Automotive|This Day
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Who Started Chrysler? (April 2, 1875)
After a long stint as a mechanic and machinist who worked his way up in rank in the railroad industry, Walter Chrysler, born on…
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February 19, 1954 – Ford Thunderbird concept is completed
Ford Motor Company knew it needed a response, and fast, when Chevrolet rolled out the Corvette prototype in January 1953. Ford unveiled a plan…
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DRIVERead the story September 27, 1925 – Construction of the Nürburgring begins
On this day in 1925 construction on the Nürburgring racing circuit in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany begins. The first races would take place on June…
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November 27, 1996 – The last Cadillac Fleetwood
The Fleetwood Metal Body was an early 20th century automobile coach builder that specialized in applying traditional methods of carriage construction that dated back…
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February 4, 1913 – Civil rights activist Rosa Parks is born
Rosa Parks, nee McCauley, the “First lady of civil rights,” according to Congress, was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on this day in 1913. While…
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January 20, 1946 – Kaiser Frazer debuts
Following WWII, many entrepreneurs foresaw the need for new commodities, such as houses and automobiles. Successful shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser was one of those…
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DRIVERead the story September 27, 1925 – Construction on Nürburgring racing circuit begins
On this day in 1925 construction on the Nürburgring racing circuit in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany begins. The first races would take place on June…
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February 28, 1975 – AMC Introduces the Pacer
The “first wide small car,” the AMC Pacer, hit showrooms on this day in 1975. Quickly earning the nickname the Flying Fishbowl, the Pacer…
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October 17, 1968 – Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen and a ’68 Mustang, debuts
The film Bullitt debuted on this day in 1968. In brief, I’ll let film critic Roger Ebert explain the plot, using an excerpt from…
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August 13, 1898 – James Packard buys a Winton – dislikes it and starts Packard
On this day in 1898, James Packard purchased a Winton Automobile, the 12th one of the make produced. Packard found himself dissatisfied with his…
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DRIVERead the story July 28 – Locomobile, Watkins Glen Summer Jam & the Bonnie & Clyde Car
In today’s automotive history video lesson for July 28 we discuss GM founder William Durant’s 1922 purchase of Locomobile, the 1924 birth of F1…
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February 29, 1932 – The Kansas City Flash is born
Racing driver Masten Gregory, nicknamed the Kansas City Flash, was born on leap day, February 29,1932 in Kansas City, Missouri. His father ran an…
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DRIVERead the story October 2, 1959 – The Aircooled American
The only mass produced, air cooled rear engined American car was introduced to the public on this day in 1959. The Chevrolet Corvair aimed…
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DRIVERead the story October 1, 1908 – The first Model T leaves the assembly line
An automobile revolution began on this day in 1908 when the first Ford Model T left Ford’s Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. The Ford…
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DRIVERead the story September 26, 1982 – K.I.T.T. hits the silver screen
On this day in 1982 the TV show Knight Rider made its primetime debut, starring a talking 1982 Pontiac Trans Am named K.I.T.T., which…
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September 25, 1725 – The inventor of the automobile is born, and later crashes…
Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, the man credited with building the first known working, self-propelled mechanical vehicle capable of carrying a driver, was born on this day…
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DRIVERead the story September 18, 2004 – BMW releases the 1 Series
To provide a lower cost entry into BMW ownership than the 3 Series Compact, BMW launched the 1 Series in Europe on this day…
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DRIVERead the story September 17, 1909 – GM legend Ed Cole is born
On this day in 1909 GM executive Ed Cole was born in Marne, Michigan. Though the son of a dairy farmer, Cole wasn’t much…