1905 – Delahaye Founder Émile Delahaye Dies
French automotive pioneer Émile Delahaye died on this day in 1905 at age 62, leaving behind one of France’s most elegant and technically respected early car companies. Originally an engineer and manufacturer of industrial machinery, Delahaye turned toward automobiles in the 1890s, helping establish Delahaye as a maker of refined luxury cars and racing machines. Though Émile himself stepped away from day-to-day operations before the company reached its artistic peak, Delahaye later became famous for dramatic coachbuilt automobiles of the 1930s and 1940s, many now regarded among the most beautiful cars ever built. MORE: Who are the Founders of Automobile Companies?
1909 – A Cross-Country Race to Seattle Begins
Long before interstates or GPS, drivers set off from New York City on this day in 1909 for a grueling cross-country race to Seattle intended to raise attention and funding for the upcoming Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Dubbed the Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest, the race covered primitive roads, mud, breakdowns, and near-impossible terrain as competitors crossed the country in an era when long-distance motoring remained a genuine adventure. Driver Bert Scott initially crossed the finish line first and was declared winner, only to later have his victory revoked after officials determined he swapped engines during the race—an act viewed as against the rules. The trophy instead went to the driver of a Shawmut, turning one of America’s earliest transcontinental automotive contests into an unexpectedly controversial finish.
1934 – Nissan Gets Its Name
Japan’s automotive future took shape on this day in 1934 when Tokyo-based Jidosha-Seizo Kabushiki-Kaisha—translated as Automobile Manufacturing Co.—officially changed its name to Nissan Motor Company. The company emerged from industrial consolidation efforts tied to Yoshisuke Aikawa’s Nippon Sangyo conglomerate, from which the abbreviation “Ni-San” originated. Over the following decades Nissan, producing cars under the Datsun brand, would evolve into one of Japan’s defining automakers, producing everything from affordable commuter cars to enthusiast icons like the Skyline GT-R, Z-car, and Patrol.
1981 – Corvette Production Arrives in Bowling Green
America’s sports car found a permanent home on this day in 1981 when production of the Chevrolet Corvette officially began at Chevrolet’s plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Previously assembled in St. Louis, Corvette production moved south as General Motors prepared for the next era of America’s longest-running sports car. Bowling Green eventually became far more than a factory, it grew into the spiritual center of Corvette culture, later joined by the National Corvette Museum and a dedicated enthusiast pilgrimage site for owners and fans.
2009 – General Motors Files for Bankruptcy
One of the most dramatic moments in American industrial history unfolded on this day in 2009 when General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection during the global financial crisis. Under a restructuring plan backed by the Obama administration, GM aimed to shrink into a more financially sustainable company while the federal government temporarily assumed a majority ownership stake. The restructuring led to sweeping changes, including plant closures, workforce reductions, and the elimination of legacy brands like Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, and Saab from GM’s portfolio. For many Americans, the filing symbolized both the collapse of old Detroit and the beginning of a very different automotive future.
