On this day in…
1905
117 years ago
The first Tourist Trophy (TT), a regularity trial based on fuel consumption for motor cars and motorcycles, was won by John Napier in an Arrol-Johnston, on the Isle of Man, England Read more…
1908
114 years ago
The Republic Rubber Company of Youngstown, Ohio was issued a United States patent for its tire tread pattern marketed as ‘Staggard’ Read more…
1913
109 years ago
The Lincoln Highway Association announced the route of the Lincoln Highway, from Time Square, New York to Lincoln Park, San Francisco Read more…
1914
108 years ago
The first FWD firetruck was sold to Minneapolis (MN) Fire Department Read more…
1920
102 years ago
The first Lincoln automobile was completed, a 7-Passenger Touring Read more…
1924
98 years ago
The Studebaker Standard Six and Big Six Model EP were introduced Read more…
1927
95 years ago
Isadora Duncan, the controversial American dancer, was instantly strangled to death while travelling as a passenger in an Amilcar in Nice, France Read more…
1935
87 years ago
Dick Shuttleworth, driving a 2 Read more…
1939
83 years ago
The Graham-Paige Motors Corporation contracted with Hupmobile to build its Cord-based Skylark, also acquiring the rights to manufacture its own Cord-based car, the Hollywood Read more…
1940
82 years ago
Carl W Weiss, the German-born design engineer whose universal joint was the basis of the front-wheel-drive Ruxton, died Read more…
1952
70 years ago
Lee Petty drove his Plymouth to victory in the tragic 250-mile NASCAR Grand National event at Langhorne Speedway, Pennsylvania, US Read more…
1959
63 years ago
Full-scale production began of the 1960 model Edsel Read more…
1960
62 years ago
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established by five core members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, to organise and unify petroleum policies, securing stable prices for the petroleum producers Read more…
1965
57 years ago
The situation comedy “My Mother the Car” premiered on NBC-TV Read more…
1966
56 years ago
“Dyno” Don Nicholson became the first NHRA Funny Car driver to run the 1/4-mile in under 8 seconds when he turned in a 7 Read more…
1967
55 years ago
The futuristically styled 112-mph NSU Ro 80, the most technologically advanced production car in the world at the time, was launched Read more…
1968
54 years ago
Wacky Races, an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera was first broadcast in the US Read more…
1968
54 years ago
Miss Patsy Burt broke the Brighton Speed Trials (England) standing kilometer start record with a time of 20 Read more…
1969
53 years ago
Richard Brickhouse prevailed in the first Talladega 500, Alabama, US a race marked by a boycott of around 30 drivers because of safety concerns and other grievances Read more…
1973
49 years ago
The BMW 2002i of Achim Warmbold and Jean Todt won the Rally Australia Read more…
1973
49 years ago
One of the gloomiest days in Triumph’s history, Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) chairman Dennis Poore ordered a meeting with Meriden’s union stewards to inform them he was to close the Triumph plant Read more…
1974
48 years ago
Bobby Unser drove a Chevrolet Camaro to victory in round one of the IROC series at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, US Read more…
1978
44 years ago
Philip Caldwell was elected Ford Company President Read more…
1980
42 years ago
Nelson Piquet won the 50th Italian Grand Prix and the first Grand Prix to be held at Imola Read more…
1982
40 years ago
Princess Grace of Monaco (52), also known Grace Kelly, died of injuries sustained in a car crash Read more…
1985
37 years ago
The stunning MG EX-E concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show Read more…
1985
37 years ago
The BMW 8 Series debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) along with the Rolls Royce Corniche III, Silver Spirit II and Silver Spur II Read more…
1990
32 years ago
Don Stringfellow drove the GMC Cyclone LSR pickup to a new truck speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, with a two-way speed of 204 Read more…
1995
27 years ago
The Audi TT was first shown as a concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show Read more…
2000
22 years ago
Fuel protests in the UK began to end Read more…
2001
21 years ago
Mika Hakkinen announced he would be taking a sabbatical year from Formula One, and fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen would take his McLaren seat Read more…
2003
19 years ago
The fastest overall average speed for a Grand Prix race of 153 Read more…
2008
14 years ago
Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix at Monza aged 21 years and 74 days, driving for Toro Rosso Read more…
2016
6 years ago
Uber introduced robot taxis on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Read more…
2016
6 years ago
Genesis Motors unveiled its third model, G70, in Namyang, South Korea Read more…
