On this day in…
1852
171 years ago
Ignaz Schustala obtained official permission to begin construction of a carriage factory in Olmutz, Moravia, Austria-Hungary (now Olomouc, Czech Republic) – this enterprise would eventiually evolve into the Tatra automobile works Read more…
1896
127 years ago
The U Read more…
1909
114 years ago
Ettore Bugatti resigned as chief designer of Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz AG of Cologne, Germany Read more…
1914
109 years ago
Alanson P Brush was issued with a United States patent for his automobile frame concept developed specifically for the Marmon Model 34 Read more…
1915
108 years ago
The Hercules Motor Manufacturing Company was organised Read more…
1917
106 years ago
The Scripps-Booth Model Six-39 was introduced Read more…
1917
106 years ago
The first Moore was produced by the Moore Motor Vehicle Company of Minneapolis, US Read more…
1919
104 years ago
The Astra Motors Corporation was organised in Saint Louis, US with B R Parrott was President and Treasurer, AJ Kessinger Secretary, VC Kloepper Chief Engineer and Andre Mertzanoff Designer Read more…
1919
104 years ago
The Locomobile Company was organised by E Read more…
1923
100 years ago
The first organized speedway was created at Maitland, New South Wales, Australia when New Zealand-born rider “Johnny” S Read more…
1930
93 years ago
A draft of the first Highway Code was issued Read more…
1930
93 years ago
The Meteor Motorcycle Club was founded in Glendora, New Jersey, US Read more…
1931
92 years ago
Following successful London experiments, it was announced that traffic lights were to be installed throughout Britain Read more…
1940
83 years ago
Automotive starting motor and generator manufacturer Arthur Skinner (55), died Read more…
1941
82 years ago
The American Federation of Labor Council adopted a no-strike policy in war industries, which included car plants being converted to military production Read more…
1942
81 years ago
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities issued the first plastic license-plate tabs Read more…
1949
74 years ago
Raymond Mays and Ken Richardson test drove the first BRM V-16 race car in its public debut at the Folkingham Airfield, Bourne, England Read more…
1967
56 years ago
The Silver Bridge connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Gallipolism Ohio (US), over the Ohio River, collapsed while full of rush-hour traffic Read more…
1974
49 years ago
In an initiative to reduce energy consumption, the national speed limits in Britain for single-carriageway and dual-carriageway roads were temporarily reduced to 50 mph and 60 mph (from 60 mph and 70 mph) respectively Read more…
1980
43 years ago
Peter Gregg, winner of the 1979 Daytona 24-hour race, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound Read more…
2000
23 years ago
After favourable public reaction, Volkswagen officially incorporated Bugatti Automobiles SAS with former VW drivetrain chief Karl-Heinz Neumann as president Read more…
2002
21 years ago
The Norwegian Tricolor, a cargo ship carrying nearly 2,900 luxury cars capsized and sank after colliding with the Bahamas-registered Kariba cargo ship in the English Channel Read more…
2004
19 years ago
A walking, talking child-size robot from Honda Motor Co Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Racer Clay Regazzoni (64) was killed in a bizarre road accident crashing head on with a truck in Parma, Italy Read more…
2006
17 years ago
In a press conference it was announced that Marco Andretti, son of Michael Andretti and the grandson of 1978 world champion Mario Andretti, would move up to the Indy Racing League as the youngest driver in series history and would trade sponsors – the New York Stock Exchange and Motorola – with Dario Franchitti as Andretti was not old enough to run an alcohol-sponsored car Read more…
2008
15 years ago
In China, the BYD Company introduced the F3DM, the country’s first home-grown electric vehicle for the mass market Read more…
2016
7 years ago
California, US regulators approved 7,500 PG&E car-charging stations at a cost estimated at $130 million Read more…