Saturday 10th November 1855

Alexandre Darracq, the French automobile manufacturer, was born. By 1904, he was producing more than 10 per cent of all motor vehicles in France. His company became involved with motor racing, winning a number of major races, including the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup in the US, and twice set new land-speed records, in 1904 and 1905. Along with some Italian investors in 1906, he also founded the Società Anonima Italiana Darracq, the company that became Alfa Romeo.