On this day in…
1900
126 years ago
New York City issued its first driver’s license; by 1918 all states required license plates Read more…
1902
124 years ago
The first race arranged for promotional purposes began in Paris Read more…
1903
123 years ago
New York state’s homemade license plates with owners’ initials were replaced by numer plates, with #1 assigned to G P Chamberlain of Harrison Read more…
1903
123 years ago
London’s first electric tram service, between Westminster Bridge and Tooting, was opened by King Edward VII Read more…
1908
118 years ago
The Fryckman automobile was unveiled in Souris, North Dakota, US Read more…
1909
117 years ago
Minnesota’s (US) state-issued license plates were introduced Read more…
1918
108 years ago
Nantucket Island voted to lift its controversial 12-year ban on motor cars Read more…
1922
104 years ago
Work began on the Monza Autodrome in Italy Read more…
1929
97 years ago
The 10,000th Roosevelt automobile was produced Read more…
1938
88 years ago
The fastest time of the day at the inaugural Prescott Hill Climb, Gloucestershire, run over what is now the Short Course (880 yards) was set by Arthur Baron in a 2,270 c Read more…
1938
88 years ago
The Mercedes-Benz W154 race car recorded its first victory as Hermann Lang, Manfred von Brauchitsch, and Rudolf Caracciola take the first three places in the Tripoli (Libya) Grand Prix Read more…
1942
84 years ago
Gasoline (petrol) rationing began in 17 eastern states as an attempt to help the American war effort during World War II Read more…
1947
79 years ago
Chevrolet announced that plans to build a compact car, the Cadet, were indefinitely deferred because of material shortages and string sales of existing models Read more…
1953
73 years ago
The first power steering-equipped Kaiser was produced Read more…
1953
73 years ago
Cubmaster Don Murphy organised the first Pinewood Derby in Manhattan Beach, California Read more…
1953
73 years ago
Racer Chet Miller (50) was killed when his Novi crashes during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 Read more…
1958
68 years ago
Hall of Famer Lee Petty scored his first victory in NASCAR’s Convertible Division, winning in a runaway by seven laps at Charlotte Fairgrounds’ half-mile dirt track (North Carolina, US) Read more…
1960
66 years ago
Walt Hansgen beat Gus Andrey when their Maserati Tipo 61s, better known as Birdcage Maseratis, finished first and second in the Modified Class in the SCCA National event at Cumberland, Maryland Read more…
1962
64 years ago
The semi-production Chrysler Turbine Car, designed by Elwood P Engle and built by Carrozzeria Ghia, was introduced to Chrysler dealers at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City Read more…
1963
63 years ago
The Raleigh RM6 moped was introduced at the Winter Gardens Show, Blackpool, England Read more…
1969
57 years ago
In a dramatic finish to Le Mans 24 Hours, Jacky Ickx in a Ford GT mark 1 and Hans Herrmann in a Porsche repeatedly overtook Read more…
1970
56 years ago
Bobby Isaac dominated, leading 271 of 300 laps to win the Beltsville 300, the final race for NASCAR’s top series on Beltsville (Maryland, US) Speedway’s half-mile asphalt track Read more…
1971
55 years ago
Alfa Romeo T33/3s finished 1-2 in the Targa Florio road race Read more…
1981
45 years ago
The 20,000,000th Volkswagen Beetle was produced at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico Read more…
1982
44 years ago
Racer Gordon Smiley (36) died from the impact of a crash in Indianapolis Read more…
1983
43 years ago
The Monaco Grand Prix at Monte Carlo was won by Keke Rosberg driving a Williams-Cosworth FW08C Read more…
1986
40 years ago
Elio de Angelis (28) died, during Brabham testing in at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France Read more…
1988
38 years ago
Monaco Grand Prix at Monte Carlo was won by Alain Prost driving a McLaren-Honda MP4/4 Read more…
1991
35 years ago
The main facility of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd was closed due to a severe decline in custom coachbuilding activities Read more…
1992
34 years ago
Philippine IndyCar driver Jovy Marcelo (27) was killed in an accident while practicing for his first Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Read more…
1994
32 years ago
Michael Schumacher driving a Benetton-Ford B194 won the Monaco Grand Prix Read more…
1995
31 years ago
Variable mandatory speed limits were introduced on the M25 (UK), replacing advisory speeds controlled by the MIDAS system Read more…
1998
28 years ago
In Washington DC Latia Robinson (7) took control of a Honda Accord after her father passed out and drove him safely to a hospital at the beginning of rush hour Read more…
1998
28 years ago
John Force became the first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car driver to exceed 320 mph when his Castrol Ford Mustang reached 323.35 mph at the end of the quarter-mile in Englishtown, New Jersey. Read more…
2004
22 years ago
Traffic police patrolling motorways in southern Italy unveiled the force’s first Lamborghini Gallardo in all its blue and white glory, topped with a blue flashing light and marked with the word “Polizia” Read more…
2004
22 years ago
Adam Fleetwood set the record for the Barbon Hillclimb in Cumbria when he propelled his Gould up the 890 yards (814 metres) course in 20 Read more…
2007
19 years ago
The second-generation Vauxhall Agila was officially announced and presented at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show Read more…
2011
15 years ago
The original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang “hero” car, in a condition described as fully functional and road-going, was offered at auction by a California-based auction house Read more…
2011
15 years ago
Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper said the government was prepared to pay a billion euros ($1 Read more…
2015
11 years ago
Gerard Jessie balanced a motorcycle on his head for 14 Read more…
2016
10 years ago
Red Bull was so keen to keep Max Verstappen on its books that ahead of the Spanish GP, the team decided to promote him up from Toro Rosso, demoting Daniil Kvyat back to Toro Rosso Read more…
