On this day in…
1903
121 years ago
American Barney Oldfield broke 60 mph with the Henry Ford-built ‘999’ at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds dirt oval Read more…
1903
121 years ago
Tom Fetch left San Francisco driving a one-cylinder, 12-hp engine 1902 Packard Model F runabout, arriving in New York in 61 days later Read more…
1904
120 years ago
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, a non-profit association, was established to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users Read more…
1911
113 years ago
The first UK trolleybus service was inaugurated when the Lord Mayor of Leeds, William Middlebrook drove a trolleybus from Thirsk Row, off Wellington Street, to Farnley Read more…
1913
111 years ago
Sizaire-Berwick (France) Ltd was formed by Scottish businessman Alexander Keiller, London used-car dealer F W Berwick, Maurice and Georges Sizaire, and Louis Naudin with home offices in London, England and its factory in Courbevoie, France Read more…
1922
102 years ago
The 175,000th Hudson was produced, a 7-passenger phaeton that was shipped to the Hudson dealer in the Hague, Netherlands Read more…
1925
99 years ago
The 12,000,000th Ford was produced Read more…
1926
98 years ago
Herr Schaetzle demonstrated a wireless telephone for motor vehicles in Berlin, Germany. Read more…
1930
94 years ago
Winton Engine Company became the Winton Engine Corporation, a subsidiary of General Motors Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist won the Le Mans 24-hour race in a Bugatti Type 57G, becoming the first to exceed 2000 total miles during the event Read more…
1937
87 years ago
Tazio Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo 12C-36 won the 2nd Milan Grand Prix, held over 70 laps of the 2 Read more…
1941
83 years ago
After a long and bitter struggle on the part of Henry Ford against cooperation with organised labour unions, the Ford Motor Company signed its first contract with the United Automobile Workers of America and Congress of Industrial Organizations (UAW-CIO) Read more…
1942
82 years ago
Four prisoners of Auschwitz staged a daring escape utilizing a stolen SS member’s personal vehicle, a Steyr 220 sedan to essentially drive right out the front gate Read more…
1948
76 years ago
NASCAR made its first trip to Alabama Read more…
1952
72 years ago
Luigi Fagioli (54), one of Italy’s greatest race car drivers, died Read more…
1953
71 years ago
The Gordon Bennett Golden Jubilee Rally was held in Ireland to commemorate the original 1903 event that introduced automobile racing to that country Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The Belgian Grand Prix was held at Spa-Francorchamps Read more…
1957
67 years ago
Pontiac announced plans to sell British-made Vauxhall cars through its dealer network Read more…
1959
65 years ago
A crowded bus collided with a train on a level crossing in Lauffen, West Germany killing 43 Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Three spectators were killed when the AC driven by Peter Bolton crashed during the Le Mans 24-Hour race Read more…
1965
59 years ago
Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory drove a North American Racing Team Ferrari 250LM to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Read more…
1971
53 years ago
The Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort was won by Jacky Ickx in a Ferrari 312B2 Read more…
1975
49 years ago
Topping out” ceremonies were held for the first of Fords 39-story- office towers in Detroit’s new Renaissance Center Read more…
1976
48 years ago
David Pearson outran Cale Yarborough for win No Read more…
1982
42 years ago
Rothmans sponsored Porsche 956s finished 1-2-3 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Read more…
1989
35 years ago
German entrepreneur and vehicle manufacturer, Otto Kässbohrer (85), who in 1951 designed and constructed one of the first chassisless buses, manufactured under the name Setra, died Read more…
1993
31 years ago
(20-26th): The second running of the American Solar Race was held Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway), a two-mile (3 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997, was officially opened Read more…
2004
20 years ago
The United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis was won by Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari F2004 Read more…
2005
19 years ago
The A167 bypass at Chilton near Ferryhill was opened to traffic Read more…
2007
17 years ago
A lorry driver caught steering with his knees while he ate spaghetti from a pan was jailed for eight weeks after he admitted dangerous driving Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Bosch manufactured its ten billionth spark plug Read more…
