1899 – Locomobile Is Founded
At the dawn of the automobile age, steam power still seemed like the future. On this day in 1899, Locomobile Company of America was founded after entrepreneurs John B. Walker and Amzi Barber purchased the rights to Stanley Steamer technology from twins Francis and Freelan Stanley. Early Locomobiles relied on steam power and quickly gained popularity for reliability and smooth operation at a time when gasoline cars remained temperamental and difficult to operate. Though the company eventually shifted toward luxury gasoline automobiles, Locomobile became one of America’s earliest prestige brands before fading during the Great Depression.
1954 – Volvo Introduces Its First Sports Car
Known for sensible engineering and durability, Volvo took an unexpected turn on this day in 1954 when it unveiled the Volvo P1900, the company’s first sports car. Inspired partly by the rising popularity of American fiberglass-bodied sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, the open-top P1900 featured lightweight construction and sporty styling, though it struggled with build quality and production complexity. Only a small number were built before Volvo moved on, but lessons learned helped pave the way for the far more successful P1800, later immortalized through television and enthusiast culture.
1970 – Bruce McLaren Dies Testing a Race Car
The motorsport world lost one of its brightest innovators on this day in 1970 when Bruce McLaren died in a crash while testing a Can-Am race car at England’s Goodwood Circuit (often mistakenly associated with Greenwood). McLaren had founded the racing team bearing his name in 1963, building it into an increasingly respected force through engineering brilliance and relentless experimentation. Still just 32 years old at the time of his death, McLaren left behind a legacy that would grow into one of motorsport’s most successful organizations, with victories spanning Formula One, Indianapolis, Can-Am, and Le Mans.
1992 – Construction Begins on the National Corvette Museum
Corvette enthusiasts gained a future pilgrimage destination on this day in 1992 when construction officially began on the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Located near the factory that builds America’s sports car, the museum was created to preserve the history, engineering, and culture surrounding the Chevrolet Corvette. Since opening, it has become famous not only for rare Corvettes and enthusiast gatherings but also for surviving one of automotive history’s strangest disasters—a sinkhole that swallowed several historically significant Corvettes in 2014.
2008 – Ford Sells Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata
After years of financial struggles and changing priorities, Ford Motor Company finalized a deal on this day in 2008 to sell Jaguar and Land Rover to India’s Tata Motors for roughly $2.3 billion. Ford had acquired Jaguar in 1989 and Land Rover in 2000 as part of its ambitious Premier Automotive Group strategy, hoping to build a luxury empire alongside Volvo and Aston Martin. Though critics questioned Tata’s ability to manage two iconic British brands, the acquisition ultimately proved transformative, helping both Jaguar and Land Rover expand globally and enjoy periods of renewed success under new ownership.
