On this day in…
1896
128 years ago
Charles Brady King, an American engineer and entrepreneur test drove his first car in Detroit, Michigan, US in front of hundreds of spectators at speeds up to 7 mph, becoming the first man to drive a car in the Motor City Read more…
1898
126 years ago
The two-day race over a distance of 140 mile (236 km) began Read more…
1900
124 years ago
Gottlieb Daimler (65), pioneer of internal-combustion engine and motor vehicles, died Read more…
1909
115 years ago
The Hudson Motor Car Company held its first Board of Directors meeting Read more…
1909
115 years ago
North Carolina, US required all automobiles to register with the Secretary of State, except New Hanover County where motorists were required to register with the Superior Court Read more…
1915
109 years ago
Dario Resta, driving a Peugot, won the 10th Vanderbilt Cup Race at the Pan-Pacific International Speedway in San Francisco, California Read more…
1927
97 years ago
Herbert C Harrison (50), founder of the Harrison Radiator Company, which in 1918 became part of General Motor, died in London, England Read more…
1927
97 years ago
Emilio Materassi driving Bugatti T35C won the Tripoli Grand Prix Read more…
1927
97 years ago
Frank Lockhart set a one-lap record at the Culver City, California, board track of 144 Read more…
1930
94 years ago
The Italian government extended the 25 year charter given to Fiat in 1906 until 1980 Read more…
1932
92 years ago
William H Mullins (76), credited with manufacturing the first one-piece stamped automobile fender, died in Salem, Ohio, US Read more…
1934
90 years ago
Hans Stuck showed the world the speed of the brand new Auto Union, breaking 3 world records at the legendary Berlin Avus circuit (100 miles average speed 134.760 mph; 200km, average speed 134.849 mph and one hour, average speed 134.906). Read more…
1934
90 years ago
The Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car made its public debut at the Avus Track in Berlin, Germany with Hans Stuck setting a world record by covering 134 Read more…
1941
83 years ago
Pontiac’s World War II effort begins with a government order for Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons Read more…
1952
72 years ago
Marshall Teague drove his Hudson Hornet to victory in the 100 mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Speedway Park oval Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The 10,000th Saab car was completed Read more…
1955
69 years ago
Lee Petty surged to the lead in the 65th lap and led the rest of the 200-lap main event in the last NASCAR Grand National race at Oglethorpe Speedway in Pooler, Georgia, US Read more…
1956
68 years ago
The Renault Dauphine, designed mostly by Fernand Picard, was introduced at Le Palias de Chaillot in Paris, France Read more…
1961
63 years ago
Mini cabs were introduced by Carline in the City of London Read more…
1969
55 years ago
Visitors to the 1969 Chicago Auto Show at the International Amphitheatre continued to enjoy the annual musical stage review, which included live dancers, singers and the introduction of the latest models Read more…
1971
53 years ago
Mario Andretti in his Ferrari took top honours at the South African Grand Prix and set fastest lap of the race Read more…
1976
48 years ago
The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami saw Niki Lauda win in a Ferrari from his outside pole position over James Hunt who finished just over a second behind Read more…
1986
38 years ago
The Volvo 480 coupé exhibited at the 1986 Geneva Show clearly illustrated the revival of the Swedish make Read more…
1986
38 years ago
A car accident in France resulted in Formula One team principal Frank Williams sustaining a spinal cord injury and becoming tetraplegic Read more…
1988
36 years ago
Neil Bonnett comes from the 30th starting position to win at Rockingham Read more…
1989
35 years ago
John Bowe drove Ford Sierra to victory in the ATCC Group A race at Amaroo Park, New South Wales, Australia Read more…
1995
29 years ago
The Ferrari F50, capable of 0 to 60 mph in just 3 Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Mercedes-Benz celebrated the world premiere of the A-class at the Geneva International Motor Show Read more…
1997
27 years ago
The Ford Taurus, the best-selling car in the US between 1992 and 1996, went on sale in Russia Read more…
2003
21 years ago
The MINI One D made its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, the first series production MINI ever to feature a diesel engine Read more…
2003
21 years ago
The Ford Focus C-Max was unveiled at 2003 Geneva Motor Show Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Bentley Motors unveiled the production version of its new Continental GT and confirmed pricing for the fastest road going Bentley in the 84 year history of the company as €137,069 excluding tax Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Giancarlo Fisichella in a Renault R25 won the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Read more…
2006
18 years ago
The fastest speed over a quarter of a mile in Top Fuel Dragbike racing of 245 Read more…
2006
18 years ago
General Motors Corporation said it would sell a 17 Read more…
2006
18 years ago
NASCAR Chairman Brian France announced that Charlotte, North Carolina (US), had won the bidding to be the host city for a new NASCAR Hall of Fame Read more…
2007
17 years ago
The Audi A5 was unveiled simultaneously at the Geneva Motor Show and the Melbourne International Motor Show Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Volkswagen’s new chief executive Martin Winterkorn was nominated as chairman of Swedish truck maker Scania in a new phase in the plans for a three-way tie-up with German group MAN Read more…
2014
10 years ago
The 84th Geneva Auto Show opened its doors to the public Read more…
2017
7 years ago
The French-made Peugeot 3008 was voted European car of the year on the eve of the opening of the Geneva Auto Show Read more…
2017
7 years ago
French carmaker PSA announced the acquisition of General Motors’ European subsidiary, which included the Opel and Vauxhall brands, for 1 Read more…
