1903 – Packard Opens Its Detroit Automotive Plant
On September 22, 1903, the Packard Motor Car Company threw open the doors to its new manufacturing complex on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit — the Packard Automotive Plant. Designed by Albert Kahn, the factory began as a purpose-built home for Packard’s high-quality luxury automobiles and was enlarged through 1911 as production grew; its brick-and-mortar presence became the company’s principal production facility. Built to support hand-assembled, upscale cars rather than mass-market volume, the complex embodied early-20th-century industrial design focused on light, open shop floors and durable construction. The plant’s scale and location anchored Packard in Detroit as it moved from its earlier operations to a long-term manufacturing base.
1928 – Eric Broadley, Future Founder of Lola Cars, Is Born
Born on 22 September 1928, Eric Harrison Broadley trained as an architect before turning his attention to racing-car design and, in 1958, founding Lola Cars. Broadley’s background in architectural thinking informed his approach to lightweight structures and chassis design; over the following decades he became renowned as a chief designer who could produce competitive single-seaters and sports cars on modest budgets. His name is tied to numerous race-winning chassis in junior formulas and sports-car series, and his work made Lola a ubiquitous presence in club and professional racing until his death on 28 May 2017.
1955 – BMW Unveils the Hand-Built 507 Roadster in Frankfurt
At the 1955 International Motor Show in Frankfurt on 22 September, BMW presented the striking 507 — a hand-built, V8-powered two-seater that immediately caught the eye of the press. The 507 combined clean, sensual coachwork with a compact V8 and a chassis set up for roadster sportiness; BMW positioned it as a halo model to showcase design and engineering prowess. Only small numbers were planned because each car required significant handcrafting, and the 507’s appearance signaled BMW’s postwar ambitions to build not just practical cars but vehicles with genuine sporting and stylistic appeal.
1955 – MG Debuts the MGA at the Frankfurt Show
The MG A — commonly written as the MGA — made its public debut at the 37th International Motor Show in Frankfurt, whose doors opened on 22 September 1955. The new roadster presented a clean-sheet styling break from MG’s prewar look, featuring lower, more aerodynamic bodywork and a modern platform that aimed to improve handling and high-speed stability. Contemporary accounts from the show noted the MGA among the most significant British introductions, and MG’s decision to unveil the model at Frankfurt emphasized the carmaker’s intent to appeal to export markets and international buyers with a fresh sporting image.
1989 – Chrysler Reduces Its Stake in Mitsubishi Motors
On September 22, 1989, Chrysler announced it had sold roughly 45–50% of its interest in Mitsubishi Motors, a move that generated an after-tax gain of about $310 million for Chrysler. The transaction cut Chrysler’s equity position in the Japanese automaker and was reported in major news outlets that same day. For Chrysler, the sale formed part of a corporate restructuring of investments in overseas partnerships; for Mitsubishi, it altered the ownership makeup among its international partners. The deal was notable for the scale of the stake involved and the sizeable accounting gain recorded by Chrysler.
