On this day in…
1787
237 years ago
The Maryland House of Delegates (US) issued a patent to Oliver Evans for his high pressure steam engine Read more…
1896
128 years ago
The first automobile (Benz) arrived in Netherlands Read more…
1902
122 years ago
British Motor Racing was born, in Bexhill-on-sea, when the 8th Earl De La Warr encouraged the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland to organise the ‘Great Whitsuntide Motor Races’ Read more…
1903
121 years ago
While in San Francisco’s University Club as a guest, Dr Read more…
1903
121 years ago
Buick Motor Company, founded by Scottish-born American David Dunbar Buick, was incorporated Read more…
1904
120 years ago
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (65), founder of the Tata Group, India’s biggest conglomerate company, died Read more…
1908
116 years ago
The first automobile race in Russia, a 438 mile run from St Petersburg o Moscow, was won by Victor Emery driving a Benz Read more…
1927
97 years ago
Dodge introduced the Senior Six, its first six cylinder car, the Senior Six, on a 116inch wheelbase Read more…
1933
91 years ago
Otto Merz (33), winner of the 1927 German Grand Prix, was killed when he crashed at the Avus Circuit in Germany Read more…
1935
89 years ago
The Frankfurt-Darmstadt (Germany) Autobahn was opened by Adolf Hitler Read more…
1935
89 years ago
Lawrence of Arabia (Thomas Edward Lawrence), British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18, died aged 46, from injuries sustained 6 days earlier in a motorcycle crash Read more…
1953
71 years ago
Packard completed two White House fleet cars with air conditioning, a first for the marque – the option would become available to the general public six weeks later Read more…
1957
67 years ago
Buck Baker was declared winner of the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway after a crash halted the event on lap 441 of the scheduled 500-lapper Read more…
1957
67 years ago
Despite a hesitant start to the Monaco Grand Prix, Stirling Moss led away on the first lap from Peter Collins, Manuel Fangio, and Mike Hawthorn Read more…
1958
66 years ago
Archie Scott Brown (31) was mortally injured following an an accident in a sports car race at Spa-Francorchamps, driving a Lister Knobbly and duelling for the lead Read more…
1963
61 years ago
John Surtees and Willy Mairesse drove a Ferrari 250P to win the ADAC 1000 km race at the Nurburgring in Germany Read more…
1966
58 years ago
Fiat announced plans to build a factory in Poland Read more…
1973
51 years ago
On a 600ft long strip Dennis Priddle put in some demo drag racing burnouts and launched in his ‘Mr Six’ slingshot at the Goodwood circuit (England) Read more…
1976
48 years ago
Rolling Stone Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamsire, after falling asleep at the wheel; marijuana and cocaine were found by the police resulting in another fine for the guitarist Read more…
1976
48 years ago
The Triumph TR7 was launched in the UK Read more…
1980
44 years ago
The Triumph TR8, an eight-cylinder version of the “wedge-shaped” Triumph TR7 sports car, designed by Harris Mann, and manufactured by British Leyland, was launched in the US Read more…
1980
44 years ago
Ringo Starr and his future wife Barbara Bach were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed Read more…
1985
39 years ago
Michele Alboreto put on one of the most underrated and impressive Monaco drives ever Read more…
1986
38 years ago
Alan Bates in Nobby Hills Corvette was credited with a 5 Read more…
1988
36 years ago
James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car chase near his home in South Carolina, US Read more…
1991
33 years ago
Willy T Read more…
1991
33 years ago
Davey Allison started from the pole position and routed the field at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina (US) leading all 70 laps of NASCAR’s All-Star race in a Robert Yates Racing Ford Read more…
1996
28 years ago
The Monaco Grand Prix was run in wet weather, causing significant attrition and setting a record for the fewest number of cars (3) to be running at the end of a Grand Prix race Read more…
1997
27 years ago
Troy Ruttman (67), the youngest winner of the Indianapolis 500, at the age of 22 years and 80 days, died Read more…
2003
21 years ago
Greg Anderson covered 440 yard in 6 Read more…
2005
19 years ago
After nearly three years of waiting since the previous M5 ceased production, the all new £61,760 BMW M5 was delivered to UK dealers Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Los Angeles, California, was the first stop on a cross-country road show launched by Smart USA to promote the attractions of its “ForTwo” micro-car, which was scheduled for release in the United States in 2008 Read more…
2008
16 years ago
Nissan Motor Co Read more…
2009
15 years ago
Tesla, an electric car maker in San Carlos, California, US, sold a 10% stake to German auto giant Daimler Read more…
2009
15 years ago
President Barack Obama announced a new fuel and emission standard that he said would, at last, put the United States on the road to a cleaner environment and better fuel efficiency Read more…
