On this day in…
1894
130 years ago
Henry G Morris & Pedro G Salom applied for a patent on their electric vehicle Read more…
1896
128 years ago
The first motor vehicle appeared on the streets of Japan, an imported German built Hildebrand & Wolfmuller motorcycle Read more…
1904
120 years ago
Thomas A Read more…
1909
115 years ago
The H S Houpt Manufacturing Company of New York City registered is “H” within three concentric circles logo as a trademark Read more…
1912
112 years ago
The London General Omnibus Co Read more…
1925
99 years ago
The Aerolite Piston Company, Ltd Read more…
1925
99 years ago
Inauguration of the General Motors subsidiary in Argentina Read more…
1938
86 years ago
General Motors began mass production of diesel engines Read more…
1952
72 years ago
The 1952 Chevrolets were introduced to the US public Read more…
1952
72 years ago
New Jersey’s 118-mile-long turnpike was completed Read more…
1954
70 years ago
General Motors announced a $1 billion plan to expand its automobile operation Read more…
1955
69 years ago
The Cadillac Eldorado Brougham ‘dream car’ was first revealed in New York, to an exclusive audience of 5,100 people at 4 pm Read more…
1956
68 years ago
The New York City Motorama opened Read more…
1958
66 years ago
The crowd’s expectation for the 1958 Gran Premio de la Republica Argentina was to see local hero Juan Manuel Fangio demolish the gringo opposition, as the man from Balcarce had done so often in the past Read more…
1963
61 years ago
CAMRA, the Canadian American Modified Racing Association, was formed at a meeting held in Spokane, Washington, USA Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Joe Weatherly (41), champion AAA motorcycle and NASCAR stock car racer, died from head injuries sustained in a crash during the NASCAR Motor Trend 500 at Riverside, California, US Read more…
1968
56 years ago
Ray Harroum (89), winner of the first Indianapolis 500, died in Anderson, Illinois, US Read more…
1971
53 years ago
The Ford GT70, a limited production sports car designed by Ercole Spada, made by Ford of Britain in 1970 and intended for rallying, debuted at the Brussels Salon Motor Show Read more…
1973
51 years ago
The inaugural World Rally Championship season began with the 42ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Bobby Allison dominated the Western 500 NASCAR Grand National race at Riverside International Raceway Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Gary Bettenhausen, driving the Howard Linne # 93, won the 100-lap USAC Midget race at the Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana, US Read more…
1976
48 years ago
Actor Kevin Coughlin (30), who appeared in episodes of Bonanza, Dragnet, The Virginian, Gunsmoke, The FBI, Combat, The Patty Duke Show and Lassie was killed in a hit-and-run accident Read more…
1978
46 years ago
The last ‘traditional’ Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line in Germany, when mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico: markets where low-operating costs could be met. Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Darrell Waltrip, driving the DiGard Gatorade Chevrolet, won the Winston Western 500 NASCAR stock car race, six days after it began Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Johnny Parsons, driving the Helmling Racing # 4, won the 100-lap USAC Midget race at the Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana, US Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Footballer Mick Quinn was sentenced to 21 days in prison, but was freed after serving 14 days after breaching his drink driving ban twice Read more…
1990
34 years ago
Round 1 of the World Rally Championship, 58th Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo (20 stages, 556 km) began Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Tourism chiefs in Liverpool, Merseyside were banned from putting up motorway signs saying ‘Liverpool, the Birthplace of the Beatles’, because the Highways Agency thought the signs would distract motorists. Read more…
2000
24 years ago
PGA golfer Notah Begay III (27) was involved in an aggravated drunk-driving offense in Albuquerque, New Mexico Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Portuguese drivers Carlos Sousa and Joao Manuel Luz were critically injured in a four-car crash during the Dakar Rally in Libya Read more…
2000
24 years ago
Canadian TV host Jonathon Torrens, star of CBC’s Jonovision, and three passengers were injured in a six-car pileup on Highway 101 outside Halifax, Nova Scotia Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Todd Anthony Bridges, an American actor, best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff’rent Strokes was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon after being arrested for ramming his car into a friend’s car in a fight over a video game in Los Angeles, California Read more…
2002
22 years ago
Benneta Buell-Wilson (42) was left a paraplegic after her Ford Explorer rolled over in San Diego County after she swerved to avoid an obstacle on the road Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Soccer player Milton Javier Flores (28), goalkeeper for the Honduran national soccer team, was killed by automatic weapons fire as he sat in his parked car in San Pedro Sula, Honduras Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Actor and rapper Lamont Bentley (32) was killed in a single-car accident while driving on Highway 118 near Simi Valley, California Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Ever the slick operator, Bernie Ecclestone headed off growing rumours of an F1 breakaway by agreeing a deal with Ferrari which tied them to the sport until 2012, worth an estimated US$150 million Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Jaguar XJ won the first award of 2006 topping the Luxury Car category at the Fleet Excellence Awards, voted for by readers of Fleet Week and Fleet Management magazines Read more…
2009
15 years ago
2 killed and 12 injured after a snowy highway caused 71 people in 35 cars and 5 tractor trailers to crash on Interstate 70 in Myersville, Maryland Read more…
2013
11 years ago
Rick Champagne, an Arizona man with a special fondness for caped crusader Batman and his sidekick Robin, bought the original Batmobile driven in the iconic television series with a bid of $4 Read more…
