On this day in…
1909
114 years ago
The Rainer Motor Company of Saginaw, Michigan was sold at auction to George C Comstock, an attorney representing company founder John T Ranier in an attempt to save the company – General Motors took over the company 4 months later, and produced the Rainer until 1911 Read more…
1927
96 years ago
Lady Bristol died in St George’s Hospital on Hyde Park Corner, London after being knocked down by a motor car, and was buried in the grounds of the family home, Ickworth House, 2 days later. Read more…
1930
93 years ago
Visitors on the opening day of to the 1930 Chicago Auto Show had more than 300 new car models to inspect plus 83 exhibits of accessories and 32 of shop equipment Read more…
1951
72 years ago
The Interlagos Grand Prix at Interlagos was won by Chico Landi driving a Ferrari 125C Read more…
1952
71 years ago
General Motors unveiled the Autronic Eye, the first automatic headlight-dimming system Read more…
1955
68 years ago
Ernest R Beech was elected Chairman of the Board of the Ford Motor Company, the first person to officially hold the title Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Bruce McLaren drove his Cooper-Climax to his third straight Tasman Cup Formula One series victory, winning on the 1 Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Promising NASCAR Grand National driver Larry Thomas (28) died in a highway accident on Interstate 75 Read more…
1976
47 years ago
Niki Lauda won the Brazilian Grand Prix Read more…
1991
32 years ago
The US Postal Service issued a four-cent stamp commemorating the Dudgeon Steam Wagon, a steam-powered vehicle built in 1853 by Richard Dudgeon, who astounded New Yorkers by riding it from his home on East Broadway to his place of business at 24 Columbia Street in 1855 Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Ford unveiled the Ford Escape Hybrid E85, a research vehicle marrying two petroleum-saving technologies, hybrid electric power and flexible-fuel capability, at Washington Auto Show Read more…
2007
16 years ago
After only 11 days behind the wheel of an F1 car, rookie Lewis Hamilton had a lucky escape after he crashed his McLaren at 165mph during practice in Spain Read more…
2007
16 years ago
Ford Motor Co Read more…
2008
15 years ago
A record price was set for a British vehicle registration number after Bradford entrepreneur and businessman Afzal Khan paid £440,625 to buy the Formula One initials F1. Read more…
2010
13 years ago
Electric vehicle network firm Better Place announced it had signed an agreement with an HSBC-led investor consortium for new equity financing of $350m (£217m), valuing the firm at $1 Read more…
2012
11 years ago
Japan’s Nissan said it would invest $2 billion in a new auto plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico Read more…