Auto Restorer- 1967 Divco Delivery Truck 12/04 on 2040-parts.com

Proposed M1 Concourse car condos a country club for car buffs

Brad Oleshansky's a "car fanatic" who spends time cruising Detroit's Woodward Avenue, getting shooed out of parking lots by business owners. He sought a space conducive to show and work on cars. "I tried to envision a project where we could capture that whole scene in one destination," he said.

News watch March 2010: today's auto industry news

Tuesday 30 March 2010• Mercedes has dismissed claims that its Maybach brand is for sale, after reports in the Chinese media claimed Chinese car company BYD was considering a bid for the upmarket offshoot. BYD has also denied the claims (Reuters)• Toyota president Akio Toyoda has promised his company will listen more carefully to customers and react faster in a bid to regain credibility after the Japanese car manufacturer was forced to recall millions of vehilces over safety fears (BBC)• The Obama administration is expected to unveil its finalised fuel economy and tailpipe emissions through to 2016 this week, to coincide with the opening of the 2010 New York auto show (Detroit News)  Monday 29 March 2010• Toyota has agreed to licence the hybrid technology in the Prius to Mazda, which will combine the electric system with its next-gen Sky engines. It’s part of Mazda’s plans to increase the average fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015 (compared to 2008 levels) and it hopes to have its first hybrid vehicle on sale in Japan by 2013 (Mazda)• Ford and Chinese car company Geely have signed a stock purchase agreement that will allow the latter to acquire 100% of Volvo (along with related assets including intellectual property rights).

'Need for Speed' custom Ford Mustang sells for $300,000

The customized Ford Mustang from "Need for Speed" recently sold for big bucks at Barrett-Jackson, to the tune of $300,000. It may seem like a lot for a Mustang with a body kit in a movie that isn't going to win any awards. But the money went to a good cause -- it supports the Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute.