This 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider was the top seller of Monterey Car Week, bringing $22 million at the RM Sotheby’s auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ A jury in Gwinnett County, Georgia has returned a $1.7 billion verdict against the Ford Motor Co. in compensation for a couple who were killed in the crash of their F-150 pickup. More at ABC News.
+ The Los Angeles Police warns that it will impound every car found at “street takeovers,” pop-up events where spectators block off the street for illegal vehicle stunts. More at The Drive.
+ Acura confirmed that the ZDX crossover will be the first all-electric vehicle produced by the Honda premium brand, and the lineup will include a performance ZDX Sport model. More at The Detroit Bureau.
+ Meyer Shank Racing announced that four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will return for a full season of IndyCar next year alongside Simon Pagenaud. More at Autoweek.
+ Ford will formally introduce the seventh-generation Mustang, to be built on the S650 platform, with an outdoor party at Hart Plaza in Detroit that will be open to the public. More at Car and Driver.
+ Porsche expects to sell as many battery-electric versions of its Macan crossover as internal-combustion models, production chief Albrecht Reimold told the magazine Automobilwoche. More at Reuters.
+ In a growing trend, more than a dozen makers of exotic luxury and sport cars chose Monterey Car Week as the setting for their introductions of new production and concept vehicles. More at Autoblog.
+ As anticipated, the reborn DeLorean brand debuted its Alpha 5 electric luxury sedan at Pebble Beach this week, along with three more vehicles produced only as renderings. More at Motor1.com.
+ A 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider that Carroll Shelby drove to victory in eight races was the top seller of Montery Car Week, bringing $22 million at the RM Sotheby’s auction. More at USA Today.
+ Justin Marks, co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, says the NASCAR team plans to expand its Project 91 program to run international drivers in six to eight Cup events next year. More at Jayski.
Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from August 19 here.
$1.7B is a lot of money for a single accident. Will the judgement hold up on appeal, I wonder?
If the design met the requirements of 49 CFR § 571.216a – Standard No. 216a; Roof crush resistance, I don’t think the award will survive appeal.
Other reports I’ve read say that a 75% cut of the verdict goes to the state of Georgia, which seems like an open invitation to every ambulance chaser in America to come and have fun in Georgia courts.