On this day in…
1902
122 years ago
US car manufacturer, Oldsmobile ran its first national automobile advertisement in the Saturday Evening Post Read more…
1913
111 years ago
Driving a 25 hp, 4.5 litre ‘Invincible Talbot’ at Brooklands, Percy Lambert became the first man to exceed 100 miles in one hour, covering 103.84 miles Read more…
1920
104 years ago
Packard announced the Fuelizer, a fuel-preheating device developed by Lionel M Woolson Read more…
1926
98 years ago
The Ford Motor Company was awarded the first US Post Office Department contract for the commercial carrying of airmail, using a fleet of six Ford built Stout 2-AT single engine metal skin high wing monoplanes Read more…
1933
91 years ago
The Willys-Overland Company was forced into receivership Read more…
1935
89 years ago
BMW’s stylistically and technologically innovative flagship model, the 70 mph BMW 326, was launched at the 26th German International Motor Show Berlin Read more…
1936
88 years ago
The Mercedes-Benz 260D – the world’s first production diesel-powered passenger car – debuted at the Berlin Auto Show Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Automobile stylist Amos E Northup (47) died at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, US two days after slipping on ice and breaking his skull Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Vincenzo Lancia died of natural causes aged 55 Read more…
1939
85 years ago
The 27,000,000th Ford automobile was produced Read more…
1948
76 years ago
A week before the organisation was officially incorporated, NASCAR held its first race for modified stock cars on a 3.2 mile-course at Daytona Beach Read more…
1953
71 years ago
Bill Blair, gaining the lead after race long leader Fonty Flock ran out of gas, won the 160 mile NASCAR GN race on the Daytona Beach and road course Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The Thunderbird name was chosen for the new Ford sports car Read more…
1959
65 years ago
Art Chrisman broke the 180 mph barrier in a supercharged nitro dragster when his “Hustler” did 181 Read more…
1963
61 years ago
Studebaker announced that all of their new cars would be fitted with front seat belts Read more…
1965
59 years ago
The Chevrolet Caprice was introduced in the US as an upscale Impala Sport Sedan Read more…
1967
57 years ago
1968
56 years ago
The two-seater AMX made its debut Read more…
1968
56 years ago
Subaru of America Inc was organised in Pennsylvania and began importing the Subaru 360, a two-seater mini saloon Read more…
1969
55 years ago
John Z Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Buddy Baker and Coo Coo Marlin won the twin 125 mile NASCAR GN qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway Read more…
1974
50 years ago
Having announced that it would be his last race, Mark Donohue won the first International Race of Champions Final Read more…
1976
48 years ago
After years of misfortune, David Pearson finally won the Daytona 500 in spectacular fashion Read more…
1978
46 years ago
The closure of Triumph’s assembly plant at Speke, near Liverpool was announced Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Richie Evans won the NASCAR 200 for Modifieds at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Florida, US Read more…
1981
43 years ago
Richard Petty and crew gambled by not changing tires on the last pit stop and it paid off with Petty taking his 7th Daytona 500 win Read more…
1982
42 years ago
Inventor of cruise control, Ralph Teetor (91), died in Hagertown, Indiana, US Read more…
1983
41 years ago
British Leyland’s Mini-Metro became Britain’s best selling car Read more…
1984
40 years ago
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new 2 Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Jimmy Horton won the final race in the DIRT Modified Florida Tour at the Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, Florida, US Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Bill Elliott qualified for the pole position at an all-time Daytona record of 210 Read more…
1991
33 years ago
In Southern Thailand a truck carrying dynamite to a stone quarry suddenly and catastrophically exploded, killing between 122 and 180 villagers Read more…
1996
28 years ago
The Ferrari F310 F1 racer was unveiled Read more…
1998
26 years ago
Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 after 20 years of trying Read more…
2002
22 years ago
San Diego Padres outfielder Mike Darr (25) and his friend Duane Johnson (23) were killed when Darr’s sport utility vehicle careened out of control, rolled over repeatly as it crossed the Loop 101 freeway in northwest Phoenix, Arizona, crashed through a fence, and landed on its top on a frontage road Read more…
2004
20 years ago
Dale Earnhardt, Jr Read more…
2005
19 years ago
A massive crash during testing for Kimi Raikkonen meant the team had to cut short its running programme due to a lack of replacement suspension components Read more…
2006
18 years ago
City of Westminster council revealed details of its 10 worst parking offenders Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The 1,000th Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren rolled off the production line at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Police in Los Angeles, California, busted 8 people connected to an international car theft ring Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Super Aguri announced Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide as its drivers, putting the final pieces into place for its debut season Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Max Mosley faced a critical reception after proposing a football-style promotion and relegation system in Formula One Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Formula One edged further away from the threat of a breakaway series as Renault announced it was leaving the Grand Prix Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) Read more…
2008
16 years ago
American racer Jerry Karl (66) died in a accident in Maryland (US) Read more…
2011
13 years ago
Four-time World Rally Champion Jahu Kankkunen broke the land-ice speed record, reaching an average speed of 331 km/h (205 Read more…
