- Unfortunately, we do not know the stories behind the 10 vehicles—which include a 2015 Mini Cooper S, a 2002 BMW 530i, and the 1999 Nissan Maxima pictured above—that were abandoned at the Pittsburgh International Airport last year. But, for the time being, we only know that they will all be put up for auction this weekend.
- If used vehicles aren't your thing, how about heavy-duty snowplows built to withstand the elements? With the same tools that the airport uses to keep the runway clear, you can complete your winter work in a matter of minutes.
- Most of the abandoned vehicles were resold in an online-only auction in 2020, but some, such as a 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara and a 2004 Saturn Ion, were not, according to the auctioneer.
Every year, enough people simply abandon their vehicles at Pittsburgh International Airport that the Pittsburgh Airport Authority holds an annual auction to clear out the ever-growing collection of abandoned vehicles at the airport. For the second year in a row, the auction will take place this coming weekend, on Saturday, October 23, at noon, and it's the place to be if you're looking to snag an old, unwanted vehicle from someone else.
On Saturday and Sunday, ten passenger vehicles, all of which were parked in the public parking lot at some point but were never picked up, will be put up for auction. In addition to the 2009 Nissan Titan and 2002 BMW 530i pictured above, there is a 2007 Chevy Impala, a 2015 Mini Cooper S, and a 2007 Pontiac G6 among the vehicles on display. In addition, the airport is auctioning off some of its old snowplow equipment, including six Oshkosh Sweepster Snow Eliminators and a KME 2002 Runway snowplow with more than 1100 hours of service, for those looking to step up their snowplow game this winter. This year's auction will also include a few unclaimed lost-and-found items that have not yet been claimed.
Because these are not your typical used-car sales, don't expect to be able to drive away in your new used car if you are the winner of a bidding war. Due to the fact that these are abandoned vehicles, the Airport Authority must apply for a title for each vehicle with PennDOT, which can take up to 90 days or longer to obtain, and even longer to transfer from the Airport Authority's name to the name of the successful bidder. Moreover, because these are abandoned vehicles, the Airport Authority must apply for a title for each vehicle with PennDOT, which can take up to 90 days or longer to obtain.
In order to accommodate COVID-19, the airport's annual auction for approximately 30 pieces of retired equipment and abandoned vehicles was held exclusively online for the 2020 edition (with an internet premium of 15 percent). Although Joe R. Pyle Auction Services will accept online bids for the various vehicles up until the live auction begins, there will be no online live component to the auction this year, although there will be a livestream to watch the auction in its entirety online.
While we don't believe that last year's sales provide a good indication of what might be in store for bidders this year (used-car prices have changed since last year), it is still interesting to note that in 2020, a 2006 Nissan Murano with approximately 150,000 miles sold for $1100, a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado with 57,000 miles sold for $18,250, and a JLG Model 260 MRT scissor lift sold for $12,750. A few vehicles that were up for auction last year were passed over by all bidders, including a 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara, a 2004 Saturn Ion, and a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier, all of which were sold for less than the starting bid.