On this day in…
1896
127 years ago
Ransom E Olds tested his first gasoline-powered automobile in Lansing, Michigan, US – the body for the vehicle was designed and built by Old’s friend Frank G Clark Read more…
1914
109 years ago
The first motor-vehicle speed trials were held on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, US. Read more…
1923
100 years ago
The Ford Motor Company plant for glass manufacturing went into operation in Dearborn, Michigan, US Read more…
1931
92 years ago
Ferdinand Porsche applied for a German patent for his torsion-bar suspension system Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Ray A Read more…
1939
84 years ago
While testing the Type 57 tank-bodied racer which had just won a Le Mans race, not far from the factory on the road near the village of Duppigheim (France), 30-year-old Jean Bugatti was killed Read more…
1942
81 years ago
The new Waterloo bridge over the Thames, built through the London Blitz, was opened to traffic Read more…
1946
77 years ago
The Buick Super convertible is introduced Read more…
1953
70 years ago
Tazio Nuvolari (60), Italian motorcycle and racing driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante (The Flying Mantuan) or Nivola, died Read more…
1955
68 years ago
The 4,000,000th Pontiac was produced, a Catalina hardtop coupe Read more…
1956
67 years ago
Influential abstract impressionist painter Jackson Pollock died at age 44 in a car crash that occurred less than a mile from his home in Springs, New York, US Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Daimler-Benz presented the latest versions of its 6-cylinder models 220, 220 S and 220 SE with tailfin bodies, in which the safety cage developed by Hungarian-Austrian engineer Béla Barényi was used for the first time in a car series. Read more…
1963
60 years ago
Fred Lorenzen posted a dominant victory in the Western North Carolina 500 at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway (US), landing the ninth of his 26 career wins in NASCAR’s top series Read more…
1966
57 years ago
The first Chevrolet Camaro drove out of the manufacturing plant in Norwood, Ohio Read more…
1970
53 years ago
The Ford Pinto, a subcompact car was introduced Read more…
1973
50 years ago
“American Graffiti,” a nostalgic coming-of-age tale set on the streets and steeped in the car-centric culture of suburban California, was released in theaters across the US Read more…
1974
49 years ago
A head-on collision between two buses killed 21 in Ankara, Turkey Read more…
1975
48 years ago
British Leyland was nationalised Read more…
1980
43 years ago
The Chrysler Corporation revived the Imperial marque after a 5 year lapse, as Frank Sinatra drove a 1981 metallic silver coupe off the assembly line in Windsor, Ontario, Canada Read more…
1985
38 years ago
The TWR Jaguar XJR-6 made its race debut in the 1000 km World Endurance Championship race at Mosport, Ontario, Canada Read more…
1987
36 years ago
Eugene Bordinat, Jr Read more…
1988
35 years ago
British Aerospace (BAe) purchased ‘The Rover Group’ for £150 million Read more…
1991
32 years ago
Ernie Irvan led most of the way to win the 218 Read more…
1991
32 years ago
Ayrton Senna won the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren, leading home the William’s pairing of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese Read more…
1996
27 years ago
The highest average speed achieved in a non-stop reverse drive exceeding 500 miles of 30 Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Jaques Villeneuve won the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Damon Hill making it a Williams 1-2 Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Geoff Bodine ended a two-year drought by winning on his hometown track in Watkins Glen, New York (US) Read more…
2003
20 years ago
Renowned ice hockey player and coach Herb Brooks died in a single-car crash near Forest Lake, Minn Read more…
2009
14 years ago
General Motors reported that its Chevrolet Volt Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (or E-REV) was capable of 230 mpg in city driving, more than four times the mileage of the current champion, the Toyota Prius Read more…
2010
13 years ago
Toyota suspended auto exports to Iran indefinitely in line with global sanctions against Tehran’s nuclear program Read more…
