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January 2, 1974 – E.L. Cord, transportation empire owner, dies
2Jan By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

January 2, 1974 – E.L. Cord, transportation empire owner, dies

E.L. Cord with an Auburn automobile. Courtesy of Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. Errett Lobban Cord, better known as E. L., began his automotive career as a race car driver, mechanic and car salesman. He would go on to create an automotive empire that including ownership of some of the most luxurious American car brands in the 1920s and 1930s, Auburn and Duesenberg. During that time he also founded Cord, a vehicle among the most mechanically unique to come out of the era. Throughout this life he'd also hold roles as entertainment executive and state law maker. His career and life came to an end when he died from cancer on this day in 1974 at age 79. E.L. Cord with a Cord 810 E.L. Cord buys Auburn Automobile Company Born in Missouri in 1894, Cord became a jack of all trades ty...
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December 25, 1878 – Louis Chevrolet is born
25Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

December 25, 1878 – Louis Chevrolet is born

Louis Chevrolet at right. Louis Chevrolet, namesake to Chevrolet Motor Car Company, was born on this day in 1878 in Switzerland. After immigrating to Paris as a child he became fascinated with bicycle racing and mechanics. He spent his early adulthood working in various mechanics shops before moving to Canada and then New York by 1900. There he found work at the Brooklyn operations of the French car manufacturer de Dion-Bouton, giving him a chance to hone his automobile engineering skills. He would soon discover a passion for driving. Above: Louis Chevrolet: Top: Chevrolet driving a Frontenac The growing sport of automobile racing captured the world's awe, and Chevrolet was no exception. First hired in 1905 by FIAT, two years later he became a driver for Philadelphia based Autoca...
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December 15, 1969 – The last Plymouth Superbird
15Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

December 15, 1969 – The last Plymouth Superbird

The story of the Plymouth Superbird and its development is fairly well-known, so we won't get into heavy details. In brief, it had one job, to dominate NASCAR along with its older sibling, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. While Dodge only had to build 500 Daytonas to be eligible for the 1969 NASCAR season, the sanctioning body changed the rules for 1970 to combat purpose built race cars. For Plymouth, that meant at least 1,920 Superbirds needed to end up on dealer lots to qualify for the track. With a target set, the assembly line churned. Before long workers hit their mark and the last Plymouth Superbird rolled off the assembly line on this day in 1969. Check out the green car below. An ad for a 1970 Plymouth Superbird When all's said and done, somewhere between 1,969 and 1,982 ...
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December 7, 1928 – Hot rodder & racer Mickey Thompson is born
7Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

December 7, 1928 – Hot rodder & racer Mickey Thompson is born

Marion Lee "Mickey" Thompson, born on this day in 1928, set more automotive endurance and speed records during his life than any person before or since. Among those feats: becoming the first American to travel 400 miles per hour on the ground. His journey to 400 mph begins in his native California, where he worked for the Los Angeles Times. During his time as a pressman in his early 20s, a new fad took over the SoCal streets: hot rods. Mickey became infatuated with them and speed. Mickey was a active participant in the new sport, but not just from behind the steering wheel. He wrenched tirelessly to make his cars unbeatable. Mickey even had an oath to speed, exclaiming, "I hereby solemnly swear, to stand on the gas and leave all others in my dust, undisputed, forever, until the end...
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Classic Car Job: Gunther Werks
1Dec By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Classic Car Jobs, Features

Classic Car Job: Gunther Werks

Gunther Werks is an automotive restoration company who currently remaster the Porsche 993 and turn it into a modern and respectful homage of the Porsche 993’s iconic heritage from a quarter century ago. Based in Huntington Beach, California, Gunther Werks designs, develops, and delivers the ultimate air-cooled Porsche experience. Employing modern procedures for materials and race-bred components, Gunther Werks specializes in performance restorations of the iconic Porsche 993. Regarded by many as the pinnacle of the 911®, the team at Gunther Werks has worked tirelessly to retain the driving experience offered by the original car, while evolving its DNA. The company name is inspired by Günther F. Wendt, a German American mechanical engineer with a background working in NASA’s Merc...
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11 Affordable Modern Classic Cars to Buy Now
28Nov By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features

