On this day in…
1903
119 years ago
The trade name “Mercedes” was legally registered by Emil Jellinek Read more…
1905
117 years ago
The Motorcar Company, manufacturers of the Cartercar, was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan, US by Bryon J Carter, Frank T Caughey, Fred Postal, Randall Palmer, Harry R Radford and George A Young Read more…
1910
112 years ago
William C Read more…
1920
102 years ago
The Ford Ranger, named after the Texas Ranger, was first announced, appropriately in Houston, Texas Read more…
1928
94 years ago
Work began at the new Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in Chicago, just one day after being officially incorporated Read more…
1930
92 years ago
Philippe Etancelin, driving a Bugatti Type 35C, won the French Grand Prix at Pau Read more…
1937
85 years ago
US blues singer Bessie Smith (43) was critically injured while travelling along US Route 61 in Mississippi in an old Packard Read more…
1949
73 years ago
Robert A Read more…
1952
70 years ago
The Kaiser-Frazier Corporation announced plans to produce a plastic-bodied sports car designed by Howard A ‘Dutch’ Darrin Read more…
1956
66 years ago
The New Central Office Building was dedicated at Michigan Avenue and Southfield Roads, in Dearborn Read more…
1957
65 years ago
The Vespa 400, a rear-engined microcar, produced by ACMA (Ateliers de construction de motocycles et d’automobiles) in Fourchambault, France, made its public debut at a press presentation staged in Monaco Read more…
1961
61 years ago
Charles Erwin Wilson (71), American businessman and politician, died Read more…
1962
60 years ago
The Ford Motor Company announced a two-year, 24,000 mile warranty on all of its 1963 cars and trucks Read more…
1962
60 years ago
The 1963 Chryslers were introduced Read more…
1963
59 years ago
Vauxhall launched the new Viva, a small family saloon similar in size to BMC’s 1100 and the Ford Anglia Read more…
1964
58 years ago
The 11th Tokyo Motor Show opened Read more…
1965
57 years ago
The Mini Marcos made its racing debut at a rain soaked Castle Combe race track Read more…
1965
57 years ago
1966
56 years ago
The Chevrolet Camaro “pony car” made its first public appearance Read more…
1966
56 years ago
The Sportop option for the International Scout was introduced Read more…
1967
55 years ago
The Jaguar 240 and 340, relabelled Mark 2’s, were launched as interim models to fill the gap until the introduction of the XJ6 in September 1968 Read more…
1968
54 years ago
The XJ6 made its public debut at the Paris Motor Show Read more…
1982
40 years ago
The first episode of the television show Knight Rider aired on this day, starring David Hasselhoff as private eye Michael Knight Read more…
1993
29 years ago
Alain Prost became only the second man after the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio to win four world championships when a second-place finish at the Portuguese Grand Prix secured him the title Read more…
1993
29 years ago
Ernie Irvan won the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville, Virginia (US) in his fourth start with the Robert Yates team Read more…
1995
27 years ago
His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias of Spain drove the 10,000,000th SEAT (a Toledo) off the Martorell assembly line Read more…
1999
23 years ago
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc Read more…
1999
23 years ago
A bank worker broke the world land-speed record for a blind person Read more…
2002
20 years ago
Bentley Motors announced that its all new coupé would be named the Bentley Continental GT and would go on sale in 2003 Read more…
2002
20 years ago
Nils Ivar Bohlin (82), Swedish inventor of the three-point safety belt, died Read more…
2004
18 years ago
With Michael Schumacher’s fifth consecutive title for Ferrari wrapped up before the end of August, it was team-mate Rubens Barrichello’s chance to take his rewards for his yeoman-like support, and he followed victory a fortnight earlier at Monza with another win at the debut Chinese Grand Prix Read more…
2005
17 years ago
Bentley announced the introduction of the W12 561hp convertible Continental GTC Read more…
2006
16 years ago
The ⅞ mile oval paved Iowa Speedway, in Newton, Iowa (US) track opened with the Soy Biodiesel 250, won by Woody Howard, for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Four Champions playoff Read more…
2007
15 years ago
The United Auto Workers union and General Motors Corp reached a tentative contract, ending a national strike by 73,000 workers with a groundbreaking deal that included a health-care trust fund Read more…
2008
14 years ago
Top 1 Oil Ack Attack reached the blistering speed of 360 Read more…
2015
7 years ago
Switzerland temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests Read more…