On this day in…
1879
146 years ago
Karl Benz successfully tested his first gasoline engine Read more…
1904
121 years ago
Only cars built before this date are eligible for the annual London – Brighton Commemoration Run for Veteran Cars, first staged in 1927 under the sponsorship of the Daily Sketch Read more…
1909
116 years ago
The 1,470-foot span Manhattan Bridge across the East River, New York opened to traffic Read more…
1914
111 years ago
The Dodge Brothers Inc contract to provide powertrain components to the Ford Motor Company was terminated Read more…
1918
107 years ago
General Motors officially acquired the United Motors Corporation, which combined the scattered interests of William Durant into a single entity Read more…
1925
100 years ago
Nicola Romeo was ousted as Managing Director of Alfa Romeo, and was succeeded by Pasquale Gallo Read more…
1927
98 years ago
The Dearborn Independent, a newspaper published by Henry Ford, printed its last issue Read more…
1928
97 years ago
The very last Model T was assembled – at Ford’s Cork plant in Ireland Read more…
1928
97 years ago
Ferdinand Porsche resigned from Daimler-Benz AG Read more…
1931
94 years ago
Production of the Cord L29 ended after a 3 year and 4,429 cars Read more…
1933
92 years ago
Dominion Motors Ltd of Toronto, Canada, officially discontinued production of the Frontenac automobile after a three year run Read more…
1938
87 years ago
The “Drunk-o-meter” – the first breath test for car drivers, invented by Dr Rolla N Read more…
1941
84 years ago
America’s last cars with chrome-plated trim were manufactured Read more…
1945
80 years ago
The Triumph Company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company for £75,000 and a subsidiary “Triumph Motor Company (1945) Limited” was formed with production transferred to Standard’s factory at Canley, on the outskirts of Coventry Read more…
1948
77 years ago
Sir Malcolm Campbell, legendary racing driver and land speed record holder, died at his Reigate (Surrey, England) home at the age of 63 after a series of strokes Read more…
1950
75 years ago
The inaugural race at the Sebring Raceway in Florida, the 6 hour “Sam Collier Memorial”, was won by the team of Fritz Koster/Ralph Deshon driving a Crosley Hot Shot Read more…
1951
74 years ago
The Henry J Vagabond was introduced, an interim version of Kaiser’s compact, actually a leftover ’51 fitted with a “continental” outside spare tire and a slightly upgraded interior Read more…
1957
68 years ago
The four-passenger Ford ‘Square Bird’ was first unveiled at a New Year’s Eve party at the exclusive Thunderbird Golf Club in Palm Springs, California Read more…
1971
54 years ago
President Richard Nixon signed the National Air Quality Control Act, which called for a 90 percent reduction in automobile emissions by 1975 Read more…
1984
41 years ago
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, crashed his Corvette Stingray, on the A57 outside Sheffield, Allen lost his left arm in the accident Read more…
1988
37 years ago
100 cars crashed on an ice-slicked section of Interstate-75 in central Michigan, killing one and injuring 39 Read more…
1988
37 years ago
Ford’s worldwide earnings reach all-time high of $5 Read more…
1992
33 years ago
Lee Iacocca retired as Chairman of the Chrysler Corporation Read more…
1998
27 years ago
Frank Williams , whose 30 years in Formula One according to The Times “combined ruthlessness with a magnificent obsession that has brought nine constructors’ championships and seven individual driver’s titles,” was knighted in the New Year’s Honours List Read more…
1999
26 years ago
Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE was awarded a KBE in the New Years Honors list for services to motor racing Read more…
2002
23 years ago
After 71 years together the world famous British car marques – Bentley and Rolls-Royce – separated Read more…
2007
18 years ago
On the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel’s historic crash at the fountains at Caesars Palace in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, Australian stunt rider Robbie “Maddo” Maddison, jumped more than the distance of an NFL football field Read more…
