This Day in Automotive History: November 10

1885 – First Motorcycle Test Ride: Daimler Reitwagen

Paul Daimler, just 17, rode the little gasoline‑engine two‑wheeler from Cannstatt to Untertürkheim and back on 10 November 1885, giving the Daimler Reitwagen its first documented test run. Built by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, the Reitwagen married an internal‑combustion engine to a wooden‑framed, two‑wheel layout with a single‑cylinder engine that would be the template for later motorized cycles. Contemporary accounts and later museum and manufacturer writeups single out that November outing as the machine’s maiden journey, a short but decisive proof that a compact, petrol‑driven vehicle could be ridden under its own power — the prototype moment that fathers modern motorcycles.

1910 – Hupmobile Model 20 Embarks on Around‑the‑World Tour

A four‑passenger Hupmobile touring car left Detroit on 10 November 1910 to demonstrate the toughness of the Hupmobile Model 20 by driving around the world. Promoted by the Hupp Motor Car Company, the advertised itinerary spanned North America, Oceania, Asia, Africa and Europe, and the party pressed on through challenging roads and long sea transits to prove the touring car’s reliability. The journey stretched into early 1912 and covered tens of thousands of miles, serving as a headline‑grabbing publicity stunt intended to show that an ordinary production touring car could endure extended, globe‑spanning use.

1934 – Birth of Racer Lucien Bianchi

Born in Milan on 10 November 1934 as Luciano but known in racing as Lucien Bianchi, he became one of the era’s versatile drivers, competing in sports‑car events and in Formula One under the Belgian flag after moving to Belgium. Bianchi combined endurance sportscar appearances with several F1 starts, and his driving career is remembered for its breadth across disciplines rather than a single championship. He continued to race internationally until his untimely death during a test session on 30 March 1969, a reminder of the hazards drivers faced in the high‑speed development work of the 1960s.

1942 – Utah Begins Enforcement of Wartime 35 mph Limit

After announcing a wartime “Patriotic Speed Limit” of 35 mph on October 28, 1942, Utah began active enforcement of that statewide limit on November 10, 1942. The restriction was intended as part of home‑front measures to conserve fuel and tires during World War II; Utah Highway Patrol records note the specific start date for citation and patrol activity under the new rule. Motorists suddenly found the lower ceiling enforced across state roads, a visible example of how domestic transportation policy was adapted to resource constraints during the war years.

2007 – MINI Clubman Goes On Sale in the UK

BMW Group opened dealerships in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2007 to sell the new MINI Clubman, making the stretched, five‑door variant of the modern MINI range available to British buyers that Saturday. Company press material dated that day emphasizes the model’s longer wheelbase, split rear doors and increased practicality compared with the standard three‑door hatch, positioning the Clubman as the family‑friendly companion to the icon. Dealer availability beginning on that date marked the Clubman’s formal market introduction in the UK and the start of its nationwide customer deliveries.