On this day in…
1857
165 years ago
Richard Dudgeon’s first steam vehicle was destroyed in the fire at the Crystal Palace in New York City Read more…
1900
122 years ago
The prototype Black steamer was taken for its first test drive in West Chester, Pennsylvania, US by designer Stephen C Black Read more…
1912
110 years ago
American Grand Prize, the seventh and final race of the 1912 Grand Prix season, was held at the Wauwatosa Road Race Course in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Read more…
1919
103 years ago
On this day, 21-year-old Enzo Ferrari made his racing debut, finishing 11th in the Parmo-Poggia di Berceto hill climb in a Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali (CMN) vehicle Read more…
1924
98 years ago
Parry Thomas set the first Montlhery lap record, of 42 Read more…
1926
96 years ago
The Dort Motor Car Company was officially dissolved Read more…
1933
89 years ago
Twenty six French motor manufacturers exhibited at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1935
87 years ago
The first Donington Grand Prix was held – the first-ever Grand Prix held in Britain on a road track Read more…
1940
82 years ago
The DeSoto S-8 series was introduced, featuring ‘Rocket’ bodies Read more…
1950
72 years ago
At the 1950 Paris Motor Show, the Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette (AU), was premiered prior to the start of production in March 1951 Read more…
1955
67 years ago
After 18 years of development in secret as the successor to the Traction Avant, the Citroën DS19 caused a sensation on its launch at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1964
58 years ago
The special Lincoln Continental convertible involved in the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963 returned to service after receiving significant armor plating and a bullet-proof hardtop and was painted black Read more…
1964
58 years ago
Art Arfons driving Green Monster achieved a speed of 434 Read more…
1967
55 years ago
Jaguar announced a revised E-type, known retrospectively as the Series 1½ Read more…
1967
55 years ago
Peugeot introduced the smallest diesel engine in the world at the Paris Motor Show, a 1,200-cc model fitted to its 204 estate Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Graham Hill made his record 90th consecutive Grand Prix start Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Jochen Rindt, driving a Lotus 49B-Ford, won his first Grand Prix, the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, New York Read more…
1972
50 years ago
At the Paris Motor Show Peugeot unveiled its small mass-market saloon car, the 104 Read more…
1978
44 years ago
The 5-door, 5-seat Citroen Visa, with a choice of two engines was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1978
44 years ago
The prototype 230 hp 3-litre diesel Mercedes C 11/3 attained 203 Read more…
1980
42 years ago
Dale Earnhardt held off Cale Yarborough down the stretch to win the National 500, scoring his first Charlotte Motor Speedway (North Carolina, US victory Read more…
1981
41 years ago
The six year production run of the Triumph TR7 ended as the last of 111 Read more…
1982
40 years ago
British Leylands Fallings Park facility, formerly Guy Motors Ltd’s manufacturing plant, Wolverhampton, England closed as part of a rationalisation drive, was stripped clean and the contents auctioned Read more…
1992
30 years ago
The two door front-engined Renault Twingo was launched Read more…
1999
23 years ago
Using its famed muscle cars, interactive exhibits and a head-turning concept car tower, DaimlerChrysler unveiled its American heritage to the world at the opening of the Walter P Read more…
2005
17 years ago
Toyota Motor Corporation announced it had agreed to buy an 8 Read more…
2008
14 years ago
Carl Edwards sparked a 12-car crash during the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega, Alabama, US that involved half of the Chase field Read more…
2012
10 years ago
The record for the longest stoppie (front wheel wheelie) on motorcycle of 1320 Read more…