On this day in…
1904
118 years ago
The first Vanderbilt Cup automobile racing event was held in Hicksville, New York Read more…
1910
112 years ago
Len Zengle, driving a Chadwick, won the 200-mile Founders’s Day Cup Race at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, US, the first race won by a car with a supercharged engine Read more…
1917
105 years ago
The first Fordson tractor went in sale in the US Read more…
1929
93 years ago
A United States design patent was issued to racer Wade Morton for his “A Combination Automobile Body Hood and Radiator”, the basic design of the Auburn Cabin Speedster prototype Read more…
1929
93 years ago
The Packard “Adonis” mascot, otherwise known as “Dauphne at the Well” or “sliding boy”, was patented by designer Edward McCarten, who based his work on a 1927 French sculptor Emil Antoine Read more…
1931
91 years ago
Automobile headlight designer Karl Dumas Chambers died in Oteen, North Carolina, US, aged 38 Read more…
1931
91 years ago
The last Oakland, a Series 301 sedan, was produced when the brand was dropped by General Motors in favor of the division’s Pontiac make Read more…
1938
84 years ago
Edsel B Ford made a public announcement that full production of the new Mercury marque had begun at five United States plants Read more…
1940
82 years ago
The 1941 DeSotos were introduced, featuring an optional ‘Simplimatic’ semi-automatic transmission Read more…
1949
73 years ago
The British military government placed the trusteeship of the Volkswagen factory in German hands Read more…
1958
64 years ago
Ray Lemke opened the first independent Datsun dealership in the United States in San Diego, California, US Read more…
1960
62 years ago
The Sheffield Tramway closed, leaving Blackpool as the only place in England with electric trams Read more…
1961
61 years ago
Innes Ireland drove a Lotus-Climax to victory in the first United States Grand Prix held at Watkins Glen, New York Read more…
1961
61 years ago
John D Hertz (82), founder of the Hertz Rent-A-Car System Inc Read more…
1965
57 years ago
The Budd Automotive Company of Canada was established in Kitchener, Ontario Read more…
1967
55 years ago
The roadside breathalyser was used for the first time in the United Kingdom Read more…
1968
54 years ago
Henry Jervis Mulliner (97), founder and namesake of the British coach building firm and the last surviving charter member of Royal Automobile Club, died in Bexhill-on-Sea, England Read more…
1972
50 years ago
Bobby Allison emerged from a late-race battle with Buddy Baker to win the National 500, securing his third victory out of the previous four races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina, US Read more…
1973
49 years ago
Robert Pass of Passport Transportation Ltd Read more…
1977
45 years ago
Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr were introduced Read more…
1978
44 years ago
American Mario Andretti became Formula One World Champion Read more…
1980
42 years ago
British Leyland launched the Mini Metro, designed to be a slightly bigger and more modern alternative to the Mini Read more…
1986
36 years ago
The Jaguar XJ (XJ40) was officially unveiled Read more…
1996
26 years ago
Dagenham’s ten-millionth car, which was also Ford’s 250-millionth worldwide, a Fiesta, was driven off the line at Dagenham in east London by retired boxing champion and local resident Frank Bruno Read more…
2005
17 years ago
In Nevada, in the United States, 23 robotic vehicles competed over a 150-mile course for a $2 million prize sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Darpa Read more…
2006
16 years ago
Brian Vickers tapped teammate Jimmie Johnson on the last lap of the UAW-GM 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Delaware (US) sending Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr Read more…
2014
8 years ago
The record for the longest distance riding a motorcycle in 24 hours, 2023 Read more…
