This Month in Automotive History

August 1

1941 The Birth of the Jeep
Parade magazine called it "...the Army's most intriguing new gadget…a tiny truck which can do practically everything." During World War I, the U.S. Army began looking for a fast, lightweight all-terrain vehicle, but the search did not grow urgent until early 1940. At this time, the Axis powers had begun to score victories in Europe and Northern Africa, intensifying the Allies’ need for an all-terrain vehicle. The U.S. Army issued a challenge to automotive companies, requesting a working prototype, fit to army specifications, in just forty-nine days. Willy’s Truck Company was the first to successfully answer the Army’s call, and the new little truck was christened “the Jeep.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower said that America could not have won World War II without it. Parade was so enthusiastic about the Jeep, that, on this day, it devoted three full pages to a feature on the vehicle.

August 2

1903 First Cross-Country Trek
The first cross-country auto trip, from New York City to San Francisco, was completed on this day in 1903. The trail was blazed by a Packard, which finished in a mere fifty-two days. Since then, countless Americans have embarked on the cross-country trek, driving from coast to coast.

1910 Licensing New York
The state of New York issued its first license plates on this day in 1910. Massachusetts, the first state in the nation to issue plates, had been doing so since 1893, when it introduced iron plates with the registration number etched on top. The current New York plate, which features the Statue of Liberty, has been in use since 1986.

1987 Fastest Race in History
This fateful day in 1987 witnessed the fastest race in Indy car history, when Michael Andretti won the Marlboro 500 at the Michigan International Speedway with an average speed of 171.490 miles per hour. Andretti broke the record previously set by Bobby Rahal at 170.722 miles per hour. Incidentally, one of the drivers that Andretti sped past on that day was his father and fellow driver, Mario Andretti.

August 3

1900 Firestone Founded
The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company was established in Akron, Ohio, on this day in 1900. Thirty-one-year-old inventor and entrepreneur Harvey S. Firestone seized on a new way of making carriage tires and began production with only twelve employees. Eight years later, Firestone tires were chosen by Henry Ford for the Model T, and Firestone eventually became a household name.

August 4

1898 Packard’s Joyride
On a visit to the Winton plant with his brother James, William D. Packard was taken for a test-drive in one of the company’s vehicles, accompanied by George L. Weiss, a Winton executive. Packard ended up purchasing the Winton, to his later regret. The Packards’ disappointing experience with the Winton prompted them to build their own car and establish the Ohio Automobile Company in 1900, which would later become the Packard Motor Company.

August 5

1882 A Giant is Born
The Standard Oil Company of New Jersey was established on this day as part of the giant Standard Oil Trust. The trust had been organized earlier in the year, bringing together John D. Rockefeller’s oil empire under one central management, run by Rockefeller and an “inner circle.” The Standard Oil Trust became the first great monopoly in American history, eventually acquiring ninety percent of the world’s oil refining capacity before it was ordered to dissolve in 1892. Rockefeller was infamous for his ruthless business tactics, and it was rumored that he often threatened to put local merchants out of business unless they bought Standard Oil.

1914 Red Light, Green Light
The first traffic light was installed at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Early roads, shared by horses, cars, and streetcars, were chaotic. As accidents and traffic increased it became apparent that some rules of the road were required. The traffic light was only one of several improvements to arrive in this period--the traffic island was introduced in 1907, dividing lines appeared in 1911, and the “No left turn” sign debuted in 1916.

August 6

1959 Corvair Makes its Debut
The Chevrolet Corporation registered the Corvair name for its new rear-engine compact car on this day in 1959. Corvairs became quite controversial--people either loved them or hated them. The car was accused of being “unsafe at any speed,” with much criticism directed toward its handling, even though a 1972 government study later exonerated the Corvair. Today, the Corvair is considered rare and collectable and has been called one of the most significant cars in automotive history.

