1903 – Buick Motor Company Is Founded
The roots of America’s oldest surviving car company stretch back to this day in 1903, when Buick Motor Company was founded as a subdivision of the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company. Originally, the business focused on manufacturing engines and power systems, including marine and stationary engines, rather than automobiles alone. Founded by inventor David Dunbar Buick, the company soon shifted focus toward automobiles, introducing the Buick Model B the following year. Buick would eventually become one of the cornerstone brands of General Motors and, as of 2017, held the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating passenger car company in the United States by founding date.
1935 – Germany Opens a Major Section of the Autobahn
Germany’s Autobahn became one of the world’s most famous road systems after a grand opening ceremony on this day in 1935 for the Frankfurt–Darmstadt route, hosted by Adolf Hitler. Though controlled-access highways had existed conceptually before the Nazi regime, Hitler aggressively promoted Autobahn construction as both a public works project and a symbol of German engineering ambition. The high-speed road system would later become closely tied to Germany’s automotive culture, helping shape the reputation of brands like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
1991 – Willy T. Ribbs Makes Indianapolis 500 History
Breaking barriers in motorsports, Willy T. Ribbs became the first African American driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on this day in 1991. Ribbs had already built a reputation as a talented racer across multiple disciplines, but qualifying for Indy carried enormous symbolic importance in one of racing’s most tradition-bound institutions, helping broaden conversations about diversity and representation in American motorsports. More: Who won the first Indy 500?
2021 – Ford Reveals the Electric F-150 Lightning
The future of America’s best-selling truck shifted dramatically on this day in 2021 when Ford introduced the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning. Rather than reinventing the pickup entirely, Ford chose to electrify the familiar F-150 formula, offering strong towing capability, rapid acceleration, front trunk storage, and even the ability to power a home during outages, marking one of the biggest symbolic shifts in modern truck history.
