On this day in…
1847
177 years ago
Georg Lankensperger (67), the German wheelwright who invented the steering mechanism that is today known as Ackermann steering geometry, died He patented the invention in Germany, but his agent Rudolph Ackermann filed for the patent in the U Read more…
1898
126 years ago
Thomas Cook & Son and the Compagnie d’Automobiles began the first six-day bus excursion, leaving Paris in a DeDion et Bouton steam-powered omnibus and reaching Aix-le-Bains on schedule – although successful, the firms decided against additional trips Read more…
1899
125 years ago
Giovanni Agnelli purchased the Welleyes prototype, the patents held by Giovanni Battista Ceirano and the services of Artistide Faccioli, leading to the founding of the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Fiat) Read more…
1904
120 years ago
The first Rover prototype, the ‘8’ was announced Read more…
1905
119 years ago
The second Glidden Tour began in New York City with a planned route through Hartford, Boston and Plymouth, N Read more…
1907
117 years ago
Texas required the registration of all automobiles with county clerks Read more…
1913
111 years ago
The tenth Gilden Tour began in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a planned route to Glacier National Park, Montana, US Read more…
1916
108 years ago
After being the first sitting President to visit an automobile factory, U Read more…
1923
101 years ago
The 8,000,000th Ford Model T was produced Read more…
1925
99 years ago
The Laurel Board Speedway, Maryland, US, staged its first event, a 250 mile race that was won by Peter DePaolo driving a Miller, with an average speed of 126 mph, edging his rival Robert McDonough Read more…
1926
98 years ago
The first German Grand Prix was held at the AVUS track in Berlin Read more…
1931
93 years ago
The London Life Assurance Co applied for a receiver for Bentley Motors, as Woolf Barnate, the principle investor and Chairman had refused to meet mortgages totally £65,000 Read more…
1931
93 years ago
Dick Seaman and Whitney Straight both made their debut in speed events at the same Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb in Worcestershire Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Rudolf Hasse driving an Auto Union Typ C won the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps Read more…
1938
86 years ago
Thomas M Bradley resigned as President of the Hupp Motor Car Corporation Read more…
1960
64 years ago
Two unique stainless steel 1960 Ford Thunderbirds were completed at the Ford Motor Company factory in Wixom, Michigan, US in collaboration with the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation and The Budd Company Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Jim Clark won the first British Grand Prix staged at Brands Hatch following the sale of the famous Aintree course for his third successive win at the event Read more…
1966
58 years ago
British Motor Corporation (BMC) and Jaguar announced they were to merge as British Motor Holdings Read more…
1970
54 years ago
Santa Pod Raceway, Northamptonshire, England held its first International meeting with “the top Swedish dragster and funny car in attendance” Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Pedro Rodriguez (31) died Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Oldsmobile produced its ‘last’ convertible, a red Delta 88 Royale Read more…
1984
40 years ago
The US government announced that cars produced after 1 April 1989 would be required to have driver-side airbags or automatic seat belts Read more…
1993
31 years ago
Rusty Wallace edged Mark Martin to win the first race in NASCAR’s premier series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (US) Read more…
1993
31 years ago
Alain Prost secured his 50th grand prix win at Silverstone, aided by early leader Damon Hill’s engine blowing up and Ayrton Senna’s McLaren dying on the last lap Read more…
1997
27 years ago
The first Mercedes M-Class, the pioneer among premium SUVs, rolled off the production line Read more…
1998
26 years ago
The world’s fastest fire truck is the jet-powered Hawaiian Eagle, owned by Shannen Seydel, of Navarre, Florida, USA, which attained the speed of 655 km/h (407 mph) in Ontario, Canada Read more…
1999
25 years ago
Jacques Villeneuve and Alessandro Zanardi both stalled on the grid causing a restart at the British Grand Prix Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Ford chosen this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the highlights of the motoring calendar, to mark its centenary, with the company’s biggest birthday celebration outside the US Read more…
2004
20 years ago
Several hundred Rover cars spanning 100 years met at Ragley Hall, near Stratford-upon-Avon, to celebrate the marque’s centenary Read more…
2004
20 years ago
Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari F2004 won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Read more…
2006
18 years ago
At the British Grand Prix Fernando Alonso became the first Spanish driver and the youngest driver (24 years, 10 months, 13 days) to get the Hat Trick (pole position, winning and fastest lap in same Grand Prix) Read more…
2010
14 years ago
Fernando Alonso won the British Grand Prix for Ferrari Read more…
