On this day in…
1908
115 years ago
The Rolls Royce 40/50 hp Balloon Car, known within the company as “The Cookie”, was delivered to the Hon Charles Rolls in Derby, England Read more…
1909
114 years ago
The Elmore Manufacturing Company was incorporated in Ohio, US, although it had been producing Elmore automobiles since 1900 Read more…
1909
114 years ago
The Springfield Motor Car Company was incorporated in Springfield, Illinois (US) with Harry C Read more…
1913
110 years ago
Karl Rapp and Julius Auspitzer founded Karl Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH with a capital stock of RM 200 Read more…
1918
105 years ago
The Nesselsdorf Wagenbau automotive manufacturing company changed its name to Tatra Read more…
1923
100 years ago
The Sitges Circuit, the first permanent racetrack built in Spain, opened Read more…
1927
96 years ago
Figures released by the government’s Road Fund administrators showed that for the first time cars were ‘Kings of the Road’ in Britain Read more…
1941
82 years ago
Jazz saxophonist Leon “Chu” Berry (33) died after being mortally injured while riding in an automobile taking members of the Cab Calloway Band to an engagement in Toronto, Canada Read more…
1942
81 years ago
The 1,700 mile long Alaska Highway, constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska through Canada, was completed Read more…
1942
81 years ago
Utah (US) imposed a statewide war time speed limit of 35 mph Read more…
1945
78 years ago
Alec Issigonis was one of the class winners in the first English sprint meeting held after World War II, a ½ mile event at Filton Aerodrome, near Bristol Read more…
1951
72 years ago
Three drivers were within striking distance of the World title coming to the final round of the 1951 season, the Gran Premio de España in Pedralbes: Juan Manuel Fangio (27 points), Alberto Ascari (25) and José Froilán González (21) Read more…
1953
70 years ago
The first Ford 100E Anglia 2-door saloon was produced at Dagenham Read more…
1954
69 years ago
The 1955 Chevrolets were introduced, featuring completely new styling and the marque’s first V-8 engines since 1918 Read more…
1954
69 years ago
Sir Arthur P DuCros (54), founder in 1901 of the Dunlop Rubber Company, died in Oxley, Hertfordshire, England Read more…
1954
69 years ago
J Lester Dryden (73), Vice President of the Borg-Warner Corporation who in 1921 designed the single disc clutch universally adopted by the industry and was the principl advocate of automotive grilles to protect radiators and add beauty, died Read more…
1955
68 years ago
Col Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Rex White rallied for what would be his 28th and final victory in NASCAR’s top series, leading just the final three laps in the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia, US Read more…
1971
52 years ago
The Ferrari 365GT4 Berlinetta Boxer was unveiled at the 1971 Turin Motor Show Read more…
1977
46 years ago
A trend common to the new models exhibited 22nd Tokyo Motor Show was fuel efficiency Read more…
1981
42 years ago
The 1982 Pontiac Phoenix and T100 compacts were introduced Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Production of the Peugeot 309 began at the Ryton car factory near Coventry Read more…
1987
36 years ago
A diesel tank truck collided with stationary traffic on the M61 motorway near Preston, Lancashire, killing 12 people and injuring 6 Read more…
1992
31 years ago
In Duluth, Minnesota mayor Gary Doty officially opened the 1,480-foot–long Leif Erickson Tunnel on Interstate 35 Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Craig Breedlove drove the Shell Spirit of America LSR vehicle to a speed of 675 mph in the Blackrock Desert before a gust of wind caused him to lose control and crash Read more…
1997
26 years ago
Screenwriter Paul Jerrico (82) was killed in a car accident Read more…
1999
24 years ago
A Jaguar sports car that won the 1956 Le Mans 24-hour race was sold for £1 Read more…
2003
20 years ago
Pontiac announced it was withdrawing from NASCAR competition, leaving Chevrolet as the lone General Motors make for 2004 Read more…
2005
18 years ago
MINI United 2005 began in Misano, Italy Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The Peel P50 was featured in a segment of the BBC motoring programme Top Gear on BBC Two, during which presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, entered the car and drove through central London to work Read more…
2010
13 years ago
In China four driverless vehicles arrived at the Shanghai Expo at the end of an 8,000-mile test drive from Italy Read more…