On this day in…
1899
125 years ago
A Marsh steam car built by brothers Alonzo and William Marsh and driven by the latter, covered a flying mile in 1 minute 34 Read more…
1903
121 years ago
Napier Cars announced a 6-cylinder car for 1904, thereby becoming the first to make a commercially successful ‘six’, described as a ‘remarkably smooth and flexible’ 18-bhp, 4 Read more…
1904
120 years ago
Vincenzo Florio in a Darracq 80HP won the Padova to Bovolenta 10km race, in a time of 4 minutes 48 seconds Read more…
1930
94 years ago
The British International Motor Exhibition opened to the public Read more…
1932
92 years ago
Ford Britain launched the Ford Model Y ‘Popular’ Read more…
1944
80 years ago
The Hewson Pacific Corporation was organised in Los Angeles, California by W Sherman Hewson, Burton Chalmers and John V Shanley to manufacture the 3-wheeled Rocket Read more…
1947
77 years ago
The name “Landrover” was officially approved by Rovers Board of Directors Read more…
1949
75 years ago
The Wilkes 200, the eighth and final race of the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock season, was held at North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Carolina, US Read more…
1951
73 years ago
The Austin A30 , a compact economy car, was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show, London Read more…
1951
73 years ago
Hudson introduced the Hornet, and put some sting into the step-down design Read more…
1954
70 years ago
The Lincoln Continental Owners Club held its first national meeting with special guest William Clay Ford announcing that the Continental Mark II would appear within the year Read more…
1955
69 years ago
Stirling Moss and Peter Collins won the Targa Florio driving a Mercedes 300 SL Read more…
1955
69 years ago
Norm Nelson drove a Kiekhaefer Chrysler to victory in the abbreviated NASCAR Grand National race at Las Vegas (US) Read more…
1957
67 years ago
The 1958 Plymouth model range were introduced Read more…
1957
67 years ago
The first production model of the Frisky Coupe appeared at the Earls Court Motor Show, looking very different to the Geneva prototype Read more…
1958
66 years ago
Chevrolet introduced the El Camino, a sedan-pickup created to compete with Ford’s popular Ranchero model Read more…
1960
64 years ago
Bill Krauss drove a Maserati Tip 61 to victory in the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix sports car race at Riverside, California, US Read more…
1963
61 years ago
The Marcos GT was presented at the 1963 Earls Court Motor Show Read more…
1963
61 years ago
Howard A Lewis (72), a Vice-President of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and American Motors, died Read more…
1968
56 years ago
Princess Alexandra performed the opening ceremony of the London Motor Show at Earls Court where the Jaguar XJ6 and Austin 3-litre were introduced Read more…
1974
50 years ago
Cars introduced at the opening of the London Motor Show included the Aston Martin Lagonda (long wheel-base, four-door version of the Aston Martin V8), Lotus Esprit (Worldwide launch), Lotus Eclat (2+2) (Worldwide launch), Panther De Ville (Worldwide launch – one of the most expensive cars being displayed at the time) and the Toyota 1100 Read more…
1984
40 years ago
A facelifted version of the top selling Austin Metro, available as a five-door as well as a three-door, was launched Read more…
1995
29 years ago
The 500 metre Skye Bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting the mainland of Scotland with the Isle of Skye, that forms part of the A87, was opened by Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Forsyth Read more…
2002
22 years ago
Bristol Cars announced the four-seater, 5 Read more…
2002
22 years ago
Volvo XC90 received Motor Trend’s 2003 Sport Utility of the Year award Read more…
2007
17 years ago
Macedonian pop star Tose Proeski (26) was killed in a car crash in Croatia Read more…
2011
13 years ago
Race car driver and 2-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon (33) died in a fiery crash during the IndyCar world Championships at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Read more…
2012
12 years ago
US-born Johnny Bohmer toppled the record for the fastest standing mile in a street car when he reached 283 Read more…
2014
10 years ago
Guy Martin established a word record for the fastest speed achieved in a soapbox (motorless vehicle), 137 Read more…
