On this day in…
1893
130 years ago
This was the last day of Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, a great fair that celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the New World and offered fairgoers a chance to see the first gas-powered motorcar in the US: the Daimler quadricycle Read more…
1899
124 years ago
The first Packard engine was completed and was found to produce 7 Read more…
1900
123 years ago
The Remington automobile was introduced Read more…
1909
114 years ago
Corbin recorded its first racing victory as Frank Free won a race at Ascot Park, California, US with a four-cylinder model Read more…
1909
114 years ago
The fifth Vanderbilt Cup Race is held on Long Island, New York Read more…
1911
112 years ago
The Little Motor Car Company was founded primarily by William H Read more…
1914
109 years ago
The Abner Doble Motor Vehicle Company was founded in Waltham, Massachusetts, US Read more…
1927
96 years ago
MG made its official racing debut with Alberto Sanchez Cires driving a 14/28 to victory in a race at San Martin, Argentina Read more…
1928
95 years ago
The 1928 Hudson/Essex “Winged God” mascot was patented by designer F C Ruppel Read more…
1950
73 years ago
1949 NASCAR champion Red Byron, who ranked sixth in the 1950 NASCAR Grand National standings, had all 1315 Read more…
1950
73 years ago
Lee Petty captured the NASCAR Grand National finale at Hillsboro, North Carolina, US Read more…
1952
71 years ago
The 1953 Chrysler model range were introduced Read more…
1954
69 years ago
Wilbur Shaw, winner of the 1937 Indianapolis 500 and President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1951, was killed at the age of 51 in an airplane crash near Decatur, Illinois, US Read more…
1955
68 years ago
Tim Flock led from start to finish to score his record 18th victory of the season in the finale at Hillsboro, North Carolina, US Read more…
1956
67 years ago
The 1957 Dodge cars and four-wheel-drive trucks were introduced, with the cars featuring torsion-bar front suspension Read more…
1961
62 years ago
Maschinen Augsburg-Nurnburg of Germany, makers of MAN trucks, acquired a license to manufacture Wankel rotary engines Read more…
1961
62 years ago
Enzo Ferrari put 26 year old Mauro Forghieri in charge of the entire Scuderia Ferrari racing program Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The Maserati Quattroporte was unveiled Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The 350 GTV, Lamborghini’s first prototype design and forerunner of the later 350GT, the marque’s first production model, was unveiled at the Turin Auto Show Read more…
1964
59 years ago
Bobby Marshman set an unofficial Indianapolis Motor Speedway track record of 162 Read more…
1970
53 years ago
33 American cars by 4 makers, 18 English cars by 11 makers, 25 German cars by 8 makers, 5 French cars by 3 makers, 8 Italian cars by 4 makers, 4 Swedish cars by 2 makers, and 2 Australian cars by 1 maker for a total of 95 cars by 33 makers from 7 countries were exhibited at the 17th Tokyo Motor Show Read more…
1978
45 years ago
Charles Chayne (80), Chief Engineer of Buick (1936-51), died in Carmel, California Read more…
1983
40 years ago
Sam Ard started second and converted a dominant day into a Cardinal 250 victory at Martinsville Speedway (Virginia, US) and the first of two straight NASCAR Nationwide Series championships Read more…
1987
36 years ago
Nelson Piquet clinched the Formula 1 World Driving Championship when his only title rival, Nigel Mansell, was injured in a crash during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Read more…
1988
35 years ago
Grand Prix newcomer Ayrton Senna won the Formula 1 World Championship title after winning the final race in Suzuka against team-mate Alain Prost to become the third Brazilian after Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet to take the crown Read more…
1991
32 years ago
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II Read more…
1996
27 years ago
The Subaru Forester won the renowned Hulman Trophy, a US 24-hour endurance speed record of mass-produced and marketed vehicles, setting a new world record with an average speed of 112 mph Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Proton acquired an 80% stake in Lotus Group International Limited, valued at £51 million Read more…
1998
25 years ago
The world’s first three-door coupe was unveiled at the New England International Auto Show in Boston Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Entertainer, author, and comedian Steve Allen (78) was driving to Encino, California to see his son Bill when his car was struck by a sports utility vehicle backing out of a driveway Read more…
2005
18 years ago
A fire in a double-decker bus damaged the eastbound 1 Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Wales rugby star Gavin Henson was banned from driving for a month after he was caught driving at 110mph (177kph) on the M4 motorway Read more…
