On this day in…
1832
191 years ago
The world’s first streetcar, named the John Mason, began operation in New York City, running between Prince and 14th Streets in Lower Manhattan Read more…
1896
127 years ago
A red-letter day in the history of British motoring saw the Emancipation Run from London to Brighton to celebrate the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4 mph to 14 mph and abolished the requirement to be preceded by a man on foot Read more…
1899
124 years ago
The Horch company was established by August Horch, a former production manager for Karl Benz, and a partner, with a capital of 30,000 Goldmark at Ehrenfeld, near Cologne Read more…
1902
121 years ago
The following story appeared in the Daily Mail: The charge against Nicholas J Read more…
1905
118 years ago
The Packard Motor Car Company was granted a trademark for its ‘Packard’ script logo Read more…
1910
113 years ago
Racer William H Read more…
1914
109 years ago
John and Horace Dodge completed their first vehicle, a car informally known as ‘Old Betsy’, and took it on a short test drive through the streets of Detroit, Michigan, US Read more…
1920
103 years ago
The prototype Duesenberg Model A, the first passenger car to bear the Duesenberg name, was introduced in unpainted form at the Automobile Salon held at the Hotel Commodore in New York City Read more…
1922
101 years ago
Earl A Thompson was issued a patent for his ‘Automatic Fear Shifting Mechanism for Sliding Gear Transmission’ later known as ‘Synchro-Mesh’ for trademark purposes Read more…
1928
95 years ago
The Bayerische Motoren-Werke (BMW), an Eisenach, Germany motorcycle manufacturer, purchased the Dixi-Werke AG from Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG to enter the automobile Read more…
1930
93 years ago
The Veteran Car Club, the world’s first organisation dedicated to the preservation of antique automobiles, was founded by S C H ‘Sammy’ Davis, J A Master and J A Wylie Read more…
1931
92 years ago
The 1932 Buick range of automobiles were introduced in the US Read more…
1940
83 years ago
The Alvis car plant in Coventry, England was one of 21 factories destroyed during a Nazi air raid, although the overall productive capacity of the city’s automotive industry was not seriously affected Read more…
1945
78 years ago
Tony Hulman purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Edward Rickenbacher for $750,000 Read more…
1948
75 years ago
Red Byron won the final race of NASCAR’s inaugural season at Jacksonville, Florida, US Read more…
1951
72 years ago
The 1952 Packard 25th Series was introduced on a nationwide television comedy special hosted by Red Skelton Read more…
1962
61 years ago
The Jeep Wagoneer was introduced Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Hap Sharp, driving a Chaparral, won the first race at the Stardust Road Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, US Read more…
1979
44 years ago
Vauxhall launched its first-ever front-wheel drive car – the Astra range of hatchbacks and estates – to compete in the growing family hatchback sector Read more…
1993
30 years ago
Rusty Wallace nailed down his 10th win of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, (US) Read more…
1995
28 years ago
Blur brought chaos to traffic in central London, England when over 3,000 fans turned up for a signing at ‘Book’s Etc’ in Charring Cross Road Read more…
1996
27 years ago
The first General Motors electric car, the EV1, was produced in Lansing, Michigan Read more…
1998
25 years ago
Larry Kopp became the inaugural NHRA Pro Stock Truck champion when he qualified for the final race of the season in Pomona, California, US Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Ford began redevelopment of the entire Ford Rouge Center to include a new vehicle assembly plant as the centerpiece of the US’s largest industrial redevelopment project Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Former Kajagoogoo singer Limahl narrowly missed death when a coach he was travelling on crashed Read more…
2002
21 years ago
A hazard-perception element was introduced into the UK’s theory driving test; it used video clips to test candidates’ awareness of hazards on the road Read more…
2003
20 years ago
The BMW Williams team announced that Nico Rosberg and Nelson Piquet Jr would test for the team at Jerez de Frontera in the first week of December to evaluate whether either had the potential to be test drivers in 2004 Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Jimmie Johnson, counted out of the “Chase” a month ago, racked up his fourth win in five races in the final Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, South Carolina, US Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Honda unveiled the hydrogen powered Honda FCX in Monterey, California Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Texas officials closed the last two of Texas’ famed Pig Stand restaurants, the only remaining pieces of the nation’s first drive-in restaurant empire Read more…
2007
16 years ago
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U Read more…
2014
9 years ago
The most donuts around a car driving on two wheels in one minute of 10, was achieved by Han Yue (China) and Zhang Shengjun (Chinese Taipei) driving a MINI three door hatch and a BMW M4 Coupe in Chongqing, China Read more…
2019
4 years ago
Italy-based Ferrari rolled out the Roma, a record fifth new model announced in 2019 Read more…
