Wiped Out by Sandy, an Owner Sizes Up the Risk in Starting Over

The Automobile Film Club of America has played a supporting role in New York-based film and television productions since 1993. It owns a fleet of vehicles — including police cruisers, taxis and vintage automobiles — that have squired stars and models in advertising shoots, TV shows and action films, including two Spider-Man movies and two “Men in Black” films. Woody Allen rented a 1964 Porsche Cabriolet for one movie and bought an Aston Martin that was totaled in another. “When they crash something, they buy it,” said Ralph Lucci, the owner.

THE CHALLENGE Deciding whether Mr. Lucci, 60, should put his house up as collateral to get a Small Business Administration loan in an attempt to revive his business, which is based in Stapleton, on Staten Island, half a block from the waterfront. In October, Hurricane Sandy’s surge swamped the company’s 6,000-square-foot lot and garage, submerging 57 cars in salt water. (Three vehicles that were on garage lifts avoided damage.) Lost were an ambulance worth $20,000, taxi cabs that cost more than $5,000 and a police crime scene unit vehicle valued at more than $16,000.

“I have mechanics, they all say they’re totally junk,” Mr. Lucci said. “It took five hours to destroy the business. READ MORE …

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