1909 – Hudson Completes Its First Production Automobile
The Hudson Motor Car Company completed its first production automobile around this date in 1909 at its Mack Avenue factory in Detroit. Some historical accounts identify July 2, while others place the milestone on July 3, so the exact date remains uncertain. The car was the Hudson Model 20, an affordable four-cylinder automobile developed under the leadership of Roy D. Chapin and engineer Howard Coffin, with financial backing from department-store owner Joseph L. Hudson. The Model 20 helped Hudson become one of the most successful automotive startups of its era and launched a company later known for the Super Six, step-down construction, and the racing success of the Hudson Hornet.
1962 – Packard Is Removed From the Studebaker Corporate Name
The Packard name was officially dropped from the Studebaker-Packard Corporation on this day in 1962, with the company returning to the simpler Studebaker Corporation name. The change came four years after the last Packard-branded automobile was built and reflected an effort to move beyond the unsuccessful merger between the two historic manufacturers. Once one of America’s most prestigious luxury marques, Packard had struggled after World War II and disappeared following a final series of Studebaker-based models. Removing the name from the corporation marked another symbolic step toward the end of the Packard legacy.
1991 – Ford Designer L. David Ash Dies
Influential Ford designer L. David Ash died on this day in 1991 after contributing to several of the company’s most memorable automobiles. Ash was part of the team responsible for the original Ford Mustang and helped refine the long hood, short rear deck, and sporty proportions that came to define the pony-car category. He also played a major role in the design of the Continental Mark III and worked on Ford’s experimental transparent-roof cars of the 1950s, including the Skyliner and Mercury Sun Valley. His career spanned a period when Detroit styling was rapidly evolving and designers helped shape the public identity of entire brands.
1992 – Chevrolet Builds the One-Millionth Corvette
The one-millionth Chevrolet Corvette rolled off the Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly line on this day in 1992. The white convertible with a red interior was deliberately configured to resemble the first production Corvette from 1953, and workers signed numerous hidden components throughout the car to commemorate the milestone. More than two decades later, it became one of eight Corvettes swallowed by the sinkhole that opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in 2014. Although badly damaged, the car was restored by General Motors and returned to display, preserving an important piece of Corvette history.
2006 – Michael Schumacher Wins His Fifth United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis
Michael Schumacher won the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on this day in 2006, leading Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to a one-two finish. The victory was Schumacher’s fifth Formula One win at Indianapolis, following triumphs in 2000 and from 2003 through 2005, making him the first driver to win a major event at the legendary speedway five times. The result also helped keep him in contention against Fernando Alonso during the closely fought 2006 Formula One season and added another milestone to one of the most successful careers in motorsport history.
