On this day in…
1890
133 years ago
Robert M Read more…
1897
126 years ago
London taxi driver George Smith, an employee of the Electric Cab Company, drove into the frontage of a building on Bond Street, Mayfair and became the first person in the United Kingdom to be charged with drink driving Read more…
1898
125 years ago
J Frank Duryea joined the American Automobile Company to design a three-cylinder surrey-type automobile Read more…
1900
123 years ago
The Coppa Florio (or Florio Cup) was an automobile race first held in Italy on this day as the Coppa Brescia Read more…
1908
115 years ago
The British Trade Union Congress Annual Conference passed a resolution stating that motor cars should have a fixed maximum speed limit of 15 mph Read more…
1910
113 years ago
William C Read more…
1911
112 years ago
The last of four Foundation Day Races staged by the Quaker City Motor Club at Faimount Park, Philadelphia, US, was won by Erwin Bergdoll in a Benz Read more…
1921
102 years ago
The Avus Autobahn near Berlin, the world’s first controlled-access highway and part of Germany’s Bundesautobahn system, opened Read more…
1926
97 years ago
The last Salmson GSS was sold Read more…
1931
92 years ago
The last Pontiac Fine Six was produced Read more…
1932
91 years ago
The Mountain Championship at Brooklands was won by Malcolm Campbell driving a 4 litre V12 Sunbeam Tiger Read more…
1933
90 years ago
The Italian Grand Prix held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, was one of the blackest days in Grand Prix racing history Read more…
1934
89 years ago
Production commenced at Dagenham of Ford’s new 10 hp car – simply designated ‘De Luxe’, or C-type, which filled an intermediate slot in Ford’s European range, between the 8 hp Y-type, and the massive 3.3 litre V8 models Read more…
1942
81 years ago
Following the example of several European nations, President Franklin D Read more…
1950
73 years ago
French driver, Raymond Sommer (44) died at the Haute-Garonne Grand Prix in Cadours, France where the steering failed on his 1100 cc Cooper and the car overturned at a corner Read more…
1950
73 years ago
The first Sandberg Speed Hill Climb was staged at the Sandberg Ranch, north of Los Angeles, California, US Read more…
1950
73 years ago
The Cummins Diesel Special No Read more…
1952
71 years ago
Two Packard Mayfairs arrived at the Henney Motor Company factory in Freeport, Illinois, US for conversion into Monte Carlo show cars, with Packard being charged $9,095 Read more…
1961
62 years ago
A crash during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza claimed 16 lives – Formula One’s worst tragedy Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Work began on the the Brynglas Tunnels that carry the M4 motorway under Brynglas Hill in Newport Read more…
1962
61 years ago
The Ford Motor Company authorised production of the Ford Mustang as designed by Joe Oros, Gail Halderman and L David Ash Read more…
1967
56 years ago
Richard Petty roared to his sixth victory in a row, winning the Capital City 300 at the Virginia State Fairgrounds in Richmond, US Read more…
1967
56 years ago
John Surtees snatched victory in Italy after Jim Clark’s epic drive was let down by a fuel pump failure Read more…
1972
51 years ago
Emerson Fittipaldi of Brazil won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a Lotus to clinch the world driver’s title Read more…
1978
45 years ago
Niki Lauda won the Italian Grand Prix for Brabham-Alfa Romeo Read more…
1979
44 years ago
British Leyland (BL) announced it was to end production of all MG models Read more…
1983
40 years ago
The first woman to drive across the United States from coast to coast, Alice Huyler Ramsey (96), died Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Karl Hassel of Plain City, Ohio was awarded a patent for his built-in child’s car seat Read more…
1995
28 years ago
Johnny Herbert took his second win of the season and his career at the Italian Grand Prix Read more…
2000
23 years ago
UK fuel protests spread to facilities at the Manchester Fuels Terminal, the largest inland oil terminal at Kingsbury and at Cardiff docks Read more…
2000
23 years ago
Contested over 53 laps the Italian Grand Prix was won by Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher after starting from pole position equalling Senna’s 41 Grand Prix wins Read more…
2003
20 years ago
A bus was hit a high speed in heavy rain near the city of Valencia, Venezuela, killing 34 Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The Renault Modus supermini hit UK showrooms Read more…
2005
18 years ago
Ryan Newman benefitted from Jamie McMurray’s lap 362 crash to claim the final spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Read more…
2005
18 years ago
Newspapers reported that the UK government had drawn up contingency plans in light of fuel protests to maintain the supply of fuel, including using 1000 army drivers to operate tankers and to introduce fuel rationing and confiscating the driving licences of those who broke the law Read more…
2006
17 years ago
Kimi Raikonnen started his 100th race, but Michael Schumacher beat him to the win at the Italian Grand Prix Read more…
2007
16 years ago
Guinness World Records verified that the Shelby SuperCars (SSC) Ultimate Aero was officially the ‘Fastest Production Car’ in the world Read more…
2009
14 years ago
General Motors announced that it agreed to the sale of 55% of Ruesselsheim-based Adam Opel and Vauxhall unit to Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc Read more…
2013
10 years ago
The Jaguar C-X17, a concept crossover SUV designed by Jaguar Land Rover, was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show Read more…
