and their Guests in your Auction room?
Inside the main Auction area is reserved exclusively for Bidders and Guest simply because that is the singular objective of our event. General public is welcome in our preview areas; however, the process of Bidders making the important choice to purchase and consignors presenting their vehicles unencumbered by "looky-loos" ensures the highest level of integrity for everyone.

Hosting the bar and offering a fully catered dinner each night has to be expensive, why do it?
Similar to inviting fellow enthusiasts to our home, Josephine and I create an all-encompassing environment that is, to put it simply, the exact kind of Auction we ourselves would like to attend. Everyone in our Main Auction area enjoys the same outstanding amenities. From our famous Dinner Buffet to the fully hosted bar and lots of table seating, this atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie is what drives Russo and Steele.

What other amenities are unique to the Russo and Steele experience?
The intimate personal touch that is the heart and soul of our hobby is our best asset. All the staff at our events are mostly friends and family who have adopted our vision and share the enthusiasm with our clients. One example of our commitment is the complementary insurance for all purchases by our Bidders. In conjunction with our friends at Grundy Worldwide, every car sold at Russo and Steele is insured. Just one of the many elements that you will enjoy only at our event.

A lot of auctions put forth a good effort, how does Russo and Steele gauge their results?
Posted sales rates may sometimes be misleading. A percentage of sales does not always reflect the true nature of the sale as clearly as the overall gross sales figures vs the number of lots offered. We have been fortunate enough to enjoy high gross sales numbers with a fairly limited number of cars. We invite everyone to peruse our sales results on our website. Our most recent example would be our last sale in Monterey CA, where with just 150 lots Russo and Steele generated over 13 million dollars in gross sales. This equates to around 1.1 million dollars an hour. Thank you to the quality consignments and satisfied buyers who make these outstanding results possible.

Where does Russo and Steele go from here?
Bigger is not always better and less is sometimes more. We will continue to focus on what has made Russo and Steele a success. Passion, intimacy, and the close personal relationships we enjoy with all our clients. Our efforts will always be to offer a select group of specific types of cars to the savvy enthusiast who values our focus and style. Finally we will always hold the true meaning of our hobby at heart; good friends, good fun, and great cars!