Remember "Autoist"?

[BirdRacer]

I'm sure a lot of you guys remember Tony Barnhill, aka "Autoist" who was a long time member here. I didn't know him personally, but he lived not too far from me.

Anyway, I noticed they are auctioning off his estate this morning.

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi?lid=953056&kwd=&zip=38449&category=0

http://www.fowlerauction.com/auction/39689_AntiqueBritishCarsPartsMemorab.asp

Kinda sad.

RIP Tony

 

[Bull]

Very, very sad. He had a lot of friends here.

 

[billspit]

Some of the folks that inhabit British Car Forum are going to the auction. One has even helped the family with the auction. He was very well thought of.

 

[Brian R]

He passed right around when I joined but I remember him posting and specifically speaking of his grandson - and then to see an unfinished HO model railroad...sad.

 

[billspit]

I just checekd out the auction. I had no idea they were selling the house and land. I also had no idea he had THAT much MG stuff. I would love to have the Norton or one of the Magnettes.

 

[haugy]

Damn, he's not far from me. Sounds like quite the collector and hobbyist.

 

[BirdRacer]

Damn, he's not far from me. Sounds like quite the collector and hobbyist.

Where you at haugy? I work in Huntsville, but live just across the TN line.

 

[brownbagg]

it bad when all the family wants is money, I wonder how much the auction people get out of it, 30%?

 

[csp]

it bad when all the family wants is money

Are you at all inclined to know any particular reason why the family is taking this route? I'd be hesitant to say any such thing even if I did know what their reasons or intentions are. The way I look at it is they are doing what's best for them and it's really nobody else's business.

 

[Griff93]

I found out about this yesterday. I talked to him a couple of months ago due to him being a local on here. I know someone that is at the auction right now.

I went back an looked at my PM's back an forth. Time flies. It was January when I talked to him last.

 

[shopnut]

It's sad that it is all being auctioned off. I hope it all goes to folks that can truly appreciate the work he put into everything and carry on that "Autoist" frame of mind. We need more like him!

RIP Tony.

 

[Griff93]

it bad when all the family wants is money, I wonder how much the auction people get out of it, 30%?

Have you ever priced how much a nice funeral is? I would much rather my family sell off all my junk they don't want and have a nice service that they will remember vs. sticking me in a hole and having to keep all my junk. Some people don't have life insurance. I have no idea what the circumstances are in this case though.

 

[mad57]

well i love the auctions in general got alot of good stuff at many of them.... and just in case i pass un exp.... i left my wife the # and the go ahead that if i pass with out her to go ahead and liquidate my stuff, they charge a 10 or 15 % buyers premium on top of the sale price thats there cut so the family would keep the org price bid it works.. and if you have the right company with enough excitment the folks get crazy and bid some times more than its worth so hell yeah if my family doesnt want it AUCTION IT OFF and spend the money. lifes too short. rip..tony!!

 

[Bender78]

Are you at all inclined to know any particular reason why the family is taking this route? I'd be hesitant to say any such thing even if I did know what their reasons or intentions are. The way I look at it is they are doing what's best for them and it's really nobody else's business.

Tony's wife was seriously injured in the accident where he was killed. I don't know what her circumstances are now, but i can't imagine that she is in a position to be able to take care of the place herself.

I heard about the auction the other day. I couldn't help but feel quite sad while looking at his years of work reduced to a color brochure.

RIP, Tony; and renewed prayers for Gerri on her recovery from this tragedy.

 

[jhn9840]

looks like a wonderful piece of property. My prayers for his wife and family to some day be able to recover.

jhn9840
John

 

[NUTTSGT]

man, that is so sad

 

[brownbagg]

I had a friend die, he had a mint 46 new yorker. the wife wanted me to buy it, but it was ever bit of a 30k car. some guy talk her out of it for $2200. and then I saw it in the paper couple weeks later for 19k

 

[rvr6000]

Wow...looks like a beautiful home too. Hopefully the new owners will wind up on this forum and carry on Autoist' tradition.

 

[Jay H 237]

Tony's wife was seriously injured in the accident where he was killed. I don't know what her circumstances are now, but i can't imagine that she is in a position to be able to take care of the place herself.

I heard about the auction the other day. I couldn't help but feel quite sad while looking at his years of work reduced to a color brochure.

RIP, Tony; and renewed prayers for Gerri on her recovery from this tragedy.

You know I was wondering about that too. Does anyone know how his wife is doing?

 

[fomocoforrester]

Does anyone know how his wife is doing?

I would like to know that too.

Also, it would be nice to know what the verdict of the investigation into the cause of the crash was.

RIP Tony.

 

[Griff93]

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?s=11876574&clienttype=printable

This is a bit about the wreck but no cause of accident had been released.

You have to wear your seatbelt. I've been in two wrecks that I walked away from that I probably would have been killed had I not used my seatbelt. I still feel very sorry for his family regardless of this fact. We all make mistakes.

 

[norry]

You have to wear your seatbelt. I've been in two wrecks that I walked away from that I probably would have been killed had I not used my seatbelt. I still feel very sorry for his family regardless of this fact. We all make mistakes.