1932 Patent for Pop Culture Classic
Richard Hollingshead, Jr., first registered his patent for the drive-in movie theater on this day. Tired of ordinary movie houses, Hollingshead wanted to create a theater where parents could bring the children in their pajamas, avoid baby-sitters, and relax in the comfort of their own car while watching a Friday night film. Hollingshead was awarded the patent in May of the following year, though it was declared invalid in 1950. After the patent was revoked, thousands of drive-ins appeared on the American landscape, reaching a high of 4,063 in 1958.

1991 Peugeot Says Au Revoir to U.S.
Peugeot SA announced its withdrawal from the United States market, due to lagging sales. The major French automotive manufacturer and holding company has been in existence since 1896 and is presently headquartered in Paris.

August 7

1915 The 100-mph Man
Driving a Peugeot, Dario Resta broke the 100 mph speed barrier on this day. He broke the record while winning the 100-mil e Chicago Cup Challenge Race at the Maywood Board Speedway in Chicago. At an average of 101.86 mph, this was the first ti me that such speeds had been attained for a race of this length in the U.S.

August 8

1907 Ghost Trial
The Rolls Royce Silver Ghost passed its 15,000-mile official trial with flying colors, showing off its seven-liter engine and four-speed overdrive gearbox. It was this trial that made “the Ghost’s” reputation and gave the Rolls Royce the name “The Best Car in the World.” A total of 6,173 Silver Ghosts were produced.

August 9

1901 The First Rally Race
The first rally race in Ireland, sponsored by the Irish Automobile Club, was held on this day as twelve automobiles attempted an organized journey from Dublin to Waterford. A rally takes place over a specified public route with a driver and navigator straining to maintain a breakneck pace from checkpoint to checkpoint. The course is generally kept secret until the race begins. Rally racing became extremely popular after World War II, and weekend rallies became common worldwide. The longest rally took place in 1977, spreading over 19,239 miles from London to Sydney.

1962 Satisfaction Guaranteed
The Chrysler Corporation set an industry milestone by announcing for 1963 a five-year, 50,000-mile warranty covering all of its cars and trucks.

August 10

1907 The Greatest Automobile Race in History
Stretching 8,000 miles, this Peking-to-Paris race lasted for sixty-two days, and was won on this day by Prince Borghese of Italy. Driving like a madman across Asia and Europe, the prince encountered brush fire, got stuck in a swamp, and was pulled over by a policeman in Belgium. The policeman refused to believe that the prince was racing, rather than merely speeding.

1897 The Oldest Automobile Club
The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, later known as the Royal Automobile Club, was founded on this day by C. Harrington Moore and Frederick R. Simms. Automobile clubs began as social clubs for people with an interest in motoring and motor racing, born in a time when cars were mainly for the rich. They later evolved into service clubs that could provide emergency road service, travel planning, and insurance. Many auto clubs still exist today and continue to sponsor motor sport competitions.

August 11

1966 The Camaro’s Debut
The first Chevy Camaro drove out of the manufacturing plant in Norwood, Ohio, on this day in 1966. The 1967 Camaro coupe was named just weeks before production; General Manager Elliot Estes, when publicly announcing the name, quipped, “I went into a closet, shut the door and came out with the name.” Camaro is actually French for “comrade, pal, or chum.” The Camaro was a hit with the public, sporting a base price of only $2,466 for a six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission.

1871 Another Studebaker
Clement Studebaker, Jr., was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Clement Studebaker, Sr., founder of Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company. The company was founded by the Studebaker brothers and became the largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles. The company began dabbling in automotive production in 1897 and soon grew to become a leader in the industry. Clement Studebaker, Jr., would eventually join the family business.

1965 Bronco Introduced
The Ford Bronco, intended to compete against Jeep’s CJ-5 and International Harvester’s Scout, was introduced on this day, feeding the burgeoning four-wheel-drive market. The first Broncos were very simple, without options such as power steering or automatic transmission. The classic Bronco was manufactured for twelve years, with 18,000 produced in 1966 alone.

