On this day in…
1882
141 years ago
Karl Benz formed his first automotive venture, Gasmotorenfabrik Mannheim AG, but the firm would dissolve within three months Read more…
1902
121 years ago
23-year-old American Barney Oldfield made his racing debut in a Ford 999 at the Manufacturers Challenge Cup in Grosse Point, Michigan Read more…
1903
120 years ago
Felice Nazzaro in a Panhard 70HP followed by Pierre de Caters in a Mors and Alexander Burton in a De Dietrich 45HP, won the Padova – Bovolenta race Read more…
1910
113 years ago
White race car driver Barney Oldfield beat prizefighter Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world, in two five-mile car races in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn Read more…
1917
106 years ago
Dodge began full-scale truck production Read more…
1936
87 years ago
The 3,000,000th Buick was presented to Arthur Lee Newton, President of the Glidden Buick Corporation in New York City, the marque’s largest dealer Read more…
1944
79 years ago
The Packard Motor Car Company board authorised $2 Read more…
1946
77 years ago
The 1947 Fords were introduced to the public in the Unites States on what was billed as “V8-Day” Read more…
1954
69 years ago
Regular production of the 1955 Ford model range began Read more…
1954
69 years ago
The Austin Cambridge A50 was introduced in the United States Read more…
1956
67 years ago
The 1957 Plymouth’s were introduced Read more…
1956
67 years ago
The 1957 Hudsons, destined to be the last of the marque, were introduced Read more…
1958
65 years ago
Stuart Lewis-Evans (28) died from injuries received after crashing heavily at the dusty Ain-Diab circuit during the season-ending Moroccan Grand Prix Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Jack Smith roared from the middle of the pack on Concord (North Carolina) Speedway’s half-mile dirt track to win the Lee Kirby 300, the season finale for NASCAR’s top series Read more…
1960
63 years ago
The 7th Tokyo Motor Show opened with over 350 exhibits Read more…
1960
63 years ago
Harry Ferguson (75), the Irish-born designer of automobiles, airplanes and farm tractors, died in Abbotswood, Gloucestershire, England Read more…
1961
62 years ago
The 8th Tokyo Motor Show opened Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Many prototypes were displayed again at the opening of the 9th Tokyo Motor Show Read more…
1964
59 years ago
The Mexican Grand Prix staged perhaps the most dramatic finale in the history of the Formula One World Championship Read more…
1969
54 years ago
Denny Hulme drove a Team McLaren M8B-Chevrolet to victory in the Can-Am race at Riverside, California Read more…
1970
53 years ago
Australian Jack Brabham, three times Formula One champion (1959, 1960, and 1966) and founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor, announced his retirement Read more…
1972
51 years ago
The 3,000,000th Mini was produced Read more…
1976
47 years ago
Henry Ford II dedicated the new manufacturing complex at Valencia, Spain; King Juan Carlos was in attendance Read more…
1977
46 years ago
British-South African business executive Michael Edwardes was appointed chairman of British Leyland as the successor to Richard Dobson Read more…
1980
43 years ago
Former light-heavyweight boxing champion turned racing driver, Victor Galindez (31) died after crashing during a race in DelMayo, Argentina Read more…
1986
37 years ago
Dire Straits guitarist, singer Mark Knopfler broke his collarbone after crashing in a celebrity car race before the Australian Grand Prix Read more…
1990
33 years ago
Reliant who called in the receivers Read more…
1991
32 years ago
An unprecedented 352 companies, two governments and one organization representing 13 countries participated in the 29th Tokyo Motor Show Read more…
1999
24 years ago
Comedian Rowan Atkinson crashed his £650,000 McLaren F1 supercar £650,000, bought to celebrate the success of his movie in the role of Mr Bean Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Ford donated $5 million to Princeton University’s Environmental Institute for research on carbon and greenhouse gas issues Read more…
2001
22 years ago
The Ford Motor Co Read more…
2005
18 years ago
BMW UK announced details of the latest M car – the new BMW Z4 M Roadster Read more…
