My Stinger was in an accident and radiator and intercooler destroyed - how can the engine start after this?

[Jasonarmstrong]

Long Story short - a guy turned into me not yielding in a turn lane I was going straight -I had a green light and I was traveling around 30 and the collision destroyed the radiator and intercooler.
Car was towed away, took me 2 weeks to get it from the storage after insurance said it was repairable.
I went to the repair shop and got additional pictures and had discussions with the techs.
When I was leaving I saw the car being moved to the yard for storage - they were backing it up a couple hundred feet.
How can this be- the car started and went into gear and allowed them to drive it without the radiator and intercoolers?

Wouldn't this destroy the engine ? Does the motor have a reset switch that allows it to be started? Would it shut off before the engine over heated or is the damage done? Why would someone do this? The initial estimate to repair is less than $12,000 but as noted they may find additional damage that could push it to a total loss.
confused as hell here.

 

[87and66]

If the car is cold, it can be run for a few minutes with no coolant/cooling system before it overheats and causes any issues. Moving it wouldn't hurt as long as they didn't leave it running for more than few minutes. It takes time for the car to reach operating temp. Think about winter time. Your heat blows cold until the car warms up. neither part is needed for the car to start

 

[boosted1g]

As 87and66 said there is no harm on a cooling perspective.
When you first start your car the thermostat prevents movement of coolant, thus making it like it is not even there.
So driving it a few hundred feet for a couple of minutes would not make the engine overheat at all (assuming engine was cold when started).
Running without the intercooler means you are getting unfiltered air, which (depending on location/weather) could be a mild to moderate concern.

I am going to give the shop the benefit of the doubt that the car was not leaking trans fluid or oil. If the lines for those coolers was ruptured then it could in fact cause damage to the engine or trans.

 

[Jasonarmstrong]

OK thank you both .... Makes sense now....appreciate it.