This Barris-licensed 1966 Batmobile replica was among the top sellers at the RM Sotheby’s Auburn spring sale, hammering down at $165,000. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Volkswagen, Toyota, and Dacia notched large gains in Europe as sales rose 9.6 percent overall to 1.34 million units in April, while Fiat and BMW stumbled. More at Automotive News Europe
+ Ford plans to resume production of its top-selling F-150 pickups today following a fire at a casting plant in Central Michigan that halted assembly lines on May 9. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ The London Metal Exchange (LME) will begin trading in futures contracts on metals used in electric vehicle batteries, including lithium, graphite, and manganese. More at CNBC.
+ The McLaren Formula 1 team is said to be laying the groundwork for a potential return to IndyCar in 2019, possibly in partnership with series regular Andretti Autosport. More at Road & Track.
+ Shelby American has introduced a 1967 Mustang GT500 Super Snake continuation model with a 427 cubic-inch V8 rated at 550 hp and a list price of $249,995. More at Motor Trend.
+ As the automakers continue to move away from traditional auto shows, the Volkswagen brand announced it will not appear at the Paris Motor Show in October. More at Reuters.
+ Mobileye, Intel Corporation’s Israel-based autonomous driving unit, has landed a contract to supply systems for eight million cars to a European automaker. More at Autoblog.
+ Mary Buchzeiger, CEO of Lucerne International in Auburn Hills, Michigan, warns that President Trump’s planned tariff on Chinese metals will put her company out of business. More at The Detroit News.
+ Top sellers at the RM Sotheby’s Auburn spring auction included a 2006 Ford GT at $297,000, a 1931 Cord L-29 at $210,000, and a 1966 Batmobile replica at $165,000. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Effective at Charlotte, NASCAR has revised its tire rules to close an inadvertent loophole that gave an extra set of tires to teams that decline to make a qualifying attempt. More at Jayski.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from May 14 here.
Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
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The Shelby should be a far better car than the period one, the engine appears to have alloy heads, intake waterpump etc. And near certainly far more driveable than the original as well. Amazing what has happened in the last 50 years.
As for Larsen and Nascar it is getting silly than when a car is damaged but still pinger for a ‘flexing’ rear window. Just make them from 10mm polycarbonate and if that bends 1/2″!