On this day in…
1860
166 years ago
Brothers Philander H and Francis M Roots of Connersville, Illinois, US were issued with a United States patent for their supercharger, a design that would be extensively adopted by the automobile industry many years later Read more…
1891
135 years ago
Henry and Clara Ford moved to Detroit, Michigan, US Read more…
1897
129 years ago
The first gas-powered bus service in Great Britain was started in Bradford by J E Tuke of the Yorkshire Motor Car Company Ltd Read more…
1913
113 years ago
Ford signed a contract signed to sell the Model T in China Read more…
1924
102 years ago
British racer Sir Malcolm Campbell established a new world land-speed record of 146 Read more…
1926
100 years ago
Henry Ford announced the 8-hour, 5-day working week Read more…
1936
90 years ago
American driver Bill Schindler crashed during a sprint race in Mineola, New York Read more…
1945
81 years ago
George L Weisse (83), a cofounder of the Packard Motor Car Company, did in Garden Gove, Califormia, US Read more…
1949
77 years ago
The sixth race of the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock season was held at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US Read more…
1962
64 years ago
General Motors announced a two-year, 24,000-mile blanket warranty on all of its 1963 cars and trucks Read more…
1965
61 years ago
The 1966 Ford Thunderbirds were introduced Read more…
1975
51 years ago
Brinklin Canada Ltd declared itself bankrupt, ending production after a two year run of 2,872 cars Read more…
1980
46 years ago
Richard Noble in his 17,000 lb thrust Rolls-Royce Avon 302 jet powered Thrust II achieved a speed of 263 Read more…
1981
45 years ago
Ford announced that its best-selling Cortina nameplate would be discontinued in 1982, and its replacement would be called the Sierra Read more…
1982
44 years ago
For the first time since the World Championship began in 1950, a country hosted three rounds in the same season in 1982 Read more…
1983
43 years ago
The European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch race saw Bruno Giacomelli score his final championship point, and was the first race for qualified doctor and current circuit owner Jonathan Palmer Read more…
1983
43 years ago
Dr Jonathan Palmer made his Formula 1 debut at Brands Hatch in the European Grand Prix driving for Williams Read more…
1987
39 years ago
Ray Harroun’s place in history was sealed when the U Read more…
1994
32 years ago
Rusty Wallace scored a one-car-length victory over Dale Earnhardt at Martinsville, Virginia, US Read more…
1994
32 years ago
The Portuguese Grand Prix was won by Damon Hill driving for the Williams team Read more…
1997
29 years ago
British fighter-pilot Andy Green set a new land-speed record in the Thrust SSC vehicle, jet-powering to an impressive 714 Read more…
2000
26 years ago
The Neiman Marcus Edition of the model year 2002 Ford Thunderbird set a world record for any vehicle offered through the Neiman catalogue Read more…
2001
25 years ago
General Motors announced the 2002 model year would be the last for the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird Read more…
2002
24 years ago
The Caterham Superlight R500 broke the world road car record for speeding from standing to 100 mph and then back to standing, completing the test in an astounding 11 Read more…
2004
22 years ago
Chinese officials gathered at the brand-new Shanghai International Circuit racetrack in anticipation of the next day’s inaugural Formula One Chinese Grand Prix Read more…
2004
22 years ago
The Zonda C12 S Monza debuted at the Paris Motor Show as a track-day version of the Zonda for private use Read more…
2005
21 years ago
Fernando Alonso won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship title at the age of 24 years and 58 days, at the time making him the youngest Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Read more…
2005
21 years ago
Porsche announced that it had taken a 20% stake in Volkswagen to shield Europe’s biggest car maker from a hostile takeover Read more…
2005
21 years ago
In Australia, 20 high-tech solar-powered cars from 10 countries set off on a 3,000 kilometre (1,860 mile) race across the vast outback in the 8th World Solar Challenge Read more…
2005
21 years ago
The A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Brands Hatch, Great Britain was held, the first full racing event in A1GP’s history Read more…
2007
19 years ago
Abarth, the firm that found fame tuning Fiats for racing, was officially relaunched as a car company in its own right in Turin, Italy Read more…
2007
19 years ago
Pagani claimed a new record for production supercars using the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport by completing the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes 27 Read more…
2011
15 years ago
In India, a Nano hatchback, billed as the world’s cheapest car, caught fire in New Delhi under unexplained circumstances Read more…
2012
14 years ago
California’s Governor Jerry Brown signed SB1298 making robotic vehicles legal in the state Read more…
2014
12 years ago
The Proton Iriz, the company’s first B-segment 5-door hatchback, was launched at the Proton plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, by former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Read more…
