On this day in…
1899
124 years ago
The Paris-Ostend race ended in a dead heat between Girardot (Mors) and Levegh (Panhard), when both completed the 203 miles in 6 hours 11 minutes (32 Read more…
1902
121 years ago
The city of Chicago, Illinois, US issued its first automobile license plate, to Arthur L Eddy Read more…
1902
121 years ago
Sixty-three motor cars took part in reliability trials, driving from London’s Crystal Palace to Folkestone, Kent and back in a day, demonstrating that they were almost as reliable as railways as a means of transport Read more…
1903
120 years ago
Massachusetts became the first U Read more…
1907
116 years ago
Ettore Bugatti signed a formal license agreement with Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz AG of Cologne, Germany to design and produce Deutz cars for a term of five years Read more…
1908
115 years ago
Emil A Nelson began designing the first Hupmobile, the Hupp 20 Read more…
1909
114 years ago
The Packard Motor Car Company was reincorporated in Michigan, US, succeeding the West Virginia corporation formed in 1903 Read more…
1912
111 years ago
The Brockway Motor Truck Corporation was organised in Cortland, New York with George A Read more…
1917
106 years ago
The first Nash automobile was produced; a 4-liter six-cylinder model, it had the unusual feature for the period of pushrod-operated overhead valves, an obvious legacy from Nash’s period with Buick, which had never built anything but ohv engines since its inception in 1903 Read more…
1921
102 years ago
The Lancia Lambda was introduced Read more…
1928
95 years ago
The last major promotional activity of the Lincoln Highway Authority took place, when at 1:00 pm groups of Boy Scouts placed approximately 2,400 concrete markers at sites along the route to officially mark and dedicate it to the memory of Abraham Lincoln Read more…
1929
94 years ago
The SA Scuderia Ferrari was incorporated primarily to manage the racing activities of Alfa Romeo Read more…
1931
92 years ago
The first night trial floodlighting of London’s important buildings caused traffic chaos as sightseers poured into the capital Read more…
1941
82 years ago
The 1942 DeSotos were introduced, featuring hidden ‘Airfoil’ headlights Read more…
1946
77 years ago
The first race under the new Formula One regulations, the Turin Grand Prix was won by Achille Varzi in an Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta, although in reality the cars were no different to those that had raced earlier in the season Read more…
1950
73 years ago
Mrs Ransom Olds, the former Miss Woodward who was three days younger than her husband, died six days after her husband’s death Read more…
1950
73 years ago
A new chapter in Porsche history began with the company’s return to Zuffenhausen, Germany, and the completion of the first Porsche Read more…
1952
71 years ago
Pole-starter Fonty Flock, wearing bermuda shorts and a short-sleeve shirt, led 341 of 400 laps, including the final 216, to win the third annual Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, South Carolina, US collecting a winner’s check of $9,430 Read more…
1956
67 years ago
The Volvo Amazon was introduced Read more…
1957
66 years ago
The 3-year driving licence was introduced under the Road Traffic Act 1956 Read more…
1958
65 years ago
Frederic G Donner was elected Chairman and Chief Executive of General Motors – the first person to hold both titles Read more…
1958
65 years ago
Fireball Roberts took his fourth win of the NASCAR Grand National season at Darlington’s Southern 500 Read more…
1959
64 years ago
An unofficial strike at BMC halted production of the new Mini Read more…
1960
63 years ago
The British Hot Rod Association (BHRA) was formed by the amalgamation of clubs like the Highwaymen with the intent of unifying Sprint Clubs and holding organised Drag Races at disused airfields like Duxford and Graveley Read more…
1961
62 years ago
The first Volkswagen 1500 Type-3 was produced Read more…
1962
61 years ago
Bill Krause drove a Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” to victory in a sports car race in Santa Barbara, California, US Read more…
1963
60 years ago
The first Austrian Grand Prix was run at Zeltweg Airfield and was won by Jack Brabham, driving a Brabham-Climax, at 96 Read more…
1965
58 years ago
Motor cars first used on or after this date in Britain had to be fitted with a side repeater indicator on each side of the vehicle Read more…
1976
47 years ago
Percy Shaw (86), inventor of Cats Eyes, died Read more…
1980
43 years ago
Henry Austin Clark closed his Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton, New York, ending the 32 year life of the first major antique motor museum in the United States Read more…
1980
43 years ago
24 year old Patrick Mimran was named President of Nuova Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini SpA Read more…
1980
43 years ago
Sophomore driver Terry Labonte scored his first NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina, US Read more…
1980
43 years ago
Ford launched one of the most important new cars of the year – the third generation Escort Read more…
1981
42 years ago
Garages in the United Kingdom began selling petrol by the litre instead of by the gallon Read more…
1983
40 years ago
The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, US was rededicated as the Hope Memorial Bridge in honour of Harry Hope, one of the stonecutters who made the four art deco pylons used on the bridge and the father of comedian Bob Hope Read more…
1985
38 years ago
Stefan Bellof (27) was killed at the 1000 km Spa sports car race, when he tangled his Walter Brun-entered Porsche 956 with Jacky Ickx’s works 956 at Eau Rouge corner, with both cars catching fire and halting the race Read more…
1989
34 years ago
The US federal government passed new car safety legislation, requiring all newly manufactured cars to install an air bag on the driver’s side Read more…
1989
34 years ago
Polish footballer, Kazimierz Deyna (47), one of the best marksmen in the history of world football, died in a car accident while driving his favourite BMW Read more…
1989
34 years ago
The first Lexus was sold, launching Toyota’s new luxury division Read more…
1989
34 years ago
The 1990 Chevrolet Blazer and Astro were introduced Read more…
1991
32 years ago
Harry Gant (51) won the Heinz Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina, to extend his record as the oldest winner of a NASCAR race Read more…
1992
31 years ago
The 1993 GMC Jimmy was introduced Read more…
1996
27 years ago
The Toyota RAV4L electric vehicle was offered to the Japanese public on a limited basis Read more…
1996
27 years ago
Jeff Gordon scored his third straight victory at Darlington, South Carolina (US) and seventh of the season, thwarting Hut Stricklin’s upset bid Read more…
1998
25 years ago
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 finally went into effect Read more…
2001
22 years ago
The car number plate system in the UK was completely revised Read more…
2002
21 years ago
Hyundai Car (UK) Ltd began to offer the UK’s first five year, fully manufacturer-backed, unlimited mileage warranty as standard across its range Read more…
2003
20 years ago
A special edition Ford Ranger, called Thunder, priced at £17,150, went on sale in the UK Read more…
2003
20 years ago
Show Me/Tell Me vehicle safety questions were added to the beginning of the driving test Read more…
2003
20 years ago
Cornelius Horan, the former priest who ran on to the track during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, was released from custody after six weeks on remand Read more…
2004
19 years ago
The Mitsubishi Colt was launched in the UK Read more…
2004
19 years ago
Michael Schumacher held a press conference to announce that he had no intention of leaving the sport he loves in the near future Read more…
2007
16 years ago
All new cars sold in the U Read more…
2007
16 years ago
In Morocco Renault-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn signed a deal to build an assembly plant in Tangiers, with a planned investment of one billion euros (1 Read more…
2007
16 years ago
The Southern California Gas Company purchased the first motor vehicles powered by natural gas Read more…
2007
16 years ago
Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya vowed to do his best to bring India into Formula One after teaming up with Spyker’s director of Formula One Michiel Mol to make an 80 million euro bid for the cash-strapped team Read more…
2008
15 years ago
Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque, proposing a concept to be shown in 2009 to coincide with the brand’s 100th anniversary Read more…
