On this day in…
1899
124 years ago
Jacob German (26), operator of a taxicab for the Electric Vehicle Company, became the first driver to be arrested for speeding in the US when he was stopped by Bicycle Roundsman Schueller for driving at the “breakneck” speed of 12mph on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan Read more…
1903
120 years ago
The first commercial vehicle race began in New York City, with two races on two days sponsored by the Automobile Club of America (ACA) Read more…
1904
119 years ago
The first Buick engine was successfully tested Read more…
1904
119 years ago
Léon Théry won the Gordon Bennett Elimination Trial at Argonne, France, driving a Richard-Brasier 80 hp car Read more…
1905
118 years ago
The first races are stage at the Hippodrome in Morris Park, Bronx, New York, US Read more…
1907
116 years ago
The Hatfield Motor Vehicle Company of Miamisburg, Ohio, US registered the ‘Buggyabout’ name as a trademark Read more…
1920
103 years ago
Sir Henry Segrave, driving his 1914 Opel 1 Read more…
1927
96 years ago
The first Austin Swallow was completed, becoming the first direct lineal ancestor of what would become known as the Jaguar marque Read more…
1948
75 years ago
The Playboy Motor Car Corporation went public, offering twenty million shares of common stock at $1 per share Read more…
1950
73 years ago
Juan Manuel Fangio won the Monaco Grand Prix in an Alfa Romeo 158, the first of 24 Formula 1 Grand Prix victories Read more…
1952
71 years ago
John William Lambert (92), the American automotive pioneer and inventor, who built America’s first successful automobile in 1891 according to Antique Automobile and the Encyclopædia Britannica, died Read more…
1953
70 years ago
The Research & Engineering Center in Dearborn was dedicated by President Dwight D Read more…
1956
67 years ago
Buck Baker started from the pole position and won the Virginia 500 by half a lap at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US Read more…
1957
66 years ago
The last Volvo Sport 2-seat sports cars was produced Read more…
1958
65 years ago
The Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite was announced to the press by BMC in Monte Carlo, just before the start of that year’s Monaco Grand Prix Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Ford won the battle with Chrysler to call its new car “Falcon” Read more…
1961
62 years ago
The Ford Motor Company completed a highly modified stretch Lincoln Continental convertible saloon for the US Secret Service to use as a presidential limousine Read more…
1962
61 years ago
The Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort was won by Graham Hill driving a BRM P57 Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Enzo Ferrari abruptly pulled out of a near-agreement with the Ford Motor Company for the takeover of his firm, an event often cited as the catalyst through which an angry Henry Ford II authorised Ford’s return to racing Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Bill Holland (76), winner of the 1949 Indianapolis 500, died in Tucson, Arizona, US Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Toddington services opened on the M1 between junctions 11 and 12, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Edgar Barth (48), German driver, winner of the 1959, 1963 and 1964 European Mountain Championships (Hillclimb) for Porsche and also the 1959 Targa Florio, died Read more…
1973
50 years ago
The Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder was won by Jackie Stewart driving a Tyrrell-Cosworth 006 Read more…
1984
39 years ago
The 5th French and 6th and last ever World Championship Grand Prix was held at the 3 Read more…
1987
36 years ago
The American Motors Corporation approved Chrysler Corporation’s purchase offer Read more…
1994
29 years ago
The Rolls-Royce Flying Spur was introduced, as the fastest vehicle the brand had ever made Read more…
1994
29 years ago
The last Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz models were built at Kansas City (Missouri) Assembly Plant, US Read more…
1997
26 years ago
Irish rock band U2 caused traffic chaos in Kansas City, Missouri after they paid for traffic control to close down five lanes so they could shoot the video for ‘Last Night on Earth’ Read more…
2000
23 years ago
As hundreds of NASCAR fans left a stock car race at Lowes Motor Speedway (Charlotte Motor Speedway), North Carolina (US) and were crossing a pedestrian bridge to the parking lot, two loud cracks were heard Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The record Le Mans-winning 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rosa Spyder was auctioned by RM Auctions and Sotherby’s for €6,875,000 Read more…
2007
16 years ago
It was reported that US petrol prices had hit a record high of $3 Read more…
2015
8 years ago
Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte and Jerry Cook were inducted in to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Read more…
