1914 – An Automobile Becomes Part of World History
One of history’s most consequential automobile journeys took place on this day in 1914 when Archduke Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were assassinated while riding in an open-top Gräf & Stift Double Phaeton in Sarajevo. (While many accounts incorrectly identify the car as an Austro-Daimler, historians generally agree it was a 1910 Gräf & Stift Double Phaeton.) The assassination triggered the diplomatic crisis that erupted into World War I just weeks later, forever altering the course of the 20th century. The car itself survives today and is displayed at Vienna’s Heeresgeschichtliches Museum.
1926 – Land Speed Legend Betty Skelton Is Born
Pioneering racer Betty Skelton was born on this day in 1926. Already famous as one of America’s greatest aerobatic pilots, Skelton turned her attention to automobiles in the 1950s, setting multiple women’s land speed records and becoming one of the era’s most accomplished female racers. She later worked as an automotive test driver and safety advocate, breaking barriers for women in motorsports and aviation alike.
1931 – NASCAR Icon Junior Johnson Is Born
Future NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson was born on this day in 1931 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. A former moonshine runner, Johnson became one of stock car racing’s biggest stars, winning 50 NASCAR Cup races before finding even greater success as a team owner. He is also credited with helping popularize the technique of drafting, forever changing the strategy of superspeedway racing.
1947 – Chevrolet’s Advance-Design Trucks Reach Showrooms
Chevrolet introduced an all-new generation of pickups on this day in 1947 when its Chevrolet Advance-Design trucks went on sale. Featuring wider cabs, improved visibility, and more modern styling, they represented the first completely redesigned General Motors trucks after World War II. The Advance-Design series quickly became America’s best-selling truck and remains one of the most beloved classic pickups among collectors and restorers today.
1971 – Elon Musk Is Born
Entrepreneur Elon Musk was born on this day in 1971. Although he did not found Tesla, Musk became the driving force behind Tesla, Inc. after joining the company in its early years, helping transform it from a small startup into one of the world’s most influential automakers. Under his leadership, Tesla accelerated the global shift toward electric vehicles and fundamentally changed the direction of the modern automotive industry.
2001 – The Last Plymouth Is Built
An American automotive nameplate came to an end on this day in 2001 when the final Plymouth, a silver four-door Neon, rolled off the assembly line. Introduced in 1928 as Chrysler’s affordable brand, Plymouth produced millions of vehicles over more than seven decades, including icons such as the Road Runner, ‘Cuda, Fury, GTX, and Voyager. The final Neon marked the end of one of Detroit’s most recognizable marques, closing a chapter that began with the very first Plymouth nearly 73 years earlier.
