With a presale estimate of $30 million to $34 million, this 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider with Le Mans provenance will headline the 2016 Artcurial Retromobile auction on Feb. 5-6 in Paris. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ General Motors will go to trial Jan. 11 in the first of six bellwether cases in a group of consolidated lawsuits alleging injury or death due to the company’s defective ignition switches. More at The Detroit News.
+ With the withdrawal of Japanese tire maker Bridgestone from the bidding, the Pep Boys auto parts chain will be acquired by Carl Icahn for $1 billion. More at NBC News.
+ Honda has confirmed a ninth death attributed to a defective Takata airbag inflator in the July crash of a 2001 Honda Accord coupe by an underage driver. More at Reuters.
+ NASCAR veteran Marvin Panch, who captured 17 career Grand National wins including the 1961 Daytona 500, and was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” in 1998, has passed away at 89. More at Fox Sports.
+ According to an AAA study, gasoline prices averaged $2.40 per gallon in 2015, down from $3.34 in 2014, saving American consumers $550 per driver. More at Motor Trend.
+ Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne says the sports car maker will offer more merchandise and open more theme parks to elevate the to elevate its profile as a global luxury goods brand. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Volkswagen’s emissions test-cheating scandal could kill the market for diesel cars in North America, Japan and China, said Continental CEO Elmar Degenhart. More at the Economic Times.
+ Chip Ganassi Racing has confirmed it will run two Riley-Ford Daytona Prototypes and two Ford GTs in the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona. More at Sportscar365.
+ Hyundai executives say the Santa Cruz compact pickup concept, based on the Tuscon crossover, has been readied for production and awaits only the automaker’s green light. More at Autoblog.
+ Artcurial’s 2016 Retromobile auction in Paris will present approximately 130 automobiles over two days, including vintage Ferraris from the Pierre Bardinon collection. More at Sports Car Digest.
+ John Surtees, the only man to win world championships on both two and four wheels, has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on the UK New Year Honors List. More at Motorsport.com.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from December 28 here.
Photo courtesy of Artcurial Motorcars.
I look at this car and everything goes two-dimensional; I think, ‘what a great car!’ and then: ‘It’s so far out of my league that I can’t even take the time to really admire it.’ I also think of Ben Stein saying: ‘Bueller?’ Even if it isn’t the same car…
Even though I have no chance of buying this amazing Ferrari, I do try get to Retromobile as often as possible. It’s an automotive event like no other and a Mecca for esoteric European cars, parts and literature. Since it’s in Paris, it’s one trip my wife enjoys as much as I do.