On this day in…
1900
122 years ago
Cesare Isotta, driving a 5CV Renault, won the 400 kg class in the 5 km time trials in Brescia, Italy Read more…
1901
121 years ago
The American Car Association (ACA) sponsored its first hill climb, a contest at Nelson Hill, near Peekskill, New York, US Read more…
1901
121 years ago
The first long-distance motor race in the United States began in New York City, ending 5 days and 464 miles later in Buffalo, New York Read more…
1906
116 years ago
A Buick Model F arrived in San Francisco, US, completing the first trans-United States trip by a touring car Read more…
1909
113 years ago
The Selden patent was upheld as legal and valid, causing a stampede of manufacturers seeking to acquire ALAM licenses Read more…
1910
112 years ago
Charles W Nash was named President of the Buick Motor Company Read more…
1913
109 years ago
The first Corona Road Races (California, US) were staged on the city’s unique circular track Read more…
1916
106 years ago
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted a day of short racing events termed the “Harvest Classic,” composed of three races held at 20, 50 and 100 mile distances Read more…
1923
99 years ago
The Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza, the first race to be designated as the European Grand Prix, was won by Carlo Salamano in a FIAT 805 Read more…
1928
94 years ago
Run over 60 laps, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza was won by Louis Chiron driving a Bugatti 37A Read more…
1929
93 years ago
Ernst Henne set a motorcycle land speed record of 216 Read more…
1944
78 years ago
Robert Benoist (48) died Read more…
1945
77 years ago
The first post-World War II auto races were held on the outskirts of Paris, France Read more…
1949
73 years ago
The Volvo PV445, basically a PV444 chassis on which a speciality body could be mounted, was introduced Read more…
1950
72 years ago
Racer Victor Hemery (73) died at Le Mans, France Read more…
1951
71 years ago
Geoff Duke and his ever trusty Norton won the 1951 350cc Class Nations Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Monza, Italy Read more…
1954
68 years ago
The Ford Motor Company produced its 40,000,000th vehicle, a 1954 Mercury convertible Read more…
1954
68 years ago
The first Ford Thunderbird, the ‘personal luxury car’, came off the Dearborn assembly lines in Michigan Read more…
1955
67 years ago
Zora Arkus-Duntov drove a Corvette to the summit of Pikes Peak (4,303 metre), Colorado in a record breaking time of 17 minutes, 24 Read more…
1960
62 years ago
Mickey Thompson, driving the Challenger I at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, US recorded a one-way run of 406 Read more…
1966
56 years ago
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act became law in the United States Read more…
1966
56 years ago
In response to the national uproar over automobile safety prompted by Ralph Nader’s book ‘Unsafe at Any Speed’, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was signed into law Read more…
1969
53 years ago
The Bitter CD, a three-door hatchback coupe featuring a 227 hp (169 kW) Chevrolet V8 with a 327ci displacement, was first shown in prototype form at the Frankfurt Auto Show Read more…
1970
52 years ago
The first Zhiguli, a Fiat-based compact car, was produced at the new plant Tol’iatti, USSR Read more…
1973
49 years ago
Going into the Italian Grand Prix, Emerson Fittipaldi was faced with the almost impossible task of needing to win the final three races with Jackie Stewart failing to score to take the title Read more…
1979
43 years ago
South African Jody Scheckter won the Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari, securing his one and only World Drivers Title Read more…
1982
40 years ago
The second British five second run took place at the York Read more…
1982
40 years ago
Henry Ford II retired from all involvement with the Ford Motor Company Read more…
1984
38 years ago
Monza saw the first all-turbo race in Formula One history after the Tyrrell team was thrown out of the championship for running its cars underweight during the race before topping up its water injection supply tanks with extra water and lead shot to ensure they made the weight Read more…
1990
32 years ago
Dale Earnhardt held off Mark Martin on a restart with three laps left to win the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Virginia, US Read more…
1990
32 years ago
Ayrton Senna took a pole to flag victory to win the Italian Grand Prix from title rival Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger but the star of the show was Jean Alesi, albeit only for four laps! Having qualified fifth, the Frenchman passed Mansell then Prost at the start before the race was stopped as Derek Warwick turned his Lotus upside-down on the start-finish straight Read more…
1993
29 years ago
For some years AUDI AG had been working together with the Aluminium Company of America on the development of a lightweight aluminium production car Read more…
1997
25 years ago
Led by Mayor Michel Crépeau and Jacques Tallut, La Rochelle organised France’s first real Car Free Day Read more…
1997
25 years ago
The fifth generation Cadillac Seville celebrated its world premier at the IAA Frankfurt Read more…
2000
22 years ago
Venezuela began a criminal investigation against Ford and Firestone due to at least 47 deaths from defective tyres on Ford Explorers Read more…
2001
21 years ago
The Southern Expressway (Australia), the world’s longest reversible one way freeway, was opened to traffic Read more…
2003
19 years ago
The Frankfurt Motor Show, opened it’s doors, with the simultaneous launch of the 5th generation of VW Golf and Opel Astra Read more…
2005
17 years ago
Driving a red Maserati V8 Gransport, Hein Wagner notched up 269 km/h (167mph) along an airstrip in north-west South Africa, to become the world’s fastest blind driver Read more…
2006
16 years ago
Spyker bought Midland F1 Racing, a Formula One team from Russian businessman Alex Shnaider Read more…
2006
16 years ago
Kasey Kahne finished third in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Virginia (US) to claim the last spot in the annual Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Read more…
2007
15 years ago
The record for the closest margin of victory in a car race of just 0 Read more…
2007
15 years ago
Top Gear participated in the 2007 Britcar 24-hour race at Silverstone, where the hosts (including The Stig) drove a race-prepared, second-hand diesel BMW 330d and finished 3rd in class and 39th overall Read more…
2007
15 years ago
Volkswagen unveiled the Up at the Frankfurt Motor Show Read more…
2007
15 years ago
Fernando Alonso took his fourth win of the season at the Italian Grand Prix, leading home the fourth 1-2 finish of the season for McLaren as Lewis Hamilton finished second Read more…
2012
10 years ago
A MINI John Cooper Works Challenge from Besaplast Racing Team won its class (A2) at the 24 Hours Barcelona Read more…
