Congress scales back tax break for car buyers

A proposed tax break for new-vehicle buyers is dramatically scaled back in the final version of the economic stimulus bill. Auto dealers and their allies had sought to make interest on auto loans and the sales and excise taxes on new-vehicle purchases deductible from federal taxes. Proponents say those measures are needed to boost showroom traffic and sales.

Mullin Museum to open next month

What promises to be one of the most significant automotive-museum openings in decades will take place next month when collector Peter Mullin opens the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif. Mullin is known for his love of French cars, and the museum will have more than 100 of them. Graceful and elegant Delahayes, Delages, Talbot-Lagos, Voisins, Hispano-Suizas and Bugattis will all be on hand, wrapped in voluptuous forms from coachbuilders Chapron, Figoni et Falaschi, Gangloff, Vanvooren, Labourdette, Letourneur et Marchand and Saoutchik, among others.

First 2014 Shelby GT500 Super Snake headed to museum

The first 2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake was delivered to the new Shelby Automotive Museum in Southern California on Dec. 26, 2013. The 850-hp, Grabber Blue pony car wearing chassis number 14SS0010 will take its place among the rest of Shelby’s classics, and it will also join the Shelby Registry.