December 31, 1974 – Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan is born
December 31, 2024
Brazilian race car driver Antoine Rizkallah “Tony” Kanaan Filho, better known as Tony Kanaan, was born on this day in
Brian Corey
December 30, 1940 – C. Harold Wills, Ford Model T designer, passes away
December 30, 2024
Despite many claims to fame, most vehicles are not designed by one particular person. It takes a team to bring
December 29, 1991 – Alex Tremulis, designer of Duesenbergs and Subarus, dies
December 29, 2024
Designing a successful, timeless automobile is no simple feat. It takes intuition, future-vision, a steady hand and an incurable desire
December 28, 1994 – Nissan Maxima named Motor Trend Import Car of the Year
December 28, 2024
On this day in 1994, Motor Trend announced its annual Imported Car of the Year winner for the 1995 model
December 27, 1941 – USA begins WWII tire rationing
December 27, 2024
The United States Federal Office of Price Administration (OPA) began its first rationing program to support WWII efforts on this
December 26, 1933 – The beginning of Nissan
December 26, 2024
Nissan can trace its roots back to the first Japanese automaker, Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works. The company’s original three investors
December 25, 1878 – Louis Chevrolet’s birthday
December 25, 2024
Louis Chevrolet, namesake to Chevrolet Motor Car Company, was born on this day in 1878 in Switzerland. After immigrating to
December 24, 1801 – The Puffing Devil
December 24, 2024
British inventor and mining engineer Richard Trevithick introduced a steam powered contraption he named the Puffing Devil on this day
December 23, 1923 – A Rolls-Royce for the president
December 23, 2024
Having a birthday during the holiday season can be difficult for people who fear their special day will be forgotten.
December 22, 1937 – The Lincoln Tunnel opens
December 22, 2024
The 8,216 foot long Lincoln Tunnel, passing underneath the Hudson River between New York City and Weehawken, New Jersey, opened
December 21, 1620 – Pilgrims land at what is now Plymouth, MA, named after a car company formed 300 years later
December 21, 2024
In the vast landscape of the global auto industry, the names of car companies often carry a rich tapestry of
December 20, 1989 – Roger & Me Debuts
December 20, 2024
Amid record profits in the 1980s, a series of decisions approved by General Motors CEO Roger Smith led to the
December 19, 1972 – The final Lunar Roving Vehicle is left on the moon
December 19, 2024
The final manned mission to the moon, Apollo 17, began its journey home on this day in 1972, leaving behind
December 18, 2009 – GM announces it will shut down Saab
December 18, 2024
Saab, originally an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aeroplane Corporation), was founded in 1937 in Trollhättan, Sweden, as an
December 17, 1963 – Passing of the Clean Air Act
December 17, 2024
US Congress enacted the Clean Air Act of 1963 on this day in 1963, providing a range of guidelines to
December 16, 1982 – Colin Chapman, Lotus founder, dies
December 16, 2024
Colin Chapman, English engineer, automotive designer and founder of Lotus Cars, passed away on this day in 1982 at age
December 15, 1969 – The last Plymouth Superbird
December 15, 2024
The story of the Plymouth Superbird and its development is fairly well-known, so we won’t get into heavy details. In
December 14, 1987 – AMC Eagle production ends
December 14, 2024
The history of American Motors Corporation (AMC) begins with the 1954 merger of Nash and Hudson and ends with its
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This Day in Automotive History - the book!
This Day In Automotive History
By Brian Corey
This book tells fascinating tales, bringing individual days to life with short stories, photographs and illustrations.
This Day in Automotive History
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