On this day in…
1897
126 years ago
Ransom Eli Olds of Lansing, Michigan, was issued a US patent for his ‘motor carriage’, a gasoline-powered vehicle that he had constructed the year before Read more…
1900
123 years ago
The first car to be produced under the Mercedes name is taken for its inaugural drive in Cannstatt, Germany Read more…
1901
122 years ago
The Twentieth Century Motor Company Ltd was registered in Penge, England by E H Owen to manufacture the Owen automobile Read more…
1919
104 years ago
Andre Boillot in a 2 Read more…
1920
103 years ago
B F Tobin (54), founder and Chairman of the Continental Motors Corporation, died in Grosse, Pointe, Michigan, US Read more…
1921
102 years ago
Robert McLaughlin (85) founder of the McLaughlin Carriage and McLaughlin Motor Car companies which later became part of General Motors, died Read more…
1929
94 years ago
The first Oakland V-8 was produced Read more…
1932
91 years ago
The Dodge Series DP was introduced Read more…
1940
83 years ago
The Ford Motor Company delivered two jeep prototypes for testing at the US Army proving grounds at Camp Holabird, Maryland Read more…
1941
82 years ago
José Canziani driving an Alfa Romeo 8C-35 won the Buenos Aires Grand Prix Read more…
1951
72 years ago
The first Warszawa, based on the Soviet Pobieda, was completed by Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych (FSO) of Warsaw – often cited as the first automobile to be manufactured in Poland Read more…
1952
71 years ago
Karl Kling and Hans Klenk won the third Carrera Panamerica in a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Read more…
1953
70 years ago
The 1954 Hudson Ramblers were introduced as badge-engineered Nash Ramblers Read more…
1953
70 years ago
Austin produced its two-millionth car, an A40 Somerset, at its Longbridge plant in the West Midlands (UK) Read more…
1954
69 years ago
General Motors celebrated the manufacture of the 50 millionth car in Flint Michigan, a gold plated Chevrolet Read more…
1962
61 years ago
John Surtees signed to drive for Ferrari Read more…
1962
61 years ago
The 3 millionth post-World War II British Motor Corporation car was produced, a Vandem Plas Princess R saloon that was presented to the Britsih red Cross by BMC Chairman Sir George Harriman Read more…
1966
57 years ago
‘Spinout’, Elvis Presley’s 22nd film, premiered in Los Angeles, California Read more…
1978
45 years ago
Hannu Mikkola and Ame Hertz won the RAC Rally with a Ford Escort Rs 1800 Read more…
1983
40 years ago
Stig Blomqvixt and Bjorn Cederberg won the RAC Rally with an Audi Quattro A2 Read more…
1992
31 years ago
The Ford Mondeo was launched, with sales beginning on 22 March 1993 Read more…
1999
24 years ago
Richard Burns and Robert Reid won Great Britain Rally with a Subaru Impreza WRC Read more…
2001
22 years ago
Robby Gordon sped to his first NASCAR Winston Cup win in the season finale at New Hampshire International Speedway (US) Read more…
2005
18 years ago
During an episode of Top Gear’s news segment featuring BMW’s MINI Concept from the Tokyo Motor Show showcased what Richard Hammond quoted as a “quintessentially British” integrated tea set, Jeremy Clarkson responded by mocking that they should build a car that is “quintessentially German Read more…
2006
17 years ago
China’s state media reported government plans to spend about $250 billion extending the country’s expressways to deal with a predicted surge in car ownership over the next three decades Read more…
2007
16 years ago
Lotus Cars released its limited edition for Europe – the Lotus Elise S 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Read more…
2009
14 years ago
Nico Rosberg’s unveiling as a Mercedes driver was, noted the Daily Mail, “like Hamlet without the prince” Read more…