On this day in…
1822
202 years ago
Belgian engineer Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir was born in Mussy-la-Ville (then in Luxembourg, part of the Belgian Province of Luxembourg since 1839) Read more…
1900
124 years ago
The Detroit Automobile Company finished its first commercial vehicle, a delivery wagon Read more…
1904
120 years ago
Henry Ford established a new world land-speed record of 91.37 mph on the winter ice of Lake St Clair, Michigan in a 4-cylinder, 15.7-litre, 72-bhp Ford 999 Arrow he built himself. Read more…
1912
112 years ago
The Mason Automobile Company was reorganised with Edward R Read more…
1921
103 years ago
Durant Motors Inc Read more…
1922
102 years ago
The last Scripps-Booth was produced Read more…
1923
101 years ago
The 7,000,000th Ford Model T was produced Read more…
1934
90 years ago
Hans Stuck gave the Auto Union “P-Wagen” Grand Prix car its first official test runs on the Avus Circuit in Germany Read more…
1936
88 years ago
Al Gordon beat Rex Mays in the Oakland 150 AAA National Championship race on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Oakland Speedway, Oakland California, US Read more…
1953
71 years ago
Just days before the launch of the Corvette the General Motors management team informed the styling team that the front emblem and the horn button containing the likeness of the American flag had to be replaced, after discovering it was illegal in the US to have stars and stripes in an automobile emblem Read more…
1957
67 years ago
British driver Ken Wharton (40), who drove 16 grands prix, was killed while testing a Ferrari Monza at the Ardmore Circuit in Auckland New Zealand Read more…
1963
61 years ago
Ronnie Duman won the 50 lap USAC Midget race at the Chicago Ampitheater, Chicago, Illinois, US Read more…
1970
54 years ago
George Brough (79), motorcycle racer, world record holding motorcycle and automobile manufacturer, and showman, died Read more…
1973
51 years ago
Clifton R Wharton Jr became the first black man to be elected to the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors Read more…
1975
49 years ago
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings (16-6) in the Superbowl in New Orleans Read more…
1975
49 years ago
The Fittipaldi brothers created Formula 1 history as Emerson won the opening round of the 1975 season in Argentina as reigning World Champion for McLaren and Wilson debuted the family clan’s own Formula 1 team in the self-built Copersucar FD01 Read more…
1986
38 years ago
American singer Luther Vandross was injured and his passenger killed, when his Mercedes-Benz went out of control and crashed on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles, California Read more…
1988
36 years ago
Pierino ‘Piero’ Taruffi (81) racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi, died Read more…
1998
26 years ago
Four time British Rally champion Roger Clark died in Leicestershire, England, at the age of 58, after suffering a stroke Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Professional basketball player Bobby Phills (30) of the Charlotte Hornets was killed in a three-car accident after leaving morning practice at the Charlotte Coliseum Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Ford Transit was named “International Van of the Year 2001” Read more…
2005
19 years ago
The Highway Agency issued a new policy, Interim Advice Note 60/05, recommending the use of concrete central barriers in order to reduce the risk of crossover incidents on central reservations of motorways, with high traffic levels Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Around 200 vehicles crashed on Interstate 96 in Ingham County, Michigan, US in dense fog, leaving 2 dead and 35 injured Read more…
2005
19 years ago
The British Automobile Racing Club Limited (BARC) purchased Mallory Park (Motorsport) Ltd, the company that arranged motor sport at the Mallory Park circuit, thereby effectively taking control of all activities at the Leicestershire circuit. Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The Ferrari F430 Challenge made its UK debut at Autosport International in Birmingham Read more…
2006
18 years ago
After three years in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Toyota announced it would field Camrys in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition in 2007 Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Two buses collided near the border between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, killing 22 hajj pilgrims Read more…
2011
13 years ago
Donnie Ray Crawford won the second night (Wednesday) qualifying feature of the 25th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US Read more…
2012
12 years ago
At the 2012 Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction a rarely seen Indian Scout “Junior” sold for $11,424 Read more…
2013
11 years ago
The 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow used by Freddie Mercury until his death in November 1991, sold at auction for £74,000 to a Russian businessman Read more…
2019
5 years ago
Cadillac XT6 Read more…
