On this day in…
1893
133 years ago
US Congress authorised Agriculture Secretary J Sterling Morton to establish the Office of Road Inquiry, the first Federal Road Agency Read more…
1927
99 years ago
World Land Speed Record holder Parry Thomas (42), was killed at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, Wales when the chain of his car, the High Special Babs, snapped severing his head Read more…
1932
94 years ago
Alfieri Maserati (44) Italian automotive engineer, known for establishing and leading the Maserati racing car manufacturer with the other Maserati Brothers, died from liver complications related to an accident in 1928 Read more…
1939
87 years ago
The Opel Kapitän was launched at the Geneva Motor Show, initially available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon Read more…
1939
87 years ago
The Bugatti Royale Binder Coupe de Ville was completed Read more…
1942
84 years ago
Production of civilian trucks was halted by the US government for the duration of World War II Read more…
1942
84 years ago
The Auburn Automobile Company, builder of the classic Auburn automobiles, changes its name to the American Central Manufacturing Company Read more…
1947
79 years ago
The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation began production of its own engine in the leased Continental Motors Inc Read more…
1949
77 years ago
The post-war car market was so strong in the United States that a number of bold entrepreneurs formed independent car companies to challenge the established Big Three Read more…
1956
70 years ago
Ernst Loof (48) died in Bonn Germany Read more…
1957
69 years ago
Jack Smith took the lead from Buck Baker with 14 laps to go and won the 100 mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Concord Speedway Read more…
1958
68 years ago
The first Subaru, the Subaru 360 was launched Read more…
1964
62 years ago
Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, Italy entered voluntary receivership Read more…
1972
54 years ago
Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar Motors, retired as Chairman of Jaguar Cars Ltd Read more…
1973
53 years ago
Mike ‘the Bike’ Hailwood, already one of the world’s top motorbike riders switched to four wheels to try his hand at grand prix racing Read more…
1974
52 years ago
Richard Petty drove his Dodge to victory in the ‘Carolina 500’ NASCAR Grand National race at the North Carolina Motor Speedway Read more…
1977
49 years ago
The former factory of the Chandler Motor Car Company in Cleveland, Ohio, US was destroyed by fire Read more…
1980
46 years ago
The Audi Quattro coupe was launched to a stunned reception at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1991
35 years ago
The Intrepid, with Wayne Taylor driving, makes its IMSA GTP racing debut with a second place finish at West Palm Beach, Florida, USA Read more…
1991
35 years ago
Kyle Petty led 380 of the 492 laps in Rockingham’s Goodwrench 500, North Carolina,(US) but had to rally from a lap deficit to seal his first win of the season Read more…
1992
34 years ago
Nigel Mansell set the fastest lap on his way to winning the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in his Williams Read more…
1992
34 years ago
Maria Grazia Lombardi (50), best known as Lella Lombardi, a female racing driver from Italy who participated in 17 F1 World Championship Grands Prix, died Read more…
1996
30 years ago
In his 96th Cup start, Jeff Gordon won his 10th race, finishing Read more…
1996
30 years ago
Jimmy Vasser drove his Reynard-Honda to victory in the CART race in Homestead, Florida, USA Read more…
2002
24 years ago
The Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the season, was won by defending World Champion Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari F2001, becoming just the eighth driver to win the event three times since it was first held in 1928 Read more…
2005
21 years ago
The Lancer Evolution IX high-performance 4WD sports saloon went on sale in Japan Read more…
2006
20 years ago
The M4 Toll was announced as part of a raft of measures to improve road transport in Wales Read more…
2009
17 years ago
The ultra-luxurious Maybach Zeppelin saloon went on sale, with a starting price of $523,870 for the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and $610,580 for the Maybach 62 Zeppelin Read more…
2011
15 years ago
The 6 Read more…
2011
15 years ago
It was announced that Bristol Cars had gone into administration, with the immediate loss of 22 jobs Read more…
