On this day in…
1895
130 years ago
The Automobile Club de France was founded Read more…
1908
117 years ago
Oldsmobile became the second company to join General Motors when Olds Motor Works was sold to General Motors Read more…
1909
116 years ago
The Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft registered the ‘Mercedes’ name as a trademark Read more…
1910
115 years ago
The American Grand Prize, a Grand Prix auto race, was held on closed public roads outside Savannah, Georgia Read more…
1912
113 years ago
The ‘Selden Affair’ finally came to an end after the Supreme Court in the US recognised that George Selden’s 1895 patent for the internal combustion engine was ‘valid’ but had not been violated by US and European car manufacturers Read more…
1920
105 years ago
Frank H Ball (73), builder of two Ball automobiles in 1903, who with his son Fred O Ball invented the Ball & Ball carburettor, as manufactured by the Penberthy Injector Company, died in Michigan, US Read more…
1921
104 years ago
Tommy Milton drove the Durant Special to victory in a sprint race in Phoenix, Arizona, USA Read more…
1927
98 years ago
The 2,000,000th Dodge car was produced Read more…
1927
98 years ago
The first Veteran Car Rally from London to Brighton, sponsored by the Daily Sketch took place, and was won by John Bryce from an entry of 51 vehicles Read more…
1928
97 years ago
Racers Earl de Vore and Norman Batten, winning co-driver of the 1925 Indianapolis 500, were lost at sea en route to South Africa aboard SS Vestris Read more…
1936
89 years ago
Oakland Bay Bridge, crossing San Francisco Bay was officially opened Read more…
1946
79 years ago
The Exchange National Bank of Chicago, Illinois, instituted the first drive-in banking service in America, and anticipated a cultural phenomenon that would sweep across America in the coming decade Read more…
1949
76 years ago
The first Volkswagen Type 2, later named the Transporter, rolled off the assembly line Read more…
1950
75 years ago
Juan Manuel Fangio in a Ferrari 166 won the Paraná Grand Prix held at Urquiza Read more…
1956
69 years ago
The Ford Ranchero was introduced in Quitman, Geogia, US Read more…
1960
65 years ago
The 1961 Ford Thunderbird was introduced, the third generation of the sub-marque Read more…
1962
63 years ago
Richard Petty led 158 of 200 laps to prevail in the only race for NASCAR’s top series at Golden Gate Speedway’s 0 Read more…
1964
61 years ago
Paula Murphy became first woman to drive a jet-powered car, The Avenger, (10,000 horse power J-46) Read more…
1965
60 years ago
Brothers Bill and Bob Summers set a world land-speed record—409 Read more…
1966
59 years ago
Racer Don Branson (46) was killed when he crashed during a midget race at the Ascot Motor Speedway in Gardena, California Read more…
1967
58 years ago
John Surtees drove a Lola T70-Chevrolet to victory in the Can-Am race at Las Vegas, Nevada Read more…
1981
44 years ago
British Leyland announced a new deal with the Japanese car and motorcycle giant, Honda Read more…
1986
39 years ago
The United States introduction of the Bentley Eight was held in New York City Read more…
1990
35 years ago
Rolling Stone Ron Wood broke both his legs after his car crashed on the M4 motorway near Marlborough, Wiltshire, England Read more…
1995
30 years ago
Damon Hill won the Australian Grand Prix by two complete laps Read more…
1995
30 years ago
Dale Earnhardt dominated the race but comes up short in the final standings as Jeff Gordon clinches his first championship in NASCAR’s premier series at Atlanta Motor Speedway (US) Read more…
1998
27 years ago
Daimler-Benz completed a merger with Chrysler to form Daimler-Chrysler Read more…
2000
25 years ago
William H Read more…
2001
24 years ago
Rubens Barrichello, Tony Kanaan and Mario Haberfeld teamed up to win the Granja Viana kart race in Sao Paulo Read more…
2007
18 years ago
Honda Racing announced that Ross Brawn would join the team in the role of Team Principal with full responsibility for designing, manufacturing, engineering and racing Honda’s Formula One cars Read more…
2007
18 years ago
Five-time National Scrambles Champion, “Stan The Man” Engdahl (78) suffered a massive heart attack and died in Lindsborg, Kansas, US Read more…
2008
17 years ago
Dale Earnhardt, Inc Read more…
2014
11 years ago
The world’s first glow-in-the-dark bike path opened Read more…
