Auto Industry News: Marchionne’s Legacy, YouTuber Takes on Tesla, Ferris Bueller Car for Sale, & Vanquish Returns

This week’s auto news honors Marchionne’s legacy, a stroll down memory lane with the Ferris Bueller car of our youth going to auction, and a YouTuber/handyman at the wheel ready to write a new history (hopefully) for EV repair. Prepare yourself for a reoccurring revenge narrative, as Aston Martin looks to bring an old associate out of retirement for Vanquish, and Kyle Busch makes a statement at Pocono.

Remembering Sergio Marchionne

The bombastic and stylish former Fiat-Chryler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has died at the age of 66. His cause of death is still uncertain. But other reports have stated that Marchionne had been in treatment for an unspecified illness for over a year. Though many believe his death came as a direct result of surgical complications. Coincidentally, he’s been a resident in the Auto Industry News these past couple weeks. First for his presentation of the badass Italian Jeep beach patrol, and then just last week when he announced that he’d be stepping down and succeeded by Jeep’s Mike Manley. So, while rumors continue to make their rounds, there is  no doubt that Marchionne gave everything to FCA until the very end. Known for saving Fiat Chrysler during the recession and well-liked by his contemporaries, his legacy will live on through FCA’s missions moving forward.

Aston Martin Considering “Vanquish” Revival

While we celebrate Italian automotive ingenuity, Aston Martin is looking to squash it. And when I say “it,” I specifically mean Ferrari. In the friendly, competitive way, of course. Fresh from the rumor mill is the word that the German luxury maker will bring back the Vanquish name to stand toe to toe with the Ferrari 488. Its other competitors will be the Lambo Huracan and the McLaren 720 S. The Vanquish production ran from 2001 to 2007, and then again from 2012 until earlier this year. Now in Carson Palmer fashion, the Vanquish may very well come out of retirement to compete in different tier of car as it will likely not have the V-12 of old. There is not too much information leaked, but the Vanquish is expected to carry 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and an additional help from an electric motor.

A Tesla Owners’ Knight in Shining Armor

Rich Benoit is here to help you with your electric motor. If you’re not already familiar with the YouTube vlogger and auto freak, he was recently featured on Motherboard for doing the Lord’s work as the fair price mechanic the EV world needed. Because as we all know, the technology is not yet air tight. And even more so than that, the tech is not cheap.

When Benoit wanted a Tesla, but not for the $80K tag, he bought one with flood damage and put his skills as an IT technician to work. Then, he bought another damaged Tesla for the parts an earned himself the nickname “Doctor Frankenstein of Teslas.” While Tesla tries to keep all repairs internal, (even shutting down a former Danish employee who opened a repair business), Rich took his knowledge to the people in a more guerrilla approach. His detailed YouTube videos are worth the watch, selfless, and what the EV movement should be.

Ferris Bueller Car Going to Auction

If you’ve seen the iconic Hughes’ movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, then you’re likely familiar with the plight of the protagonist’s best friend, Cameron Frye. Cameron’s dad’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder gets so much screen time, that it’s almost a character in the film itself. And now that car will be available at auction.

Well one of them, anyway. There were three of the replicas on set of Ferris Bueller, which were not Ferrari’s at all, but were actually custom Modena GTs. One of the three replicas was sold at auction in 2013 and went for $230,000; it’s one of 22 inducted into the Smithsonian’s Historical Vehicle Association Hall of Fame. So, if you find yourself at Monterey Car Week (August 18-26), keep your eye out for this bad boy.

Around the Circuit

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series hit Reno last week, and dirt was flying! RJ Anderson stole the show, as he was not to be denied in the Pro 4 Series. He fended off Adrian Cenni and Kyle LeDuc who nipped at his heels all night, but ultimately came up short. Anderson created his own momentum after a late start and didn’t look back from there. “I went all the way to the back and we got lucky there was a caution, so we got time to change it and I came back out and just put my head down,” said Anderson, who made good on his pole position start. In the other UTV classes, Elliot Watson took home Pro Buggy and points leader Ryan Beats won the Pro Lite division.

This past weekend was Pocono, and as usual, the Tricky Triangle did not disappoint. Kyle Busch, full of piss and vinegar from last week’s narrow second place finish to Kevin Harvick at New Hampshire, took home the victory. Daniel Suárez took second, Alex Bowman finished third, and Harvick ended up finishing fourth. This week’s results put Busch 48 points ahead of Harvick in the overall standings and next week the field heads to legendary Watkins Glen!

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