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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

The joy of driving is not reserved for those in love with vehicles that qualify for a vintage license plate. While many people complain modern automakers don't build anything interesting, just go browse Craigslist for rides between 10 and 25 years old and a change of heart is sure to occur. Whether someone is chasing a unique driving experience, gorgeous lines, rarity, or some combo of those and other interesting traits, snapping up these modern classic cars up will bring joy for years and years. There are many benefits to purchasing modern classic cars. For example, finding parts generally won't be a challenge. And Forget about having to learn old car driving techniques (using two feet to make sure the engine doesn't die while coming to a stop, anyone?). Of course, there many be a mon...
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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 History1 Comment
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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September 26, 1957 – The Vespa 400 is launched; gets 48 MPGs, is inconvenient
26Sep By Automotive History4 Comments
Features, This Day

September 26, 1957 – The Vespa 400 is launched; gets 48 MPGs, is inconvenient

Vespa 400 French scooter company ACMA introduced the Vespa 400 microcar in Monaco on this day in 1957. Company execs created much fanfare for the launch, as ACMA had invited three celebrity racing drivers to the press event. In its first year more than 12,000 were sold, but that number dropped significantly to 8,717 in 1959. Sales continued to slump until 1961 when popularity fell so far production ceased. Many people believe the fuel efficient, space saving car failed due to the minor inconvenience drivers went through to mix oil with the gasoline when filling up the car’s two stroke engine. You ever see Jerry Seinfeld in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee? It’s really good. Seinfeld owns a bunch of crazy cars. He might even have one of these, I’m not sure, haven’t had a chance to as...
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September 21, 1903 – Preston Tucker is born
21Sep By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

September 21, 1903 – Preston Tucker is born

On this day in 1903 American car designer, engineer and inventor Preston Tucker was born in Capac, Michigan. While best known for the Tucker 48, his legacy in the auto industry has a far greater reach. Tucker got his start in the car business as an office boy for Cadillac before joining the local police force at age 19. As a copper he had his first opportunity to drive high powered police cars and motorcycles, sprouting an interest in automobile development. His mother had him removed from the force after pointing out he was below the agency’s age limit to be an officer. He then took a job managing a gas station and working on the Ford assembly line. His gas station would later become a small Studebaker dealership before again joining the police force. During his last spell as an offi...
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September 16, 1920 – The first Lincoln automobile
16Sep By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Features, This Day

September 16, 1920 – The first Lincoln automobile

Henry Leland founded Lincoln Motor Company in 1917 to produce Liberty V12 aircraft engine for the US involvement in World War I. Leland, who also founded Cadillac in 1903, was able to fund the company after receiving a $10 million government contract to produce the engines. By the time the war concluded, the company's Detroit plant had been the final assembly location of more than 6,500 airplane motors made of parts sourced from Ford, Cadillac, Packard and other automakers. Since their contract ended with the war, Leland and his son planned a transition into building luxury automobiles. While retooling their facility they officially reorganized as an automaker in January of 1920. Just nine months later, on this day in 1920, the first Lincoln automobile, a 1921 Model L, left the factor...
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