On this day in…
1914
109 years ago
The Chevrolet 490, designed by Alfred Sturt, was announced, as William C Durant’s first serious competitor of the Ford Model T- its model number noted the current price of the Ford car, Chevrolet 490 was an immediate success and established the brand as a big player Read more…
1925
98 years ago
Construction commenced on the 2 Read more…
1929
94 years ago
The K-D Motor Company, manufacturers of the with the little known K-D engine, founded in 1912 by Miss Margaret E Knight and Mrs Beatrice Davidson, was legally “dissolved by Proclamation” Read more…
1931
92 years ago
The Buick 1931-1932 ‘Winged 8’ mascot was patented by designer K Read more…
1934
89 years ago
Scuderia Ferrari conceived plans for the 16-cylinder Alfa Romeo Bimotore race car Read more…
1937
86 years ago
Doug van Riet driving an Austin Van Riet won the “II Rand Grand Prix” handicap race at the Lord Howe track, South Africa from Roy Hesketh (MG) and Don Giovanni “Johnny” Lurani (Maserati) Read more…
1949
74 years ago
The first Saab automobile, the ’92’ was produced Read more…
1960
63 years ago
J W Tiscornia (75), an automobile parts manufacturer who is credited with the development of disc brakes, died in Michigan, US Read more…
1968
55 years ago
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the British musical film loosely based on Ian Fleming’s novel The Magical Car was released Read more…
1972
51 years ago
The minimum age for riders of motorbikes over 50cc was raised from 16 to 17 Read more…
1977
46 years ago
Peugeot executive Andre Gasparoux was murdered by left wing terrorists in Buenos Aires, Argentina Read more…
1979
44 years ago
Libya joined four other OPEC nations in raising the price of crude oil Read more…
1982
41 years ago
Colin Chapman (54), founder of Lotus Cars, suffered a fatal heart attack Read more…
1982
41 years ago
Active suspension was tested for the first time on an F1 car when Dave Scott drove the Lotus 92 at Snetterton, England Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Ford acquired First Nationwide Financial Corporation, operator of the ninth-largest U Read more…
1992
31 years ago
At a special press conference in Paris for 350 journalists from France and other countries, Jacques Calvet, Chairman of Automobiles Citroën gave a special preview of the Xantia Read more…
1992
31 years ago
Toyota’s European manufacturing operations began when the first Carina E drove off the production line in Burnaston, Derbyshire Read more…
1997
26 years ago
George W Read more…
1997
26 years ago
An Italian judge, Antonio Costanza acquitted three track officials and three members of the Williams Grand Prix team of manslaughter (omicido colpose) in the death of Ayrton Senna involving his accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy Read more…
2000
23 years ago
In China, Brilliance China Automotive Holding introduced its new Zhonghua car Read more…
2002
21 years ago
Jaguar XJ made its North American debut Read more…
2002
21 years ago
On Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd Read more…
2002
21 years ago
Karsten Engel, Head of the BMW Group’s Munich branch, handed over the millionth car sold in 2002, a BMW 730d Individual in carbon black-metallic Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Lola Cars International began manufacturing 50 identical race cars for the inaugural Al GP series of 2005–2006, the largest single order in motor-racing history Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The Ford Thunderbird FAB1 car arrived at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Ford Motor Company announced a £169 million investment in its diesel engine manufacturing unit at Dagenham in Essex Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Scion unveiled the next-generation xB, based on the t2B concept, and the new xD, successor of the xA, at an invitation-only, no-camera event in Miami Read more…
2007
16 years ago
British Formula One star Lewis Hamilton had his driving licence suspended for a month after being caught speeding on a French motorway Read more…
2008
15 years ago
In Italy Fiat Group SpA for the first time shut down most of its Italian plants for a month, laying off nearly 50,000 workers for an extended holiday in reaction to the precipitous drop in demand for new cars Read more…
2015
8 years ago
India’s top court ordered a temporary ban on the sale of large diesel cars in New Delhi to combat toxic smog in the city, prompting concern in the auto sector as some carmakers state they might reconsider investment plans in the country Read more…
