Created by famed independent designer Vince Gardner, the one-of-one 1947 Gardner Studebaker Special could bring up to $600,000 at the Mecum Monterey Auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ General Motors, which has already invested $500 million in the Lyft ride-sharing service, has reportedly offered to purchase the San Francisco company but was rebuffed. More at Engadget.
+ The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Ford and Los Alamos National Laboratory $6 million for a joint project to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology. More at The Detroit News.
+ Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales says the brand is poised to become profitable again in 2016, due to cost reductions and solid sales of the Evora coupe. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Driving a twin-engine streamliner originally built by his father Mickey Thompson more than 40 years ago, Danny Thompson has set a wheel-driven speed record of 411 mph at Bonneville. More at CNN.
+ Sources at Japanese automaker Nissan say its variable-compression gasoline engine technology could obsolete contemporary advanced diesel engines. More at Reuters.
+ The long-rumored BMW X2 crossover will make its debut at the Paris Auto Show in October, with production versions hitting the showrooms late next year. More at Motor Trend.
+ Former Indy car and Super Vee driver Bill Alsup, 78, who was CART’s first rookie of the year in 1979, was killed in a crane accident. More at the Indianapolis Star.
+ Chinese electronics giant LeEco unveiled plans for a $1.8 billion electric vehicle factory near the city of Huzhou with a capacity of 400,000 cars per year. More at Autoblog.
+ The Mecum Monterey Auction later this week will feature the 1947 Studebaker Gardner Special created by master designer and fabricator Vince Gardner. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky confirmed that the Pennsylvania oval facility has signed a two-year contract extension to continue hosting IndyCar events. More at Racer.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from August 12 here.
Photo by Mecum Auctions.
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