+1

The trip could have been "just a hop down the road to the store" - but the accident underscores that the impact forces are the same nonetheless. Wear those belts, guys...

 

[CoventryNut]

Just wanted to say that although I haven't spoken to her, I have heard that Tony's wife (Geri) is doing well. Although I know Tony wanted all of his collection to go to his grandson, the restored MGTD has been saved for him. I had the privilege of spending many, many hours out in Tony's Garagemahal chewing the fat and wrenching on some of his cars for him. Although I now live out in northern Utah, I managed to bid through the online auction site and pick up his favorite car to drive (although his 79 vert was "his baby" which his daughter kept) - the 1967 MGBGT "survivor", no rust (ever) and almost all original - we all miss him and I still have him in my address book on my phone - just can't bring myself to delete it and don't think I ever will.

 

[Nighttrain]

CoventryNut, Good for you for getting one of his cars. This is a very sad event but I am sure he would have had his cars going to someone than knew and worked with him. How about a thread about his car when you get it!

Cheers

 

[e-tek]

Yes, I remember. I was on the auction site for a bit yesterday. Sad for sure - because the world lost a decent guys many of us have a lot in common with. Sad because 'there, but for the grace of God, go I'. Sad personaly because Toni reached out to me and my son. We remember him whenever we look at the spot in the shop that has the kids coveralls - and the green hat that says "Autoist".
Thanks Toni - RIP.

 

[HOTFR8]

Sad to read but one day when we pass on our families will do what they want with all we have collected. At least Tony's Family have sold things to others that will appreciate them unlike some that just have it all dumped. A good reason to have a will.

We should also take time to think of the family selling things this way as for some it is hard to sell off things from those they loved. Tony - Autoist is missed on this forum.

 

[krooser]

Tony seemed to be a stand-up guy. We exchanged a few PM's over on the BCF over the years and his advice was always worthwhile.

His passing came as a big shock to all of us... God rest his soul and good luck to all of his family.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Sad to read but one day when we pass on our families will do what they want with all we have collected. At least Tony's Family have sold things to others that will appreciate them unlike some that just have it all dumped. A good reason to have a will.

We should also take time to think of the family selling things this way as for some it is hard to sell off things from those they loved. Tony - Autoist is missed on this forum.

Sad news, real standup guy.

I've thought about putting together a list of my stuff and values so my wife would have an idea what my stuff was worth if I bought the farm. I've seen too many widows practically give their husbands stuff away because they didn't know what the stuff was worth. Either that or have an agreement with a trusted friend to help my wife sell my stuff for a fair price if I die.

Chris

 

[wrigh003]

Sad to hear this. I'd never met Tony, but geographically speaking he's not far off, and we'd talked over messages here a couple times. I meant to make it over there and meet him, but that never panned out- I regretted that as soon as I heard what happened. Seemed like a great guy, passionate for the old car/motorcycle hobby and nice as all get out to boot.

I can see an auction/ estate sale being the best way to deal with as much as he had, though. At a certain level of "stuff," it starts to make sense to try to deal with it all at once rather than running individual sales on all the separate parts. Example: My grandparents' estate has been periodically argued over by my mom and her sisters for several (5-6) years now- nobody has the time or energy to get up there and break it down and get it ready to sell, and one of the sisters is just completely unwilling to pay somebody a percentage to go in and liquidate it. At this rate, I'll be dealing with it one day- I'm using the experience as an object lesson in how to run MY life so that one day I'm not leaving my kids to deal with a bunch of junk.

Back to Tony- he'll be missed. Hope the sale goes (went?) well and helps his wife get some resources to help the physical recovery.

 

[CoventryNut]

CoventryNut, Good for you for getting one of his cars. This is a very sad event but I am sure he would have had his cars going to someone than knew and worked with him. How about a thread about his car when you get it!

Cheers

Sounds like a great idea ... hopefully it will have made it out to Utah by next week ... will keep y'all posted!

 

[SM Racing]

He is local to me. Called me a couple of years ago to do some cage work on one of his MGs, Seemed nice enough. After seeing the auction listing and having a friend out there trying to bid on some of the things, I had a conversation with my wife about what she is to do with all the things I have in the shop. I am going to put together a list of people to contact and people that I know will help her and not screw her should anything happen to me. That is the best way to leave my wife.

 

[milkovich]

I've attended quite a few auctions like this and I'd prefer it to a "good buddy" taking care of my wife, then again our local auction company (KIKO) is world class. I'd definitely feel comfortable with a mass liquidation of the garage.

There is something poetic about seeing the summary of a man's life like that though. Has anyone ever thought to get the sum of an ancestors posts on a forum like this archived? My grandfather is writing a biography, but to see your grandfather's posts here or on the H.A.M.B? Man that'd be fascinating.

 

[CoventryNut]

He is local to me. Called me a couple of years ago to do some cage work on one of his MGs, ....

Brett, not sure if you know Ben at Klassic Autos - he and I are friends and I spent some time working in his shop with him during my year-long layover in Madison a few years ago - If you don't know him, you might get in touch - a lot of local work rolls through his shop - in fact, he just did a bit of tidying work last week on the BGT for me before shipping it out here to Utah - Cheers, Alan