On this day in…
1794
229 years ago
George Washington granted U Read more…
1826
197 years ago
Londoner, Samuel Brown was granted British Patent No. 5350 Read more…
1861
162 years ago
William Ford and Mary O’Hern Litogot, the parents of Henry Ford, were married in Dearborn, Michigan, US Read more…
1874
149 years ago
Allen Blackwell Laing, a longtime automobile dealer who is credited with the development of antifreeze, in Plainfield, New Jersey, US Read more…
1901
122 years ago
Renault exhibited their single cylinder 450cc, 4.5 hp cabriolet on their stand at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1901
122 years ago
New York became the first US state to require license plates by law Read more…
1922
101 years ago
A B C Hardy was elected Vice President of General Motors Read more…
1925
98 years ago
Alfieri Maserati’s first car, the Tipo 26, made its racing debut by winning its class at the Targa Florio Read more…
1926
97 years ago
Racer Giulio Masetti (30) was killed when his Delage crashed in Madonie, Italy during the Targa Florio, Together with his brother Carlo, who was also passionate about motors and competitions, he began competing as a boy Read more…
1927
96 years ago
The first Dodge Convertible Cabriolet was produced Read more…
1928
95 years ago
Frank Lockhart (25) was killed in the crash of his Stutz Blackhawk during a land speed record attempt on the beach at Daytona, Florida Read more…
1931
92 years ago
Dr Ferdinand Porsche founded Porsche KG, a company of “designers and consultants for land, sea, and air vehicles” Read more…
1940
83 years ago
The last Duesenberg J automobile was completed and delivered to artist Rudolf Bauer Read more…
1944
79 years ago
Owens-Corning Fiberglass of Toledo, Ohio, US began construction of an experimental plastic-bodied automobile under the direction of Dr R Games Slayer, Walter F Krause and William B Stout Read more…
1948
75 years ago
Ted Horn drove his T Read more…
1954
69 years ago
Gober Sosebee drove to his second and final victory in NASCAR’s premier series, scoring a home-state win at Central City Speedway in Macon, Georgia, US Read more…
1955
68 years ago
The IV Grand Prix de Bordeaux was won by Jean Behra driving a Maserati 250F Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Mario Andretti made his racing debut driving his own 1948 Hudson to victory at the Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pennsylvania Read more…
1961
62 years ago
The last 5cwt and 7 cwt 300E Ford Thames vans rolled off the production line Read more…
1961
62 years ago
The 11th Syracuse Grand Prix, run to Formula One rules, was held at the Syracuse Circuit, Sicily, over 56 laps Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Fred Frame (66), winner of the 1932 Indianapolis 500, died Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Fred Lorenzen led the final 332 laps to win the NASCAR Grand National ‘Virginia 500’ at Martinsville Speedway Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Mike Parkes and Jean Guichet drove a Ferrari 275P2 to victory in the Monza 1000 Kilometer World Sports Car Championship race Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Jim McElreath won the rain shortened USAC Championship race on the 1 mile paved Trenton Speedway, New jersey, US Read more…
1966
57 years ago
Coming back from severe injuries suffered in a late 1965 Sports Car crash, John Surtees teamed with Mike Parkes in a new Ferrari 3330P3 coupe to win the Monza 1000 Kilometer World Sports Car Championship race on the Monza circuit Read more…
1966
57 years ago
A drunk driver killed 10 children in Asse Belgium Read more…
1967
56 years ago
The Kuhlman Electric Company is reorganised as the Kuhlman Corporation, manufacturers of automobile parts Read more…
1967
56 years ago
John Wyer’s Mirage, based on the Ford GT40, made its racing debut in a 1000 km race at Monza, Italy, but the car was plagued with minor breakdowns as Ferrari captured the top two places Read more…
1971
52 years ago
The John Wyer Porsche team completely dominated the Monza 1000 Kilometer World Sports Car Championship race with the team of Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver coming home first followed the Jo Siffert/Derek Bell team car Read more…
1971
52 years ago
Frank Matich ran 2nd in both heats to take the win in the SCCA Continental Championship Formula 5000 race at Riverside International Raceway, California, US Read more…
1971
52 years ago
Mike Mosley drove the A Read more…
1972
51 years ago
Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni drove a Ferrari 312P to victory in the Monza 1000 Kilometer World Sports Car Championship race Read more…
1972
51 years ago
Darrell Waltrip won the NASCAR GN ‘Virginia 500’ on the Read more…
1973
50 years ago
Boulevard Périphérique, a ring road (French: périphérique) around Paris was completed Read more…
1974
49 years ago
Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12s finished 1-2-3 in the 1000K race at Monza, Italy Read more…
1982
41 years ago
In the San Marino Grand Prix held at Imola, it was Didier Pironi clicking off the fastest lap to win from his sixth place starting spot Read more…
1982
41 years ago
Virginia National Bank became the track’s first Winston Cup race sponsor, turning the Virginia 500 into the Virginia National Bank 500 Read more…
1984
39 years ago
One third of Porsche AG’s capital was offered to the public as preferred non-voting shares Read more…
1984
39 years ago
The Austin and MG Montego’s were showcased to the press in the South of France Read more…
1988
35 years ago
Ford completely disinvestment from South Africa Read more…
1993
30 years ago
Alain Prost in his Williams, he took pole position and set the fastest lap on his way to victory at the San Mario Grand Prix at Imola in a time of 1:33:20 Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Ford Motor Company announced a recall of about eight million cars, minivans and pickups because of an ignition switch fire hazard Read more…
1996
27 years ago
The Sixth Annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held for the first time at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Complex in Talladega, Alabama Read more…
1997
26 years ago
Warren Johnson made the first 6 Read more…
1999
24 years ago
The drum and bass DJ and record producer known as Kemistry was killed on the M3 near Winchester, England by the steel body of a cat’s eye, which had been dislodged by a van and flew through the windscreen of the following car in which she was a passenger Read more…
2001
22 years ago
Michele Alboreto (44) died in a testing crash Read more…
2001
22 years ago
A new world record for Most Persons in a New Volkswagen Beetle (27) was set at Pennsylvania State University. Read more…
2002
21 years ago
Rapper, dancer musician and former TLC member Lisa Lopes was killed in a car accident in La Ceiba, Honduras, aged 30 Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Jeff Gordon won the controversial Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Alabama (US) when a caution flag froze the field as Dale Earnhardt, Jr Read more…
2004
19 years ago
A total of 107 BMW coupé cars took part in a parade organised by the BMW Coupé Club Nederland (BCCN) at The Hague, Netherlands Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The San Marino Grand Prix held at Imola was won by Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari F2004 Read more…
2005
18 years ago
Alexander James Trotman (71), Baron Trotman, Ford Motor Company’s first foreign-born chairman and CEO, died Read more…
2018
5 years ago
The Detroit-based Ford Motor Co Read more…
