On this day in…
1898
126 years ago
The Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, US extended coverage to the owner of an automobile, making them the first company to issue car insurance policy to an individual Read more…
1901
123 years ago
The Edison Storage Battery Corporation was organised, primarily to develop a nickel-iron alkaine battery to improve the feasibility of electric automobiles Read more…
1905
119 years ago
The Mack Brothers Motor Car Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania, US Read more…
1907
117 years ago
Leon Serpollet (48), died in Paris, France Read more…
1919
105 years ago
The 19th New York Automobile Show Read more…
1920
104 years ago
The first commercial armoured car was introduced Read more…
1921
103 years ago
Carmen Fasanella of Princeton, New Jersey, obtained his cab driver’s license at the tender age of 17 Read more…
1930
94 years ago
The first Soviet-built Ford was produced at the AMO factory in Moscow Read more…
1936
88 years ago
Figures published showed that there were 2,581,027 registered cars on British roads, a rise of 17 Read more…
1942
82 years ago
World War II halted civilian car output in the US Read more…
1947
77 years ago
Ferrari announced its first production model, the 125S (commonly 125 or 125 Sport) Read more…
1952
72 years ago
The first TV detector van Read more…
1953
71 years ago
Lee Petty won the season opening 100-mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Palm Beach Speedway at Daytona Beach, Florida (US) Read more…
1955
69 years ago
The design for the 1956 Chevrolet Corvette was formally approved Read more…
1957
67 years ago
The first rotary engine Read more…
1959
65 years ago
Practice sessions began on the new Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the inaugural Daytona 500 Read more…
1969
55 years ago
John DeLorean was named the top executive at Chevrolet Read more…
1969
55 years ago
Richard Petty, making his first start in a Ford, won the twice delayed NASCAR Grand National ‘Motor Trend 500’ at Riverside International Raceway Read more…
1969
55 years ago
Johnny Coy Sr Read more…
1970
54 years ago
Brian Redman finished first and second in the 24 Hours of Daytona when the Gulf Porsche 917K he shared with Jo Siffert finished behind the Pedro Rodriguez/Leo Kinnunen team car which he also co-drove late in the race Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Rolls Royce Ltd voluntarily entered into recievership Read more…
1976
48 years ago
British drivers Brian Redman and John Fitzpatrick along with Peter Greg of the US won the Daytona 24 Hour driving a BMW 3 Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Floyd Sam Nunis, a pioneering figure in American stock car racing, being involved in both the American Automobile Association and the National Stock Car Racing Association, died Read more…
1981
43 years ago
The Daytona 24 Hour Race was won by Bob Garretson, Bobby Rahal and Brian Redman in a Porsche 935 Read more…
1984
40 years ago
Japanese car maker Nissan signed an agreement with the British government to build a car factory in Britain Read more…
1984
40 years ago
The three-millionth Fiesta was built at Ford Spain’s Valencia Plant Read more…
1985
39 years ago
Philip Caldwell retired and Donald Peterson became Chairman Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Norway started its first road toll scheme Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Toyota produced its 50,000,000th vehicle, the first Japanese manufacturer to reach this milestone Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Al Holbert, Chip Robinson, Derek Bell, and Al Unser Jr Read more…
1989
35 years ago
Chrysler Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company signed a marketing agreement whereby Chrysler could offer Hyundai motor cars in the US Read more…
1994
30 years ago
Harley-Davidson applied to trademark the distinctive sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine Read more…
1994
30 years ago
There were angry clashes in the House of Commons over the majority share (80%) sale of the last major British car manufacturer Rover to the German prestige car-maker BMW for £800 million Read more…
1998
26 years ago
A bad day for Martin Brundle who was rushed to a Miami hospital after his IndyCar smashed into a wall during a practice session at the Homestead Motorsports Complex Read more…
1999
25 years ago
An explosion at Ford’s Rouge Complex in Dearborn killed six employees and injured 24 Read more…
2000
24 years ago
The Jaguar S-Type was named the People’s Choice Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show Read more…
2000
24 years ago
FIA president Max Mosley launched an attack on the EU for its investigation into the sport’s TV rights handling and accused a top official of malpractice Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Drivers getting a full UK car licence from this day had to pass compulsory basic training (CBT) before being allowed to ride a moped Read more…
2004
20 years ago
A Super Bowl ad unveiled the new Ford GT, a new, 200 mph high-performance “supercar” based on Ford’s GT40 race car, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France four years in a row starting in 1966 Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Renault launched its title winning R25 car in Monaco Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Toyota Auris, an all-new Toyota, a family hatchback designed, developed and engineered for the European market went on sale Read more…
2010
14 years ago
Justin Mentell (27), actor on the Boston Legal TV show, was killed in a one-car accident in Wisconsin Read more…
2013
11 years ago
Chinese car maker Geely said it has bought Manganese Bronze, the maker of London’s black taxis since 1948, for £11 million, safeguarding jobs and production of the vehicles in Britain Read more…
