On this day in…
1890
134 years ago
The first Panhard et Levassor was test driven in Paris, France Read more…
1896
128 years ago
The public were invited to subscribe for shares in the Daimler Motor Company formed to take over from the Daimler Motor Syndicate Read more…
1901
123 years ago
The first car named Mercedes, made by Daimler, debuted at the Circuit du Sud-Ouest, France Read more…
1911
113 years ago
The first self-starter, based on patented inventions created by General Motors (GM) engineers Clyde Coleman and Charles Kettering, was installed in a Cadillac Read more…
1912
112 years ago
Frank Kulick, driving a modified Ford Model T on frozen Lake St Clair, Michigan, covering a flying mile in 33 2/5 seconds (103 Read more…
1916
108 years ago
In an attempt to save fuel for the war effort, the British government appealed against the use of motor cars and motorcycles for pleasure Read more…
1920
104 years ago
It was announced that London’s Metropolitan Police would become the first police force in the Britain to replace horses with motor cars. Read more…
1921
103 years ago
Figures released showed that in 1920 there were 9,000,000 motor vehicles in the US. Read more…
1925
99 years ago
Ford Japan was formed Read more…
1927
97 years ago
During the Ninety Mile Beach 5 lap handicap race, a non-competing car hurtled down the beach and collided with racer Bert Fitzherbert’s car, killing its unknown lady passenger Read more…
1934
90 years ago
The first driving course was offered at State College High School in State College, Pennsylvania, giving birth to the American tradition of driver’s education Read more…
1951
73 years ago
Packard introduced its “250” Chassis Convertible Read more…
1951
73 years ago
The Chicago Auto Show opened Read more…
1951
73 years ago
The US government banned the production of white side walled tires because of the Korean War effort Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The Detroit Auto Show opened for press previews, in Michigan Read more…
1957
67 years ago
Cotton Owens drove the Ray Nichels Pontiac to victory in the Daytona Beach NASCAR Grand National event, recording the first NASCAR win for the Pontiac nameplate Read more…
1960
64 years ago
The 841 cc, 38 hp Saab 96, with a 3 cylinder two-stroke engine was premiered at a Stockholm press conference Read more…
1962
62 years ago
In its second year at McCormick Place, the Chicago Auto Show continued to grow, with exhibits on two levels of the facility Read more…
1962
62 years ago
The Saab Sport, premiered at the Stockholm Motor Show Read more…
1962
62 years ago
LeeRoy Yarbrough won the 250 mile Modified-Sportsman Stock Car race at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, US Read more…
1963
61 years ago
The three-hour Daytona Continental, run at Daytona, Florida, USA, was won by Pedro Rodriguez in a Ferrari 250 GTO Read more…
1964
60 years ago
The locally-built Morris 1100 Deluxe was launched in Australia Read more…
1966
58 years ago
Alfred Sloan long-time president and chairman of General Motors died aged 91 years Read more…
1972
52 years ago
The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled out of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, surpassing the Ford Model T’s previous production record to become the most heavily produced car in history. Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Bobbie Adamson won the 50-lap Super Sprint car Winternational Sprint Series race at the Florida State Fair, Tampa, Florida Read more…
1974
50 years ago
The 1974 Daytona 500, the 16th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty after three hours, eleven minutes, and thirty-eight seconds of racing at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA Read more…
1979
45 years ago
Auto racer Don Williams was left in a coma as a result of a crash during the Sportsman 300 race at Daytona (US) Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Buddy Baker won the fastest Daytona 500 in history, at 177 Read more…
1981
43 years ago
Chrysler Corp reported the largest corporate losses in US history Read more…
1982
42 years ago
The 1983 aerodynamically designed Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar were introduced Read more…
1983
41 years ago
During the first of the Twin 125 qualifying races for the Daytona 500, former Indy 500 driver Bruce Jacobi lost control at the exit of Turn 2 and flipped his Chevrolet upon entering the grass infield, eventually coming to a stop near the inside dirt bank Read more…
1985
39 years ago
Bill Elliott wrapped up a dominating SpeedWeek by driving his Thunderbird to victory in the Daytona 500 Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Frank Kurtis (79), an American racing car designer who built midget cars, quarter-midgets, sports cars, sprint cars, Indy cars, and Formula One cars, died Read more…
1988
36 years ago
The ten-millionth Mercedes-Benz car produced since the war rolled off the production line at Sindelfingen, Germany Read more…
1991
33 years ago
Dale Earnhardt was passed by Ernie Irvan in the 1991 Daytona 500 with six laps to go to score an upset win Read more…
1995
29 years ago
The famous MG sports car brand, not seen on a volume sports car since 1980, was revived when the Rover Group unveiled the new MGF sports car which went on sale in the autumn of 1995 Read more…
1999
25 years ago
An Icelandic consortium, Vistorka hf Read more…
1999
25 years ago
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt underwent back surgery to remove a ruptured disk at University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (US) Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Michael Schumacher was faced with potential legal action after deciding to switch helmet supplier from Bell to Schuberth Read more…
2002
22 years ago
Ward Burton took advantage of Serling Martin’s blunder for his first victory in the Daytona 500 Read more…
2003
21 years ago
The London congestion charge for most motor vehicles entering the Central London area was introduced Read more…
2003
21 years ago
BAR boss David Richards played down the significance of an ongoing war of words between his drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Bernie Ecclestone put forward the idea of having a US Grand Prix in Las Vegas in 2007, after concerns over tyre safety for Michelin runners meant the 2005 race at Indianapolis featured just six cars Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 driving for Roger Penske Read more…
2009
15 years ago
Chrysler and GM told the US government they might need up to $21 Read more…
2009
15 years ago
The “saviour of the British motorcycle industry” Leslie Frederick Harris, who resurrected the Triumph Bonneville in 1983, died aged 69 Read more…
2013
11 years ago
Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a pole position in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Read more…
2019
5 years ago
The last Daytona 500 race to use traditional restrictor plates in NASCAR since 1988 Read more…
2020
4 years ago
General Motors announced that the Holden brand would be retired by 2021 Read more…
