On this day in…
1901
123 years ago
Fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in Detroit, Michigan Read more…
1918
106 years ago
Earl A Thompson applied for a United States patent for his synchromesh transmission Read more…
1932
92 years ago
Ford built its first V8 vehicle, the Model 18 Read more…
1934
90 years ago
The first reflecting road studs – Follsain Gloworm studs, patented by Jesse Neuhaus – were first laid in England, by Market Harborough Urban District Council, Leicestershire. Read more…
1942
82 years ago
Construction of the Alaska Highway began after hundreds of pieces of construction equipment were moved on priority trains by the Northern Alberta Railways to the northeastern part of British Columbia near Mile 0 at Dawson Creek Read more…
1947
77 years ago
Franco Cortese won the first and only ‘world tour’ all-Cisitalia race at Gezira Island in Cairo, Egypt Read more…
1952
72 years ago
The last DeSoto Surburban 9-passenger sedan was produced Read more…
1952
72 years ago
President Juan Peron dedicated the new Buenos Aires Autodrome Read more…
1953
71 years ago
John Fitch and Phil Walters drove a Cunningham to victory in the Sebring 12 Hour Sports Car race Read more…
1955
69 years ago
The Fiat 600 was presented to the international press in the Exhibition Hall in Geneva Read more…
1958
66 years ago
Eugen Benz (84), elder son of Carl Benz and a partner in C Read more…
1964
60 years ago
Austin Healey Sprite MkIII and MG Midget MkII were launched. Read more…
1964
60 years ago
The first Ford Mustang rolled off the assembly line Read more…
1966
58 years ago
Argentine race driver Pablo Birger was killed in a road accident at the age of 42 Read more…
1967
57 years ago
Ford introduced the Comuta electric car, with a top speed of 40 mph and a range of 40 miles, at the Geneva Auto Show Read more…
1969
55 years ago
David Pearson drove a Holman-Moody Ford Torino to a NASCAR Grand National win at Rockingham, North Carolina, USA Read more…
1972
52 years ago
The first Lamborghini LP400 prototype and the Lamborghini Silhouette appeared at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1975
49 years ago
1980
44 years ago
Cale Yarborough won the NASCAR Grand National ‘Carolina 500’ at North Carolina Motor Speedway Read more…
1985
39 years ago
The first-ever Adopt-a-Highway sign was erected on Texas’s Highway 69 Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Ronnie Silver snared the lead from pole-sitter Jack Ingram with 11 laps remaining to win the Mountain Dew 400 in the NASCAR Busch Series at Hickory (North Carolina, US) Motor Speedway Read more…
1987
37 years ago
Lee Iacocca announced that the Chrysler Corporation and Renault had signed an agreement whereby Chrysler would purchase and absorb American Motors Read more…
1995
29 years ago
The Alfa Romeo GTV was launched at the Geneva Motor Show Read more…
1997
27 years ago
David Coulthard won the Australian Grand Prix for McLaren from fourth on the grid, the team’s first victory in 50 races Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Dale Jarrett led the final 59 laps and breezes to victory in the Primestar 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia (US) for his first win of the season Read more…
2001
23 years ago
Ford repurchased 18 Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Bobby Labonte won the MBNA Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his 6th career win at the track and 20th career win Read more…
2003
21 years ago
David Coulthard in a McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17D won the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne Read more…
2004
20 years ago
Norton Canes services on the M6 Toll, in the village of Norton Canes near the towns of Brownhills, Cannock, and Walsall, in Staffordshire, England, opened. Read more…
2005
19 years ago
Kurt Lotz (92), the second postwar CEO of the Volkswagen automobile company in Germany Read more…
2006
18 years ago
Nearly one UK million motorists were on the brink of receiving a driving ban because they have racked up penalty points from speed cameras, a study found Read more…
2010
14 years ago
Bernie Ecclestone upset a continent when he poured cold water on the prospects of F1 returning to Africa Read more…
2013
11 years ago
The record for the fastest speed achieved by a car on ice of 335 Read more…
2018
6 years ago
Ford launched its first made-for-India compact car Read more…
