April 20, 2008 – Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win IndyCar race
April 20, 2022
When the checkered flag flew at the Indy Japan 300 on this day in 2008 Danica Patrick was the first
This Day
April 18, 1979 – British racer Anthony Davidson is born
April 18, 2022
Anthony Denis Davidson, a championship racecar driver from England, was born on this day in 1979. Davidson’s career began in
April 15, 1975 – IndyCar racer Paul Dana is born
April 15, 2022
IndyCar racer Paul Dana was born on this day in 1975 in St. Louis Missouri. Before Paul became a racecar
April 13, 1931 – American racing great Dan Gurney is born
April 13, 2022
On this day in 1931 American race car driver Daniel Sexton Gurney was born in Port Jefferson, New York. Gurney
April 11, 1888 – Henry Ford marries Clara Bryant
April 11, 2022
Clara Jane Bryant and Henry Ford tied the knot on this day in 1888, Clara’s 22nd birthday. The ceremony took
April 6, 1853 – Emil Jellinek is born, later takes the name of his daughter Mercedes
April 6, 2022
Emil Jellinek may not ring any bells at first, but add Mercedes to the end and it sure does. Born
April 5, 1940 – The Buick Y-Job makes its press debut
April 5, 2022
Largely considered the first industry concept car, the Buick Y-Job racked up many miles before finally debuting to the media
April 4, 1996 – Jaguar introduces the XK8
April 4, 2022
Jaguar introduced a new kitten to their litter on this day in 1996 at the New York Auto Show. The
April 3, 1885 – The internal combustion engine is patented
April 3, 2022
In the early 1880s, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach started developing what would become known as the Grandfather clock engine,
April 2, 1956 – Alfred P. Sloan, GM chairman, retires
April 2, 2022
Alfred P. Sloan proved that even MIT graduates have a hard time finding work. After receiving his diploma in 1895,
April 1, 1970 – AMC introduces the Gremlin
April 1, 2022
After Ford and General Motors announced they were both on the verge of launching new subcompact cars for 1971, the
March 31, 1932 – Ford introduces the Flathead V8
March 31, 2022
The Ford Flathead V8 was unveiled to the general public on this day in 1932. While the V8 itself was
March 30, 1968 – Mid Engine Corvette prototype debuts
March 30, 2022
On this day in 1968 the annual New York International Auto Show opened its doors to the public. Among the
March 28, 1966 – Duesenberg Model D concept unveiled
March 28, 2022
There have been many attempts to resurrect some of the automotive industry’s most storied marques lost to history. Bugatti, Maybach
March 27, 1863 – Henry Royce, half of Rolls-Royce, is born
March 27, 2022
Henry Royce, born on this day in 1863, began his career in the 1870s a newspaper boy and telegram deliverer.
March 26, 2008 – Ford sells Jaguar & Land Rover
March 26, 2022
On this day in 2006, Ford named Tata Motors, a part of conglomerate Tata Group, as the preferred bidder to
March 23, 1957 – Chevrolet Corvette SS makes only racing appearance
March 23, 2022
Although Chevrolet Corvette sales began to climb after the introduction of a V8 option in 1955, GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov
March 21, 1920- NASCAR pioneer Fonty Flock is born
March 21, 2022
Truman Fontello “Fonty” Flock, brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock, Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley,
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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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