On this day in…
1885
141 years ago
The first US patent for seat belts was issued to Edward J Read more…
1895
131 years ago
The first Panhard et Levassor gasoline-powered truck was given its initial test run in Paris, France by M Mayade, Chief Engineer of the Company Read more…
1901
125 years ago
Henri Farman recorded his first racing victory, winning the Pau-Peyrehorade-Pau road race for touring cars in an 8 hp Darracq Read more…
1905
121 years ago
The Crystal Palace Motor Show opened to the public: “Amongst pleasure vehicles the greatest attraction of the Show is provided by the Dutch-built Spyker cars, one of which, with a four-cylinder engine, has all four wheels driven by central shafts and gearing Read more…
1922
104 years ago
The Star marque was introduced in Washington DC by Durant Motors Inc Read more…
1926
100 years ago
General Motors directors approved the purchase of a site for a new truck production facility – the 160 acre Alfred Howland farm just south of Pontiac, Michigan, US was purchased in March – but the announcement of the transaction was withheld until June 1927 Read more…
1941
85 years ago
The first highway post office service was established along the route between Washington, D.C., and Harrisonburg, Virginia, US, a distance of 149 miles Read more…
1947
79 years ago
The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation acquired the automotive assets of the Graham-Paige Motors Corporation Read more…
1952
74 years ago
The DeSoto V8 was introduced Read more…
1952
74 years ago
Daytona native Marshall Teague won the NASCAR Grand National race on the 4 Read more…
1953
73 years ago
Volkswagen adopted an oval rear window for its standard sedan, replacing the original split rear window Read more…
1955
71 years ago
Racer and heir to a gold mining fortune, “Grandpa” Eddie Hearne died aged 68 Read more…
1955
71 years ago
The first 1955 Canadian Ford was produced following a 100-day strike Read more…
1955
71 years ago
The Chrysler C-300 hardtop coupe, America’s first 500 hp mass produced car, was introduced to the US public as a mid-year model Read more…
1962
64 years ago
Fireball Roberts started 10th but had the lead by the backstraight and held off a last lap surge by Joe Weatherly to win the 2nd ‘American Challenge Cup’ race by a half car length Read more…
1963
63 years ago
Fred Lorenzen held off Nelson Stacy’s late charge to win the 10 lap ‘NASCAR Race of Champions’ at Daytona International Speedway Read more…
1965
61 years ago
Archibald Goodman Frazer-Nash (75),an early English motor car designer and engineer, who specialised in manufacturer of light (“cycle”) and sports cars, died in Kingston-upon-Thames, England Read more…
1966
60 years ago
Ralph Nader testified before the US Senate, restating his claims that the automobile industry was socially irresponsible and detailing the peculiar methods the industry used in attempting to silence him Read more…
1974
52 years ago
Teddy Pilette drove his Chevron B24-Chevrolet to victory in round 5 of the Tasman Formula 5000 Series, held on the 2 Read more…
1974
52 years ago
Record producer Phil Spector was injured in a car crash Read more…
1978
48 years ago
After 9 years 2 months 8 days, Saburo Ohio of Japan completed an epic motor-caravan journey of 116,770 miles, having driven through 91 countries. Read more…
1979
47 years ago
Richie Evans won the second night Modified feature of the World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at the New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Florida (US) Read more…
1987
39 years ago
American driver Andy Linden died aged 64 Read more…
1989
37 years ago
The Ford Motor Company announced a 1988 net income of $5.3 billion, a world record for a car company Read more…
1989
37 years ago
The Mazda MX-5 was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, with a price tag of US$14,000 Read more…
1990
36 years ago
The 1990 Chicago Auto Show offered visitors a glimpse of the 1991 model Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle, successor to the Bronco II Read more…
1993
33 years ago
Ron Dennis announced his McLaren driver line-up as Mika Hakkinen and Michael Andretti, leaving three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna without a drive Read more…
2003
23 years ago
Max Mosley warned that Formula One couldn’t rely on manufacturer teams alone and needed to become more accessible for independents Read more…
2005
21 years ago
35% of Britons voted the Aston Martin DB9 as MSN UK’s Car of the Year for 2005, making it the most craved car in Britain Read more…
2006
20 years ago
Vehicles introduced at the opening of the Chicago Auto Show included, Bentley Continental GTC convertible, Ford Expedition, Lexus ES 350, Lincoln MKZ (formerly the Lincoln Zephyr, Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG and Volkswagen Rabbit Read more…
2006
20 years ago
Mazda Motor began leasing the RX-8 Hydrogen RE to its first two Japanese corporate customers Read more…
2006
20 years ago
Volkswagen announced that it would cut up to 20,000 jobs over the next 3 years from its western German workforce of 103,000, as well as demanding longer hours for no extra pay Read more…
2009
17 years ago
General Motors Corp Read more…
2012
14 years ago
Hyundai was strutting its all-new 2013 Veloster Turbo during the 10-day run of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show Read more…
2013
13 years ago
A pair of British adventurers smashed two world records driving 10,300 miles from Cape Town to London – in just 10 days, 13 hours and 30 minutes Read more…
2017
9 years ago
An Audi A8 L Security transporting Polish prime minister Beata Szydło hit a tree in Oświęcim at approx Read more…
2017
9 years ago
PSA announced the purchase of Hindustan Motors and the Ambassador brand, which will be used to sell Peugeot and Citröen vehicles in India beginning in 2018 Read more…
