May 11, 1978 – 2 millionth Camaro is built
Depending on who you ask, Camaro could be a French word for friendship, or an animal that eats Mustangs. The most likely meaning behind the name? A typo, or possibly French slang. Keeping in line with other C-names of the era, such as Chevelle, Corvette and Corvair, Chevrolet suits
May 10, 2012 – Carroll Shelby dies
The automotive world lost a giant on this day in 2012 when Carroll Hall Shelby passed away at the age of 89 in Dallas, Texas. Shelby is best known for his role in the creation of the Shelby AC Cobra and the Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s, but his
May 9, 1980 – Skyway Bridge disaster
The original Sunshine Skyway bridge, spanning more than four miles between St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia opened in 1956 as a two lane road. In 1971 a second section was opened, bringing the lane count to four. For many, it was a thing of engineering beauty, for ship
May 8, 1956 – HFII resigns as Ford Foundation chairman
The Ford Foundation was founded in 1936 with a mission statement that claimed it was created “for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare.” On this day in 1956 Henry Ford II resigned as its chairman. Until the founding of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Dusty & Rusty – 1965 Chevrolet Impala
The Impala name was introduced by Chevrolet for 1958 as top of the line trim package for the Bel Air. The following year it became its own model and thrived as a full full size car through the early 1960s. The Impala was available with numerous options, including an
May 7, 1998 – Daimler-Benz buys Chrysler
On this day in 1998 Daimler-Benz purchased Chrysler Corporation for $36 billion. At the time, the deal was the costliest acquisition of a US company by a foreign buyer. The sale proved to be quite beneficial in the short term, as stock prices rose quickly on the New York
May 6, 1928 – Chrysler announces DeSoto
If you found yourself flipping through the pages of the Detroit Free Press on this day in 1928, you’d likely have read Walter P. Chrysler’s announcement of Chrysler’s upcoming brand DeSoto. The first car’s wouldn’t appear until the following August, but the announcement got the industry buzzing about this
May 6, 1889 – First car in Paris is outshone by Eiffel Tower opening
On this day in 1889, Gottlieb Daimler debuted the first motorcar in Paris, France, at the onset of the Paris World Exhibition. This event is well known for something much bigger, in all senses of the word, attraction — the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower. However, Gottlieb did
