Category: Motoring Milestones

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history ……  90 years ago this week, the last Oakland, a Series 301 sedan, was produced when the brand was dropped by General Motors in favor of the division’s Pontiac make [8 October 1931]……. 70 years ago this week, the first Willys Aero was…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history ……….  120 years ago this week, compulsory car registration for all vehicles capable of driving over 18mph (29 km/h) took effect throughout France [30 September 1901]. According to the decree, “Each motor vehicle shall bear on a metal plate and in legible…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history…….  100 years ago this week, the Metropolitan Police formed the Flying Squad, following an announcement on 17 February that their horses would be replaced by cars [22 September 1921]…….. The Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft presented the 6/20-hp and 10/35-hp car models with 4-cylinder super charger…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history……… 100 years ago this week, John W Swan, founder of the Swan Carburetor Company of Cleveland, Ohio, US applied for a United States patent for an improved automobile intake manifold. [17 September 1921]…….90 years ago this week, Herbert ‘Bert’ le Vack (52),…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history ……… 130 years ago this week, the Peugeot Type 3 quadricycle was introduced, the company’s first product marketed to the public [6 September 1891]. The engine was a German design by Daimler but was licensed for production in France and then sold…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history……. 100 years ago this week, the Lancia Lambda was introduced [1 September 1921]. It was the first car to feature a load-bearing unitary body, (but without a stressed roof) and it also pioneered the use of an independent suspension (the front sliding…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history ……. 120 years ago this week, the 50 mile (80 km) Piombino-Grosseto road race in Italy was won by Felice Nazzaro in a FIAT 12 hp [24 August 1901]. The vehicles registered for the competition were divided into various categories: The first…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history …… 90 years ago this week, the first cloverleaf interchange in the US, opened at Watson Road and Lindbergh Boulevard near St. Louis, Missouri as part of an upgrade of US 66 [20 August 1931]. The cloverleaf interchange (junction) was patented in…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history …… 120 years ago this week, the first rally race in Ireland, sponsored by the Irish Automobile Club, was held as 12 cars attempted an organised journey from Dublin to Waterford [9 August 1901]. The rally took place over a specified public…

Discover the most momentous motoring events that took place this week in history …… 110 years ago this week, a Saurer 4.5 ton truck arrived in New York City, completing a 5 month odyssey across the United States – the company claimed that this was the first trans-United States truck trip, although it was not…