On this day in…
1875
150 years ago
The Wisconsin state legislature offered a $10,000 reward to any man who could supply “a cheap and practical substitute for use of horse and other animals on highway and farm” Read more…
1903
122 years ago
The Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM) was organised with 18 manufacturers as charter members following a successful infringement lawsuit against the Winton Motor Carriage Company on behalf of George B Selden Read more…
1927
98 years ago
The LaSalle was formally introduced and marketed by General Motors’ Cadillac division from 1927 through 1940 Read more…
1929
96 years ago
David Dunbar Buick, the founder of the Buick Motor Company, died in relative obscurity and meagre circumstances at the age of 74 Read more…
1929
96 years ago
Fire destroyed the Los Angeles Automobile Show Read more…
1934
91 years ago
The Tatra T77, the world’s first serially produced aerodynamic car with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, was introduced to the press in Prague Read more…
1952
73 years ago
Willys introduced the Aero-Ace Read more…
1953
72 years ago
The Standard Vanguard II was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1955
70 years ago
BMW unveiled their latest product, the BMW Isetta Motocoupé before the assembled press at the opulent lakeside Hotel Bachmair in Rottach-Egern, Germany Read more…
1956
69 years ago
The Hudson Hornet Special V8, a cheaper version of the Hornet Custom, was introduced as a mid year model Read more…
1959
66 years ago
A bus fell off a cliff 15 miles from Matatiele, South Africa, killing 15 and injuring 30 Read more…
1961
64 years ago
Defending NASCAR Grand National champion Rex White drove his Chevy to a wire-to-wire win in the 100-mile race on the 1/2 mile dirt Ashville-Weaverville Speedway Read more…
1965
60 years ago
John Love in a Cooper-Climax T55 won The Rand Autumn Trophy at Kyalami in South Africa Read more…
1966
59 years ago
The Rand Autumn Trophy at Kyalami was won by John Love in a Cooper-Climax T79 Read more…
1967
58 years ago
Richard Petty scored the 50th win of his NASCAR Grand National career by winning the ‘Fireball 300’ on the 1/2 mile paved Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Read more…
1967
58 years ago
Jack Brabham brought the 1967 Tasman Cup season to a close by driving his Brabham-Repco to victory in the “South Pacific Cup” race on the 4 Read more…
1967
58 years ago
Police began using helicopters on a trial basis in the UK Read more…
1971
54 years ago
Rolls-Royce received a $144 million loan from British Government Read more…
1971
54 years ago
American-born motor racing Mario Andretti enjoyed the first Grand Prix win of his career when he won the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in a Ferrari Read more…
1972
53 years ago
A J Foyt climbed into the Wood Brothers Ford and drove it to Victory Lane in Ontario, California (US) at the 2 Read more…
1973
52 years ago
The Ford Capri II (Mk2) made its world premiers at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1973
52 years ago
The Audi 80 was launched in Geneva Read more…
1976
49 years ago
The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was won by Austrian driver Niki Lauda in a Ferrari 312T Read more…
1977
48 years ago
Tom Pryce (27) died during the 1977 South African Grand Prix driving for the Shadow Team Read more…
1977
48 years ago
1978
47 years ago
David Pearson rallied from a late spin, passes Benny Parsons, and drove to victory in the Carolina 500 at Rockingham’s North Carolina Speedway Read more…
1983
42 years ago
Davey Allison finished 25th in his first NASCAR start, the Coca-Cola 200 Nationwide Series race at Rockingham, North Carolina, US Read more…
1983
42 years ago
Carl Edwards and his Roush Team were slammed by NASCAR for rule infractions during post race inspection after his win in Las Vegas, US Read more…
1986
39 years ago
Sir Austin Bide retired as Chairman of Rover Group Plc (formerly British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd), with Canadian-born Graham Day as his successor Read more…
1989
36 years ago
Bob Gliden driving a Ford Probe at Houston, Texas recorded the lowest elapse time by a petrol-driven engined dragster from a standing start for 440 yards – 7.256 seconds. Read more…
1992
33 years ago
The Ford Taurus became the first car produced in the U Read more…
1992
33 years ago
The new Corona made its European debut at Geneva Auto Show as Carina E, which replaced the Carina II Read more…
1993
32 years ago
Ford introduced the “world car” Mondeo in Europe, 18 months before the Ford Contour in U Read more…
1995
30 years ago
Gregg Hansford (44), Australian motorcycle and touring car racer died while competing in a Supertouring race in 1995 at Phillip Island Read more…
1995
30 years ago
Jacques Villeneuve won the CART Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami, held on the streets on downtown Miami, Florida Read more…
1996
29 years ago
Jaguar announced the launch of an all new sports car, the XK8 (project X100) Read more…
1998
27 years ago
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, produced from 1998 to 2002, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1998
27 years ago
Ford and Mobil Corporation formed a strategic alliance to speed the development of breakthrough fuel and vehicle technologies Read more…
1998
27 years ago
Renault launched the Zo concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, to celebrate the marque’s centenary Read more…
1999
26 years ago
Ford entered into a definitive agreement with AB Volvo for the purchase of Volvo’s worldwide passenger car business for a price of $6 Read more…
2001
24 years ago
As the Cracker Barrel 500 neared finality at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick had stormed into the top-five late, and into contention for the win with a daring three-wide split of two other cars as the white flag fluttered in the cold spring air Read more…
2005
20 years ago
First broadcast of the spectacular 1980s television commercial showing a gravity-defying Audi Quattro saloon climbing 47 metres of treacherously steep, snow-covered ski jump, was remade using a new A6 saloon to mark the 25th Anniversary of Quattro Read more…
2005
20 years ago
BMW 3 Series, the fifth generation was launched in the UK. Read more…
2006
19 years ago
A world record for the most people in a car, a Renault Twingo: 22 Osnabrück Tigers cheerleaders, was set at the opening of a Renault selling centre in Osnabrück (Germany) Read more…
2009
16 years ago
Ross Brawn completed the buyout of the Honda F1 team and renamed it Brawn F1 Read more…
2013
12 years ago
The four-seat Rolls Royce Wraith coupé was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
