December 1st


On this day in…

1804

219 years ago

Engine pioneer Philippe LeBon died in Paris, France aged just 37 Read more…

1883

140 years ago

Benz & Cie, Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik, the first automotive venture of Karl Benz, was registered as a company name of Mannheim, Germany Read more…

1893

130 years ago

Henry Ford was promoted to Chief Engineer of the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit, Michigan, US Read more…

1894

129 years ago

The first issue of Locomotion Automobile hit the newsstands in France Read more…

1900

123 years ago

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers was organised in New York City with Samuel T Read more…

1904

119 years ago

The first production Rover car, the Rover 8, designed by Edward W Lewis went on-sale Read more…

1906

117 years ago

The American Tourist and Roadster, produced by the American Motor Car Company of Indianapolis, debuted at the 7th ACA Show in New York City Read more…

1908

115 years ago

The Marinette Automobile Company of Marinette, Wisconsin, US, manufacturers of the Thayer as designed by Harry Thayer, was forced into bankruptcy Read more…

1913

110 years ago

The Ford Motor Company installed the continuous moving assembly line for the mass production of an entire car, reducing the time it took to build a car from more than 12 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes Read more…

1913

110 years ago

The first US drive-in service station was opened at the high traffic intersection of Baum Boulevard and St Read more…

1914

109 years ago

The Maserati Brothers founded Maserati, in Bologna, Italy a marque destined to go down in motoring history Read more…

1915

108 years ago

The Yellow Cab Company of Chicago (not to be confused the Yellow Taxicab Co Read more…

1918

105 years ago

The 1919 Hudsons were introduced as the Series M, slightly modified versions of the 1918 offerings – the redesigned Series O cars were unveiled six months later and were also marketed as 1919 Hudsons Read more…

1919

104 years ago

The 1920 Hudsons and Essex Fours were introduced Read more…

1920

103 years ago

The 1921 Hudsons were introduced, although the company was attempting to discourage year-dating its cars under the assumption that depreciation would be reduced, protecting the owners investment Read more…

1921

102 years ago

The Trask steam car, promoted by former Stanley distributor O Read more…

1928

95 years ago

For his new flagship model, the Model J Duesenberg, E Read more…

1929

94 years ago

Enzo Ferrari founded the Scuderia Ferrari Read more…

1939

84 years ago

The ‘Sunshine Special’, a highly modified Lincoln used by United States Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry S Truman, was leased to the government by the Ford Motor Company Read more…

1942

81 years ago

The U Read more…

1955

68 years ago

Volvo’s 5-year ‘PV’ warranty was extended to light trucks Read more…

1955

68 years ago

The first 22-mile segment (near the present-day exit 218 for I-76 and I-80) of the 241 mile Ohio Turnpike, a primary corridor between Chicago and Pitssburgh opened Read more…

1955

68 years ago

The Sixten Sason designed Saab 93 powered by a longitudinally mounted 3 cylinder 748cc two-stroke engine developing 33 hp, was formally unveiled Read more…

1960

63 years ago

Anthony Lago (66), the Italian engineer and motor-industry entrepreneur, died Read more…

1962

61 years ago

High praise for Stirling Moss who was described by Enzo Ferrari as the world’s best driver, likening him to the legendary Tazio Nuvolari Read more…

1963

60 years ago

African American driver Wendell Scott passed Buck Baker with 25 laps to go, to win the 200-lap, 100-mile Grand National race at the Jacksonville Raceway Park by two laps Read more…

1967

56 years ago

American Motors Corporation hired Craig Breedlove to set long distance high speed records with their AMX Read more…

1968

55 years ago

The first official event was staged at Sears Point, in the southern Sonoma Mountains in Sonoma, California (US), an SCCA Enduro Read more…

1974

49 years ago

John Greenwood drove a Greenwood Corvette to victory in the IMSA sports car race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida Read more…

1978

45 years ago

The 14 km long Arlberg Road Tunnel between Langen and St Read more…

1984

39 years ago

New York became the first US state to pass a law which required vehicle occupants to wear seatbelts Read more…

1989

34 years ago

Ford acquired Jaguar Cars for $2 Read more…

1989

34 years ago

American musician Sly Stone was sentenced to 55 days after pleading guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of cocaine, (two weeks later he also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to spend 9-14 months in rehab) Read more…

1997

26 years ago

Michael Schumacher was revealed by Forbes magazine as the fourth-highest earner in world sport Read more…

2001

22 years ago

Bernie Ecclestone hit out at rumours of a rival F1 championship being launched, warning it would drive sponsors away from the sport Read more…

2003

20 years ago

It became a specific offence to use a mobile phone in your hand whilst driving in the UK Read more…

2004

19 years ago

Volkswagen’s new Golf GTI was crowned Car of the Year 2005 by BBC Top Gear Read more…

365 Days Of Motoring

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