On this day in…
1909
115 years ago
The Houpt-Rockwell made its debut in the 24-hour race at Brighton Beach, New York, but the car driven by George Robertson failed to finish Read more…
1911
113 years ago
The grandstand collapsed on lap 2 of the Elgin National Trophy in Illinois Read more…
1913
111 years ago
Henry B Joy presented the chosen route for the Lincoln Highway to the Conference of West and Middle West Governors at their meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US Read more…
1926
98 years ago
As part of the process of merging with General Motors, the Yellow Cab Manufacturing Company changed its name to the Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company with John D Hertz as Chairman and John A Ritchie as President Read more…
1929
95 years ago
The first Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental was completed Read more…
1934
90 years ago
The first Swiss Grand Prix was held at Circuit Bremgarten, near Bern Read more…
1935
89 years ago
American statesman and founder of Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912, John North Willys (61), died Read more…
1939
85 years ago
The last pre-war racing event was held at Crystal Palace and the area was requisitioned by the military Read more…
1940
84 years ago
The last LaSalle, manufactured by Cadillac, was built Read more…
1950
74 years ago
Ransom Eli Olds, a pioneer of the American automotive industry, after whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named, died at the age of 86 Read more…
1957
67 years ago
A formal press conference introduced the Edsel, named after Henry Ford’s son, Edsel Bryant Ford, to an eager and curious public Read more…
1959
65 years ago
British Motor Corporation (BMC) launched its newest car, the small affordable Mark I Mini Read more…
1967
57 years ago
James Hylton, one of NASCAR’s longest-running independent drivers, was born Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Mark Donohue won the Road America Can-Am race in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, USA, driving a Penske Porsche 917/30 Read more…
1977
47 years ago
The first British built Vauxhall Cavalier rolled off the production line Read more…
1979
45 years ago
Gilles Villeneuve cemented his cult-hero status at the Dutch Grand Prix when he refused to retire with a puncture, and instead drove a lap of the circuit on three wheels with sparks flying from the rear of his Ferrari Read more…
1981
43 years ago
General Motors launched the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk 2, available for the first time with front-wheel drive and as a hatchback Read more…
1984
40 years ago
Alain Prost led home Niki Lauda for a MacLaren 1-2 at the Dutch Grand Prix Read more…
1984
40 years ago
42 Moss Bay Mojorettes in Jacksonville (US) crammed into a Jaguar XJ6 to establish a new world record Read more…
1985
39 years ago
The Yugo, manufactured in Yugoslavia, was first introduced to the US market Read more…
1990
34 years ago
Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna claimed his fifth race victory for the season at the Belgium Grand Prix in his McLaren MP4/5B taking a four-second win over the Ferrari 641 driven the reigning world champion, Frenchman Alain Prost Read more…
1992
32 years ago
The first Moscow (Russia) International Motor Show opened Read more…
1993
31 years ago
General Motors sold its Group Lotus subsidiary to Bugatti International SAH, the new Bugatti group’s financial holding company headquartered in Luxembourg Read more…
1995
29 years ago
Terry Labonte slid across the finish line just ahead of Dale Earnhardt to win the Goody’s 500 at Bristol, Tennessee (US) Read more…
1996
28 years ago
The first Ford Escort produced in Nashik (India) rolled off the line, the result of a joint venture between Ford and Mahindra Read more…
1996
28 years ago
Philip Morris tobacco company Read more…
1999
25 years ago
Ford announced it would close its cold weather testing facility in Bemidji, Minnesota due to inconsistent climatic conditions Read more…
2000
24 years ago
‘KillaCycle’ established an electric motorcycle drag racing record of completing a quarter mile (400 m) in 9 Read more…
2001
23 years ago
A Ferrari 410 Sport manufactured in 1955 was sold at auction in the US for £2 Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The Porsche 911 GT3, a higher-performance Porsche 911, named after the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) GT3 European Championship it was designed to compete in, went on sale in the UK at £79,540. Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Lewis Hamilton’s title bid took the first of two major blows as a result of a tyre failure Read more…
2009
15 years ago
Inspiration, designed by Glynne Bowsher and developed by the BSCC (British Steam Car Challenge), established a World Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle, when it achieved a speed of 148 Read more…
