Steve McQueen’s Ferrari NART Spyder could bring up to $20 million at the Gooding Christie’s New York Sale. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Announcing what it calls “the largest and most ambitious global product push in its 99-year history,” Volvo will introduce 13 new models by 2030, including hybrids and EVs. More at Carscoops.
+ In a ceremony at Jay Leno’s garage in Burbank, California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill known as Leno’s Law exempting 1976-1980 cars from emissions testing. More at ABC7.com.
+ The average new-vehicle price In the U.S. rose 0.5 percent in August to $50,090 while the typical payment reached $770, a 2.6 percent increase over one year ago. More at CBT News.
+ The Alpine Formula 1 team has appointed former Mercedes technical chief Mike Elliott as chief technical officer, overseeing all technical and engineering operations. More at Motorsport.com.
+ General Motors has released the first specs of the sixth-generation 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter small-block V-8 engines, designed for Chevrolet and GMC light-duty pickup trucks. More at Car and Driver.
+ The European Union asked China to voluntarily restrict exports of hybrid cars to 15 percent of the market as part of efforts to prevent a trade war, the Financial Times reported. More at World Auto Forum.
+ The owner of JB Ohio Auto Sale in Galloway, Ohio admitted to trafficking at least 44 counterfeit Honda airbags for vehicles he sold and is now facing up to 10 years in prison. More at Autoblog.
+ A three-hour Figure 8 championship race at the 1/5 mile Indianapolis Speedrome ended in chaos with a near-riot and one driver arrested on two counts of criminal recklessness. More at The Drive.
+ A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider, one of only 10 built and originally owned by actor Steve McQueen, will be the featured attraction at the Gooding Christie’s New York sale. More at Old Cars.
+ A.J. Foyt Racing has signed 2025 Indy NXT champion and this year’s IndyCar rookie of the year Dennis Hauger to drive the no. 14 IndyCar in 2027, replacing Santino Ferrucci. More at Racer.
Photo courtesy of Gooding Christie’s.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from September 14 here.
Join Mac’s Motor City Garage on Facebook and X to receive notices when every new story is published.
Penske blue makes any Ferrari faster, just ask Luigi Chinetti!
More sad trombone noises, no more V8 engine oil dipsticks @gm for 2027, eh? Why? Why the hell not!!! Expect unlimited shameless USDOT/MTV “Jackass” looney tune theatrical productions in ’27, w/fratzonic NHTSA loophole lawyering yodeling more online fake safety slice and dice OTA digital defect recall illusions, loaded w/gormet layer cakes of delicious exemptions and tasty catered immunities, Potomac river boat adventures, golf scramble outings, beautiful traveling compainions, door prizes, raffles, parting gifts, gold watches, and maybe even a free lemon pound cake in the break room!
Miraculously, despite the sheer violence of the on-track crashes and retaliation with a wrecked race car intentionally accelerating toward pit crews, spectators, officials and bystanders, and the riot that broke out before the race was even completed, no fatalities or severe physical injuries were reported at Indianapolis Speedrome’s retarded $50k to win 50th Annual World Figure 8 Championship.
All the lazy ass loopholapaloozas above are lifted directly from Happy Days or The Dukes of Hazzard TV show scripts. Whether its the Malachi Brothers rigging a race with a coordinated “Malachi Crunch”, or typical Ohio law school-style loophole lawyering lawyers exploiting USDOT/MTV unspripted made for TV NEPA MOU loophole cascades/imported battery mandates using Ohio law school-style mock trial loopholapaloozas to declare “water legally flows uphill,” or the ladies at gm eliminating engine oil dipsticks on their crappy V8s to hide oil consumption dirty tricks until the fine print warranty/user agreement expires, tragically for America there is no Fonzie, Bo, Luke, Daisy, Uncle Jessie, Cooter or even a Bugs Bunny coming to save you…