Folks Of Interest Update: MotorTrend Host Steve Magnante on the Mend and Coming Back!

America’s beloved gearhead says he’ll be crawling the junkyard again soon!



Back in September, we learned that one of our favorite HOT ROD alumni, Steve Magnante, was in serious condition with a brain infection and we asked you all to keep him in your thoughts. The host of Junkyard Gold and Super Models, we told you, would be out of circulation for an unknown period of time. We also promised we'd update you with his condition as soon as we knew more. Today, we're happy to report that Steve is alive and (almost) well! In typical Magneto fashion, he regaled us with all the details of his absence over these past months, and as you might expect, there were plenty of interesting plot twists. At Steve's request, that conversation will remain between us, but we can share a few tidbits.

Steve reported that about three months ago, in late August, he started feeling some back pain accompanied by dizziness and dehydration. A trip to the doctor revealed some brain swelling (encephalitis) and he was admitted to the hospital. In the end, Steve was suffering from a decades-old back injury that was compounded by dehydration—the result of years of stooping over lifting heavy objects (Hemi cylinder heads, 8.75-inch centersections—all the stuff you know he likes). Thanks to a long stint on a ventilator and a tracheotomy followed by weeks in a wheelchair combined with physical therapy, Steve is in good spirits and now only a few weeks away from returning to his home in M***achusetts.

His doctor's advice calls for no more lifting giant chunks of heavy cast iron and to stay hydrated! He'll have a limit on how much he can heft and there are a few extra holes in him than he didn't have before, but Steve tells us he's coming back with a vengeance to both his day job at Barrett-Jackson and his Junkyard Crawl YouTube side-hustle. He says he's thankful for and humbled by the outpouring of support shown to him by his fans in the car-collector world and he can't wait to get face-to-face with his fans again. Steve says to look for more Magneto content on YouTube in early January, but until then check Steve out in this episode of Roadkill's Junkyard Gold!


Johnny HunkinsWriterHot Rod ArchivesPhotographer
Nov 15, 2023

 

Great news. Seen him (can’t miss the hair and gl***es) in Santa Fe Spring Ca. at chain pick and pull. He was loading a big Ford engine of some sort into the back of a Pinto.

 

That's fantastic news, great to hear. Lift with the legs, and stay hydrated, people.

 

He's car people to the bone. Totally immersed in the hobby. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

I was worried about him, my dad died due to encephalitis. I’m so glad for him and his family.

 

That's good news!
Pay attention to the Doc, Steve!

 

Glad to hear that good news. I was wondering how he’s doing. Thanks for the update !

 

Great news. I have watched some of his utube videos. Good stuff, even though I am not in the Mopar camp. Always good to learn new stuff.

 

Fantastic news…thanks HRP!