On this day in…
1900
122 years ago
The Ohio Automobile Company, manufacturers of the Packard, held its first board meeting and elected James W Packard as President, George L Weiss as Vice President and William D Packard as Treasurer Read more…
1900
122 years ago
The first Thomas automobile was tested by F P Nehrbas Read more…
1903
119 years ago
The first 6-cylinder Napier was introduced Read more…
1908
114 years ago
The Locomobile Old 16, driven by George Robertson, became the first American-made car to beat the European competition when it raced to victory in the fourth annual Vanderbilt Cup held in Long Island, New York Read more…
1924
98 years ago
More than 50,000 people pack the grandstands and infield for the inaugural race at the first Charlotte Speedway (north Carolina, US) Read more…
1931
91 years ago
Eight months ahead of schedule, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River Read more…
1932
90 years ago
1936
86 years ago
The 1937 Buicks were introduced featuring the ‘Aerobat’ carburettor Read more…
1936
86 years ago
The 1937 Buicks were introduced featuring the ‘Aerobat’ carburettor Read more…
1937
85 years ago
Juan Manuel Fangio made his racing debut Read more…
1944
78 years ago
French car manufacturer and accused Nazi collaborator, Louis Renault (67), died in a Paris military prison hospital of undetermined causes Read more…
1948
74 years ago
Nino Farina gave Ferrari their first F1 victory when he won a minor event at Lake Garda, Italy in a Type 125 Read more…
1951
71 years ago
Michelin & Cie were issued with a French patent for its radial tyres Read more…
1954
68 years ago
Lee Petty finished last in the season finale at North Wilkesboro (North Carolina, US) Speedway, but secured his first NASCAR Grand National championship Read more…
1958
64 years ago
The 1959 Chryslers were introduced Read more…
1959
63 years ago
The 6th Tokyo Motor Show opened Read more…
1965
57 years ago
Richie Ginther won the Mexican Grand Prix at 94 Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Vehicles exhibited at the 16th Toyko Motor Show included the midship type Bellett MX 1600 exhibited by Isuzu, the mini racing machine by Suzuki, and the rotary coupe R100 with racing specifications by Mazda Read more…
1971
51 years ago
Jo Siffert (35) who won the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix, was killed in the non-championship World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch GB, the scene of his first and greatest victory in 1968 Read more…
1975
47 years ago
John DeLorean founded the DeLorean Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan Read more…
1976
46 years ago
Richard Petty turned in a dominant second half to roll to victory in the American 500, leading 193 of the 492 laps at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham Read more…
1976
46 years ago
James Hunt’s third place in the first Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji was good enough to secure him the world title by one point from Niki Lauda, who quit on lap two because of torrential rain had made the conditions too dangerous for his liking Read more…
1979
43 years ago
Carlo Abarth (70) died Read more…
1983
39 years ago
NBC News correspondent and anchorwoman Jessica Savitch (36) drowned when the car she was riding in went into a canal and flipped over making it impossible for her to escape Read more…
2003
19 years ago
The 37th Tokyo Motor Show – Passenger Cars and Motorcycles opened to the public Read more…
2003
19 years ago
A ‘Fastest Caravan Tow’ record was achieved when a Mercedes-Benz S600 driven by South African Eugene Herbert reached a speed of 139 Read more…
2004
18 years ago
Tragedy stroke when the Hendrick Motorsports company plane crashed into a foggy mountainside minutes before the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway Read more…
2007
15 years ago
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show Read more…
