On this day in…
1903
120 years ago
The Packard Model L completed a 1,000 mile trial at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, US Read more…
1904
119 years ago
The Peerless Green Dragon became the first car to exceed 60 mph in Canada Read more…
1907
116 years ago
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost with a 4-speed overdrive gearbox passed its 15,000-mile RAC-observed trial with top marks Read more…
1911
112 years ago
The one millionth serially-numbered US patent—No Read more…
1919
104 years ago
The Hispano-Suiza ‘Stork’ mascot was patented by designer F Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Roy D Chapin, Chairman of the Hudson Motor Car Company, was sworn in as Secretary of Commerce in the administration of United States President Herbert Hoover Read more…
1933
90 years ago
The Swedish Summer Grand Prix (in Swedish: “Sveriges sommar-Grand Prix för automobiler”) arranged by Kungliga Automobilklubben (the Royal Automobile Club) was held on a 29 Read more…
1934
89 years ago
The 1,000,000th Plymouth, a DeLuxe 4-Door Sedan, was produced Read more…
1935
88 years ago
Doc MacKenzie clinched the Eastern AAA racing title by winning the 50-mile feature race in Longhorne, Pennsylvania, US Read more…
1938
85 years ago
The Ford Motor Company registered ‘Ford Mercury’ and ‘Mercury’ as trademarks – at the time it was unclear if their new car would be a distinct marque or simply an upscale Ford Read more…
1939
84 years ago
Raymond Mays established the ultimate twisting Campbell circuit lap record at Brooklands in a 2-litre ERA; his time was 1 minute 44 Read more…
1939
84 years ago
The last Packard V-12 was produced Read more…
1944
79 years ago
Racer Robert Benoist, an active member of the French underground, was deported to Germany by his Gestapo captors Read more…
1948
75 years ago
Bobby Hill and Billy Huber finished in a dead heat in the 10-mile National Championship motorcycle race at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia Read more…
1953
70 years ago
Mid-Cheshire MC (UK) promoted a trial motor race meeting on behalf of the Cheshire Car Circuit Ltd Read more…
1955
68 years ago
The first successful test of a solar-powered car was completed Read more…
1959
64 years ago
The 39-day-old Plymouth-DeSoto Division of the Chrysler Corporation was renamed the Plymouth-DeSoto-Valiant Division to herald the impending arrival of the new compact Valiant Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The 15 thieves involved in the Great Train Robbery, one of the most famous heists of all time, escaped in an ex-British Army truck and two stolen Land Rover four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles, making off with some $7 million in stolen loot Read more…
1975
48 years ago
The last original Fiat 500 was built Read more…
1976
47 years ago
Pole-starter Dave Marcis took the lead from Buddy Baker with 15 laps left and outruns him to win the Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama, US Read more…
1978
45 years ago
Pete Brock won the Australian Touring Car Championship Read more…
1982
41 years ago
Patrick Tambay won the German Grand Prix for Ferrari after his teammate Didier Pironi was injured in practice Read more…
1986
37 years ago
The last episode of the TV show Knight Rider aired in the United States Read more…
1991
32 years ago
James B Read more…
1993
30 years ago
Nigel Mansell won the New England 200 Indy car race Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Jeff Gordon became the first four-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Read more…
