Cruise Night
Cruise nights, Coffee & Cars, car shows, whatever you want to call it, this author loves it. As an admirer of most things with wheels (get out of here wheelbarrows), I enjoy few things more than cruising rows of classics, muscle cars and vintage trucks, and whatever else may
September 17, 1909 – GM executive Ed Cole is born
On this day in 1909 General Motors executive Ed Cole was born in Marne, Michigan. The son of a dairy farmer, Cole spent his youth designing, building and selling homemade radios before becoming a field representative for a tractor manufacturing company. His first job in the auto industry was
September 16, 1920 – The first Lincoln automobile
Lincoln Motor Company was originally founded by Henry Leland in 1917 to produce Liberty V12 aircraft engine to assist with World War I efforts. Leland, who was also a founder Cadillac in 1903, was able to fund the company after receiving a $10 million government contract to produce the
September 15, 1909 – Henry Ford loses legal fight of a lifetime, files appeal
It was on this day in 1909 that a court battle between George Selden and Henry Ford that started on October 22, 1903 came to an end…almost. To get to this point, let’s review: George Selden held an 1895 US patent for the gasoline powered automobile. This made him
September 14, 1969 – Dodge Charger Daytona makes NASCAR debut, wins at Talladega
On this day in 1969 the inaugural Talladega 500 was run, despite NASCAR’s biggest names skipping the race. Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Wendell Scott, Buddy Baker and other members of the Professional Driver Association boycotted the event, claiming tire concerns. During Grand National practice at the new
September 13, 1899 – First pedestrian killed by a car in the USA
On this day in 1899 Henry Bliss was exiting a streetcar at West 74th Street and Central Park West in New York City when he was struck by an electric taxicab driven by Arthur Smith. The vehicle crushed Bliss’ head and chest, causing him to die from his injuries
September 12, 1966 – The press meets the Chevrolet Camaro
On this day in 1966 members of the press were invited to a special General Motors event to meet the car that would go head to head with the Ford Mustang. The Chevrolet Camaro had already been rolling off assembly lines since August 11, but this was the first
September 11, 1970 – The Ford Pinto goes on sale
The Ford Pinto was introduced to the masses on this day in 1970, exactly one year to the day Ford’s former president Bunkie Knudsen was fired. The subcompact car was developed to compete with the influx of small cars of the era, particularly imports, but also domestics such as
