Pre-auction estimates range from $1 million to $1.5 million for this 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing owned by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Renault intends to restart merger talks with Nissan within the year, after which it will make an offer to acquire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Financial Times reported. More at the Financial Times.
+ Ford announced it will close down three manufacturing plants in Russia, abandoning passenger car production there and idling more than 3,700 workers. More at The Detroit News.
+ German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen has agreed to buy U.S. rival Wabco for more than $7 billion, an acquisition designed to expand its expertise in autonomous technology. More at Reuters.
+ NASCAR announced a major overhaul of its Monster Cup series schedule for 2020, with the season finale moved to Phoenix and a doubleheader slated for Pocono. More at NBC Sports.
+ Toyota confirmed that the next generation of the Tundra is now under development, and says to “expect some big changes” in the automaker’s full-size pickup. More at The Drive.
+ Lyft Inc. has valued its initial public offering (IPO) at $24.3 billion or $72 per share, at the high end of the range, in the first public stock offering of a ride-sharing service. More at Market Watch.
+ Nissan has placed its famed RB26 overhead-cam inline six engine back in production, expanding its heritage parts support to the R32 generation Skyline GT-R, More at Autoblog.
+ Headliners at this weekend’s RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale auction include a 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and a 2010 Ferrari California convertible. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ Due to falling demand for the Pacifica minivan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will scale back production at the Windsor, Ontario plant from three shifts to two, idling 1,500 workers. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Ferrari confirmed that Mick Schumacker, the 20 year-old son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, will test for the Formula 1 team on April 2 in Bahrain. More at ESPN.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from March 25 here.
Photo courtesy and copyright of RM Sotheby’s.
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How sad that Chrysler may end up in French hands. Maybe that’s good for the few 1960 Pont-a-Mouson 4 speed 300-F owners, but I can’t get enthused about it.
The RB26 is making a return. Great for all the dreamers that dont understand mechanicals. Proves that anything they have sold since the mid 80s is junk.
Renault doesn’t have a very good name in the US, even less so than Fiat. Both are players in the Euro/Asia market, where Chrysler has a limited footprint. I can understand their desire to become a more worldwide company with a brand that is known to certain areas, but in the long run I don’t see it working. Just too many differences in manufacturing and in the vehicles themselves to warrant combining even some parts over the spectrum of differing makes and models. Add the possibility of adding Nissan into the mix and the difference compounds. Can you see a Nissan powered Dodge Charger? Or a Dodge powered Renault?
This is starting to look like a Studebaker-Packard type merger, where companies with entirely different outlooks and markets try to combine under one roof, and nobody wins in the long run. And I could be totally wrong, and this end up being a Euro version of GM with a vehicle for everybody at a price range for everyone. Time will tell……