Dusty & Rusty – 1951 GMC Truck
On June 28, 1947, Chevrolet released a brand new series of half, 3/4 and one ton medium duty trucks billed as Advance-Design. Featuring a major post war redesign, the trucks were also badged as GMC New Design. Together they were marketed as stronger and sleeker than the trucks they
August 5, 1899 – Henry Ford starts his first car biz, the Detroit Automobile Company
He had a gift. At least, that’s what 12 investors believed of Detroit mechanic and inventor Henry Ford. The Quadricycle and other early Ford ventures wooed the men into funding the Detroit Automobile Company, which was founded on this day in 1899. The investors, which included Detroit Mayor William
August 4, 1928 – DeSoto is founded
On this day in 1928, Walter Chrysler founded DeSoto, which provided Chrysler Corporation a vehicle line aimed at the mid priced auto market. The plan was to pit the brand against Oldsmobile, Willys, Studebaker, Mercury and other similarly valued automobiles. However, Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers soon after DeSoto made
August 3, 1900 – Firestone Tire & Rubber is founded
On this day in 1900 Harvey Firestone founded Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. The company’s original mission was to supply pneumatic tires for wagons and buggies, but the emerging automobile market soon altered the course. In 1906 Harvey Firestone negotiated a deal with his friend Henry
August 2, 1987 – Michael Andretti sets average speed record for an Indy race
On this day in 1987 Michael Andretti set the average speed record for an entire Indy race, coming to a first place finish at the Marlboro 500 at the Michigan International Speedway with an average speed of 171.490 miles per hour (275.986 km/h). Michael Andretti made his debut on
News: We’re doing a podcast for This Day in Automotive History!
Big things are cooking over here at the automotive history office, which is really the guest bedroom the apartment I share with my fiancee`, Marley, who is an amazing soprano by the way. When we first met she didn’t have much, if any, interest in cars nor their history.
August 1, 2007 – I-35 bridge collapses during rush hour
During the evening rush hour on this day in 2007, the 40-year-old I-35 Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota suddenly collapsed. The resulting catastrophe caused 13 deaths and 145 injuries. During the collapse, the structure and deck fell into the river and onto the riverbanks below. The southern traffic
July 31, 1971 – The first drive on the moon
In a truly out of this world event, US astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first people to drive an automobile on a martian surface on this day in 1971. The not so casual cruise occurred during the Apollo 15 NASA mission to the moon, with the
