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

A Read more…

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…