On this day in…
1876
149 years ago
After 14 years of research and development Nikolaus A O Otto succeeded in creating the compressed charge internal combustion engine Read more…
1882
143 years ago
Henry John Kaiser, an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding, was born Read more…
1896
129 years ago
The first horseless carriage show was held in London, featuring just 10 models Read more…
1906
119 years ago
The first Targa Florio, an open road endurance automobile race, was held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo Read more…
1907
118 years ago
Nova Scotia in Canada issued the province’s first automobile license plate to W Read more…
1908
117 years ago
The first women’s motor race was held at Brooklands Read more…
1928
97 years ago
The Borg-Warner Corporation, a US-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier, was organised in Illinois through the merger of the Borg & Beck Company, the Marvel Carburetor Company, and the Warner Gear Company Read more…
1931
94 years ago
The second day of the ‘Double 12 Hours’ at Brooklands, which was won on handicap by an MG Midget, driven in turn by the Earl of March and British aviation pioneer C Read more…
1935
90 years ago
The Duesenberg Motor Company announced that production of the Model J was over after having ‘delivered 428 new cars with a remaining 22 cars as unsold or chassis’ Read more…
1937
88 years ago
The Germans were in a class of their own at the Tripoli Grand Prix held at Mellaha Read more…
1937
88 years ago
In the largest motor race event in Finland thus far, a clash between the Alfa Romeos of Rüesch and Bjørnstad was expected in the GP class Read more…
1941
84 years ago
Walter S Cochrane (55), a design engineer with Buick (1913-26) and a diesel engine designer with the Chrysler Corporation since 1926, died in Detroit, Michigan, US Read more…
1948
77 years ago
Stirling Moss made his racing debut driving his 500cc Cooper in a hillclimb at Prescott, England, sponsored by the Bugatti Owners Club Read more…
1949
76 years ago
The Monaco Grand Prix was cancelled due to the death of Prince Louis II of Monaco Read more…
1950
75 years ago
SEAT was founded with a total share capital of 600 million pesetas Read more…
1953
72 years ago
The International Trophy, F2 race at Silverstone was won by Mike Hawthorn in a Ferrari 500 Read more…
1954
71 years ago
The III Grand Prix de Bordeaux run over 123 laps of the 2458 metre circuit was won by Jose Froilan Gonzalez in a Ferrari 625 Read more…
1957
68 years ago
The Fourth All-Japan Motor Show was held at Hibiya Park during an 11-day period Read more…
1959
66 years ago
Fireball Roberts drove to the last of his four victories in NASCAR’s Convertible Division, outrunning Joe Weatherly by nearly a full lap to win at Darlington (South Carolina, US) Raceway Read more…
1960
65 years ago
The last Volvo PV445 chassis was produced Read more…
1960
65 years ago
The sale of Volkswagenwerk AG stock to the public was authorised, ending 11 years of ownership by the West Germany government Read more…
1962
63 years ago
The Ford Motor Company initiated a formal programme to develop a small sporty type car – the final result was the 1964 1/2 Mustang Read more…
1970
55 years ago
Walter Reuther, president of the UAW since 1946, died in an airplane crash at age 62 Read more…
1971
54 years ago
Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver drove their Wyer-Gulf Porsche 917K to victory in the 1000 Kilometer race at Spa, Belgium Read more…
1980
45 years ago
The southbound span (opened in 1971) of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa, Florida was destroyed at 7:33 a Read more…
1982
43 years ago
At the Belgium Grand Prix at Zolder, John Watson in his McLaren set the fastest lap of the race after starting way back in 12th spot where he went on to win the race in a time of 1:35:41 Read more…
1984
41 years ago
Mario Andretti ran the first unofficial 210 mph lap (210 Read more…
1992
33 years ago
Roberto Guerrero set an Indianapolis 500 qualifying record, driving his Lola-Buick to an average speed of 232 Read more…
1993
32 years ago
Alain Prost driving a Williams-Renault FW15C won the Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona from p[ole position in a time of 1:32:27 Read more…
1994
31 years ago
1999
26 years ago
Pat Austin set a NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car 1/4-mile speed and elapse time records of 253 Read more…
1999
26 years ago
A tour bus crashed into a concrete wall on Interstate 610 in New Orleans, killing 22 and injuring 24 Read more…
2000
25 years ago
BMW sold the bulk of the Rover Group (the Rover and MG marques) to the Phoenix Consortium, while it retained the rights to the Mini marque, and sold Land Rover to Ford Read more…
2001
24 years ago
Henry “Smokey” Yunick (77), American mechanic and car designer associated with motorsports, died Read more…
2004
21 years ago
During the warm-up lap of the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, a man calling himself Jimmy Jump ran through the starting grid, only to be apprehended soon by the security Read more…
2006
19 years ago
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 to close a 1 Read more…
2008
17 years ago
“Speed Racer,” the big-budget live-action film version of the 1960’s Japanese comic book and television series “MachGoGoGo,” made its debut in U Read more…
2010
15 years ago
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad opened what was dubbed as the Middle East’s biggest car plant set up by Iranian state-run automobile company Saipa Read more…
