On this day in…
1866
157 years ago
In the first use of a steam car to garner national attention, brothers Henry and James House transported a party of men in their House steam car from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Stratford, Connecticut, US Read more…
1906
117 years ago
The third Vanderbilt Cup Race was held, considered the most competitive in the series, featured 17 cars from France, USA, Germany and Italy Read more…
1917
106 years ago
Georg W Houk (51), an automobile wheel manufacturer who introduced Rudge-Whitworth detachable wire wheels in the US, died in Hollywood, California Read more…
1926
97 years ago
Duesenberg was incorporated into the Auburn-Cord company Read more…
1928
95 years ago
George Simpson drove up Ben Nevis (4,406 ft/1,334 m) in the Scottish Highlands in an Austin Seven in a record time of 7 hours 23 minutes – the descent took 1 hour 55 minutes Read more…
1930
93 years ago
Vauxhall announced an entirely new model, the Cadet VY, the first car in Europe with a full synchromesh gearbox Read more…
1931
92 years ago
The 1931 Oldsmobile ‘Eagle’ mascot was patented by designer William Schnell Read more…
1932
91 years ago
Citroen unveiled an elegant 8 bhp vehicle, the Rosalie, with a “single-piece” body, at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1935
88 years ago
Antonio Brivio won the Coppa della Silla in Cosenza, Italy Read more…
1938
85 years ago
The Mercury marque was launched by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford as market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles Read more…
1939
84 years ago
The 1940 Ford model range were introduced in the US, featuring styling by Eugene Gregorie Read more…
1940
83 years ago
Frank Griswold, driving an Alfa Romeo, won the World’s Fair Ground Grand Prix staged on the exposition grounds in Flushing, New York, US Read more…
1949
74 years ago
The first Ferrari grand tourer car (166 Inter), an elegant coupe designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan debuted at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1951
72 years ago
Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney (53), British HIgh Commander for Malaya was assassinated by Communist rebels near Kuala Lumpur whilst he was riding in a Rolls Royce Siver Wraith Park Ward limousine, the first time that the British marque had been involved in such an incident Read more…
1952
71 years ago
The 700,000th automobile was produced by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation Read more…
1955
68 years ago
The first Citroen DS was produced Read more…
1957
66 years ago
Bob Welborn, with relief help from Possum Jones, won the Sweepstakes 500 at Martinsville Speedway Read more…
1959
64 years ago
Mickey Thompson, driving the Challenger I, set a land speed record for automobile engine-powered vehicles of 363 Read more…
1960
63 years ago
The 1961 Pontiacs were introduced, including the new compact Tempest series Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Jack Brabham, in the second Formula 1 appearance with his new Brabham, finished 4th in the United States Grand Prix, becoming the first driver to earn championship points driving a car of his own design Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The 1964 Ramblers were introduced, featuring Adjust-O-Tilt steering as an option Read more…
1968
55 years ago
British drivers Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees came first, second and third respectively, in the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, New York Read more…
1973
50 years ago
With his third World Drivers Championship assured and on the eve of his 100th Grand Prix, Jackie Stewart, pulled out of the Unites States Grand Prix and announced his retirement Read more…
1973
50 years ago
At Watkins Glen, with Jackie Stewart having already clinched his third World Championship, Francois Cevert (29) was killed during Saturday morning qualifying, while battling for pole position with Ronnie Peterson Read more…
1974
49 years ago
Helmuth Koinigg (25) died in a crash in the 1974 United States Grand Prix, in only his second Grand Prix start Read more…
1981
42 years ago
John DeLorean began libel action after the UK Government denied it was investigating his automobile company Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Nigel Mansell won his first Grand Prix, the European at Brands Hatch from third on the pole in a Wiliams-Honda Read more…
1988
35 years ago
Chrysler Corporation and Fiat SpA formed a joint venture to market the Alfa Romeo in the United States Read more…
1989
34 years ago
B R ‘Woody’ Woodhill (73), a Downey, CA Dodge dealer, who designed and built the 19556 Willys-powered Woodhill Wildfire sports car, died in McAllen, Texas Read more…
1991
32 years ago
Geoff Bodine’s extraordinary fuel mileage netted him a win in Charlotte’s Mello Yello 500, Virginia (US) Read more…
1992
31 years ago
A striking new dimension was added to the Rover range with the launch at the Paris Motor Show of the two-door Rover 200 Coupe Read more…
1993
30 years ago
The last segment of the Natchez Trace Parkway’s Double Arch Bridge was put into place Read more…
1995
28 years ago
Racer Russell Phillips (26) died when his Oldsmobile crashed during the Winston 100 NASCAR Sportsman Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, US Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Terry Labonte moved to within one point of NASCAR Winston Cup standings leader Jeff Gordon with a win at Charlotte, North Carolina (US) Gordon had won 10 races to Labonte’s two, but the points race was the closest in NASCAR history Read more…
1999
24 years ago
The new Rover 25 and Rover 45 were launched, giving the brand a clear family identity Read more…
2002
21 years ago
Dale Earnhardt Jr Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey took to the stage Read more…
