March 18, 1933 – Studebaker goes bankrupt
In 1920, under the presidency of Albert Erskine, Studebaker fully committed to the auto industry after building its last horse drawn wagon, a main product of the company since it was founded more than 60 years prior. Throughout the 1920s Erskine led Studebaker through the acquisition of luxury automaker
March 17, 1948 – Hells Angels MC is founded
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was formed by the Bishop family in Fontana, California on this day in 1948. Composed of members from a number of other area clubs, the Angels name is said to be inspired by WWII fighter pilots and Howard Hughes’ 1930 film “Hell’s Angels” (note
March 16, 1958 – The 50,000,000th Ford
In 1913, just 10 years after Ford Motor Company was founded, the 1,000,000th Ford, a Model T of course, left the assembly line. With the assembly line now in place, production was essentially on cruise control. Minus a few hiccups involving war and model transition, Ford was able to
March 15, 1968 – Construction begins on highest tunnel in the US
At the time of its completion the Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, about 60 miles west of Denver, Colorado, was the world’s highest tunnel with a maximum elevation of 11,158 ft (3,401 m). Construction of the 1.693 mile (2.72 km) tunnel, a part of Interstate 70, broke ground on this day
March 14, 1914 – NASCAR great Lee Petty is born
The patriarch of the Petty racing family, Lee Arnold Petty, was born on this day in 1914. Petty got a late start in racing, first taking the wheel in professional competition at age 35. Soon after getting a taste for the dirt, he participated in the first NASCAR sanctioned
March 13, 1969 – The Love Bug debuts
The Love Bug movie made its official debut on this day in 1969. Starring a pearl white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie, the movie follows the adventures of Jim Douglas (Dean Jones), a racing driver who can’t catch a break. When Jim finds himself in need of a new
March 12, 1831 – Clement Studebaker is born
Clement Studebaker and his older brother Henry founded H&C Studebaker Company in 1852 in South Bend, Indiana to build wagons and provide blacksmithing services. Clement, who was born on this day in 1831, was a skilled blacksmith by age 14 after apprenticing under his father. Henry sold his interest
March 11, 2009 – Toyota announces 1 millionth hybrid sale
Toyota, standing tall behind the Prius, was the first company to mass produce a hybrid vehicle that was successful in the United States. The Prius launched in Japan in October 1997 and made its way to America by July 2000, and over the next few years the company would