On this day in…
1886
137 years ago
Mechanical engineer Karl Benz drove the first automobile in Mannheim, Germany, reaching a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph) Read more…
1898
125 years ago
The Nederlandsche Automobiel Club was founded in Utrecht Read more…
1899
124 years ago
Hon Read more…
1905
118 years ago
The first 24 hour motor race run in Columbus, Ohio, US on a one mile oval circuit horse racing track, ended Read more…
1909
114 years ago
The first Hudson car was driven out of a small factory in Detroit Read more…
1912
111 years ago
The 1913 American Scout, Tourist and Traveler, were introduced, featuring a chassis with underslung springs designed by Fred I Tone Read more…
1916
107 years ago
The first Jordan automobile was produced Read more…
1920
103 years ago
Tony Vandervell, the man behind the successful Vanwall Grand Prix car was runner-up at the Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb, at the first meeting held there after World War I Read more…
1921
102 years ago
Oreste Fraschini (54), co-founder of Isotta-Fraschini with Cesare Isotta in 1900, died in Turin, Italy Read more…
1925
98 years ago
The world’s largest electric sign, ‘CITROEN” Read more…
1927
96 years ago
Held at Monthlèry over 48 laps of a 12 Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Tazio Nuvolari driving an Alfa Romeo B/P3 won the French Grand Prix at Reims Read more…
1935
88 years ago
French engineer and industrialist who introduced Henry Ford’s methods of mass production to the European car industry, Andre Citroen died aged 57 Read more…
1945
78 years ago
The first civilian passenger car built since February 1942 was driven off the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company plant in Detroit, Michigan Read more…
1949
74 years ago
Alberto Ascari driving a Ferrari 125 G won the Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten Read more…
1952
71 years ago
The last Crosley automobile was produced at their Marion factory in Indiana, US Read more…
1953
70 years ago
The 500,000th Volkswagen was produced Read more…
1954
69 years ago
Herb Thomas, a 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, drove a Hudson to victory at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina, US Read more…
1954
69 years ago
The same driver, with three different cars, at the Rest-and-be-Thankful meeting in Glen Croe, Argyll, Scotland, recorded the first three fastest climbs of the day Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The British government announced plans for the introduction of continental-style road signs Read more…
1966
57 years ago
The French Grand Prix -the ’60th Anniversary race’ of Grand Prix racing – at Reims was won by the 1959 and 1960 world champion, Australian driver Jack Brabham driving his Brabham BT19 Read more…
1970
53 years ago
The last Volvo Amazon was produced Read more…
1971
52 years ago
Mark Donohue, driving the Penske Sunoco McLaren M16, won the inaugural USAC Schaefer 500 at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, US, for Team Penske’s first Indy car win Read more…
1971
52 years ago
The Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania staged the first event on its 2 Read more…
1977
46 years ago
Mario Andretti was on pole with James Hunt second and Gunnar Nilsson third on the grid at the French Grand Prix Read more…
1978
45 years ago
Ernest R Read more…
1982
41 years ago
Ferrari entered Patrick Tambay in the Dutch Grand Prix to replace Gilles Villeneuve, who had been killed during qualifying a few race weekends prior, at the Belgian Grand Prix Read more…
1984
39 years ago
Jaguar Car Holdings Ltd changed its name to Jaguar Plc Read more…
1985
38 years ago
The blockbuster movie “Back to the Future” was released in theatres in the USA, starring John DeLorean’s iconic concept car is memorably transformed into a time-travel device Read more…
1987
36 years ago
Herbert Edward Hill (86), the developer of the constant velocity joint that made front-wheel-drive practicable, died Read more…
1988
35 years ago
Alain Prost drove a McLaren-Honda MP4/4 to victory at the French Grand Prix held at the Paul Ricard Circuit Read more…
1994
29 years ago
Contested over 72 laps, the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours was won by Benetton driver Michael Schumacher, who extended his drivers championship lead to 37 points by taking his sixth victory in seven races Read more…
1994
29 years ago
Thirty-one people died in three separate crashes on Texas highways Read more…
1998
25 years ago
The World Record for Most Persons in a Car Mercedes Benz MBO 405G bus (normal capacity: 144 persons) – 438 students was established at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore Read more…
2002
21 years ago
BMW revealed the first official pictures of the new BMW Z4 roadster Read more…
2004
19 years ago
BMW Great Britain announced first details of the forthcoming BMW M5 Read more…
2005
18 years ago
Renault driver Fernando Alonso won the French Grand Prix at Magnys Cours Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich paid a world record £285,000 for VIP 1, the number plate on Pope John Paul II’s Popemobile during his visit to Ireland in 1979. Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The Royal Mail issued six Grand Prix stamps to celebrate one hundred years of UK motorsport and the 50th anniversary of Stirling Moss winning the British Grand Prix Read more…
