1920 – Nils Bohlin, Inventor of the Three-Point Seat Belt, Is Born
Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin was born in Härnösand, Sweden, on July 17, 1920. After working on aircraft ejection-seat systems for Saab, Bohlin joined Volvo as a safety engineer in 1958 and soon developed the modern three-point seat belt. His design combined lap and shoulder restraints into a simple system that could be fastened with one hand while distributing crash forces across the stronger areas of the body. Volvo introduced the belt in production automobiles in 1959 and made the technology available to other manufacturers in the interest of public safety. The three-point belt eventually became standard equipment throughout the automotive industry and remains one of the most important life-saving innovations in transportation history.
1951 – General Motors Previews the Le Sabre Concept Car
General Motors presented its futuristic Le Sabre concept car to the press at the company’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan on July 17, 1951. Created under GM styling chief Harley Earl, the two-seat roadster drew heavily from the rapidly advancing world of jet aviation, incorporating a wraparound windshield, prominent tail fins and a central front intake resembling the nose of an aircraft. Its lightweight body used aluminum, magnesium and fiberglass, while a supercharged 215-cubic-inch V-8 could operate on gasoline and receive additional power from methanol under heavy acceleration. The roadworthy concept also featured advanced technology including heated seats, a rain-activated power top and built-in hydraulic lifting jacks. Although period accounts promoted performance estimates as high as 180 mph, the Le Sabre’s greatest influence came through its styling, which helped shape American automotive design throughout the 1950s.
1985 – Ford Aerostar Production Begins
Ford began production of the Aerostar on July 17, 1985, entering a rapidly growing minivan market that had been transformed by the successful Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Introduced for the 1986 model year, the Aerostar differed from Chrysler’s front-wheel-drive minivans by using a rear-wheel-drive layout and engineering influenced by Ford’s light trucks. Its sloping nose and relatively aerodynamic body helped distinguish it from traditional full-size vans while providing families with flexible passenger and cargo space. Built at Ford’s assembly plant near St. Louis, Missouri, the Aerostar became available in passenger and cargo configurations and later added extended-length models and all-wheel drive. Although the front-wheel-drive Windstar eventually became Ford’s primary family minivan, the Aerostar remained in production through 1997.
1995 – Five-Time Formula One Champion Juan Manuel Fangio Dies
Argentine racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio died in Buenos Aires on July 17, 1995, at the age of 84. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in motorsport history, Fangio dominated the formative years of the Formula One World Championship, winning five drivers’ titles between 1951 and 1957. He achieved championships while racing for Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Maserati, demonstrating an unusual ability to adapt to different cars and teams during one of racing’s most dangerous eras. Fangio won 24 of his 51 Formula One championship starts, a remarkable success rate, and his five-title record stood for 46 years before Michael Schumacher surpassed it in 2003. Known as “El Maestro,” Fangio remained closely connected to the automotive world after retiring and became honorary president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.
2007 – Mercedes-Benz Announces the SLR McLaren Roadster
Mercedes-Benz announced the SLR McLaren Roadster on July 17, 2007, expanding its carbon-fiber supercar line with an open-top companion to the existing coupe. Developed through the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, the Roadster retained the SLR’s long hood, dramatic side-exit exhausts and front-mid-engine layout while adding a lightweight fabric roof designed to preserve the car’s high-speed performance. Its hand-built, supercharged 5.4-liter AMG V-8 produced approximately 617 horsepower, allowing the Roadster to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in about 3.8 seconds and reach a claimed top speed of roughly 206 mph. Despite its extreme performance, the SLR was conceived as a luxurious grand tourer as much as a supercar, combining carbon-fiber construction and Formula One-inspired technology with comfort and refinement.