11 Affordable Modern Classic Cars to Buy Now

Not all cool cars wear collector vehicle license plates, at least not yet anyway. While many people complain modern automakers don't build anything interesting anymore, go browse Craigslist for rides between 10 and 25 years old and a change of heart is sure to occur. Whether chasing a unique driving experience, gorgeous lines, rarity, or other interesting automotive traits, snapping up these modern classic cars up will bring joy for years and years. Looking cool behind the wheel of these rides isn't the only perk or ownership. There are many benefits to purchasing a modern classic. For example, finding parts generally won't be a challenge. And forget about having to learn old school driving techniques (using two feet to make sure the engine doesn't die while coming to a stop, anyone?)....
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Tune Up Your Closet with Car Clothes and Support This Day in Automotive History
15Nov By Brian Corey10 Comments
Features

Tune Up Your Closet with Car Clothes and Support This Day in Automotive History

Are you looking for the perfect gift to give the car guy, car gal or car kid in your life? Check out these automotive apparel designs! Use code CARS at checkout for 15% off! Get them here: https://bit.ly/3DAeq1D https://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1Dhttps://bit.ly/3DAeq1D These classic car shirts, truck shirts and other car apparel designs are available in men's, women's and kids sizes, all in a variety of colors. Be sure to visit the car shirt store to see everything that's available. These car shirts are perfect for Christmas, birthdays, graduation, Father's Day and other holidays. If you know a...
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October 15, 1924 – Lee Iacocca is born
15Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

October 15, 1924 – Lee Iacocca is born

On this day in 1924 Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca was born. He would become one of the most influential men in modern American automotive history. In his career he would achieve many incredible feats throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s at Ford and Chrysler.  Due to a childhood illness, Lee was barred from service during WWII. Though this may have saved his life, Lee recalled wanting nothing more than to fly a bomber over Nazi Germany. Unable to join the fight, Lee took the opportunity to study engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He would later attend Princeton before joining Ford’s own educational engineering program. Following his graduation from the Ford institution he became an engineer with the company. He soon found a better fit in sales and marketing afte...
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Getting to Know Bogi, the Newest Member of Garage Squad
11Oct By Automotive History2 Comments
Features

Getting to Know Bogi, the Newest Member of Garage Squad

In the late 1990s, when most kids were driving their parents’ old minivan to high school, 16-year-old Sarah Lateiner cruised around her New York suburb in a classic Volkswagen Beetle. Though her folks may have preferred a car a bit more reliable, or at least something that didn’t have holes in the floor, they weren’t the type to dissuade their daughter from trying new, or in this case, old things. And while it literally snowed inside the car each winter, Lateiner couldn’t help but become infatuated with her old VW. Not having grown up around cars, she turned to local auto shops for assistance to keep it on the road. Her rather demeaning experiences in those garages, ones she says many women can relate to, would ultimately change the course of her life. Instead of relying on prying ...
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September 30, 1955 – James Dean dies driving Porsche 550 Spyder
30Sep By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

September 30, 1955 – James Dean dies driving Porsche 550 Spyder

Actor James Dean had just finished filming the movie Giant and was ready to get back to the action on the racetrack. During production of the movie, Warner Bros. barred Dean from pursuing a new passion, racing. The fear, of course, was injury, or worse, death. Unfortunately, Dean would not make it to the track before fate had its way. On this day in 1955, at the age 0f 24, James Dean was killed behind the wheel of his new Porsche 550 Spyder, en route to the Salinas Road Race.  Dean driving a Porsche 356 Dean, who starred in such movies as East of Eden, Giant and Rebel Without a Cause, took an interest in auto racing in 1954. His first professional race would come at Palm Springs Road Races, held March 26-27, 1955. The young driver's were on full display, taking first place in t...
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