August 12

1908 Ford’s Affordable Revolution
Henry Ford’s first Model T, affectionately known as the “tin Lizzy,” rolled off the assembly line in Detroit, Michigan. The Model T revolutionized the automotive industry by providing an affordable, reliable car for the average American. Prior to the invention of the Model T, most automobiles were viewed as playthings of the rich. Ford was able to keep the price down by retaining control of all raw materials, as well as his use of new mass production methods. When it was first introduced, the “tin Lizzy” cost only $850 and seated two people. Though the price fluctuated in the years to come, dipping as low as $290 in 1924, few other changes were ever made to the Model T. Electric lights were introduced in 1915, and an electric starter was introduced as an option in 1919. Eventually, the Model T’s design stagnancy cost it its competitive edge, and Ford stopped manufacturing the “tin Lizzy” in 1927.

1901 Driving up the Mountain
Charles A. Yont and W.B. Felker completed the first automobile trip to the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado, on this day, driving an 1899 locomobile steamer. Climbing 14,110 feet to the top was quite a feat for the little steamer. Pikes Peak is well known because of its commanding location and easy accessibility, and the view from the summit is said to have inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” Today, an ascent to the top is made easy by a graded toll road.

1963 New Line of Thunderbirds
The first 1964 Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line on this day. Originally conceived as Ford’s answer to the Corvette, the Thunderbird has enjoyed an illustrious place among American cars. It was promoted as a “personal” car rather than a sports car, never having to compete against imports, which dominated the sports car market, and so experienced enormous success. The car’s name was eventually shortened to “T-bird,” as mentioned in the famous Beach Boys song, “I Get Around.”

August 13

1907 “Oh, Taxi!”
The first taxicab took to the streets of New York City on this day, marking the beginning of the love-hate relationship between New Yorkers and their cabbies. Motorized taxicabs had actually begun appearing on the streets of Europe in the late 1890s, and their development closely mirrors that of the automobile. The taxi is named after the taximeter, a device that automatically records the distance traveled or time consumed and is used to calculate the fare. The term cab originated from the cabriolet, a one-horse carriage let out for hire.

1898 Packard’s Lemon
After a visit to the Winton plant with his brother William, James W. Packard purchased a Winton automobile #12. However, the car turned out to be a poor purchase, and dissatisfaction with it would prompt Packard to build his own car and found the Packard Motor Car Company. Packard Motor Car Co. would later be acquired by Studebaker, and lagging sales eventually led to the discontinuation of the Packard in 1958.

August 14

1893 First License Plates
On this day, the world’s first automobile license plates were issued in Paris, France. However, plates were not issued in the United States for a few more years, when they were finally instituted as a safety measure. The city of Boston was the first to require its motorists to hold a license and register their vehicle--the owner would make his own plate with the corresponding registration numbers. The rest of Massachusetts soon followed the trend and began issuing registration plates made of iron and covered with a porcelain enamel.

1912 Double-decker Debut
The first double-decker bus appeared on the streets of New York on this day, travelling up and down Broadway. The double-decker originated in London as a two-story horse-drawn omnibus--anxious passengers clambered onto the roof of the omnibus during rush hour. The vehicles eventually added roof seating. Two-story buses can still be seen in the Big Apple, usually carrying a busload of tourists.

1935 Last Phantom I
Mrs. M.S. Morrow of Whitestone, New York, had the last U.S.-built Rolls Royce Phantom I delivered to her home on this day. Manufactured at the Rolls-Royce plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, the U.S.-built Phantom I made its debut one year after its British counterpart. It featured elegant proportions and well-engineered coachwork, suitable for the successor of the Silver Ghost--the model that earned Rolls Royce a reputation as “the best car in the world.” A total of 1,241 Phantoms were produced.

August 15

1947 Ferrari’s Debut
The Ferrari made its racing debut in Pescara, Italy, placing second. This speedy debut should have come as no surprise, for Enzo Ferrari had been a race car driver before forming Ferrari. Although his racing stable, Scuderia Ferrari, remained Alfa Romeo’s official racing team, Ferrari began building his own cars after World War II. Ferrari soon acquired a reputation for speed and quality and went on to win many Grand Prix races.

1899 Ford Exits Edison
Henry Ford resigned as chief engineer at the main Detroit Edison Company plant in order to concentrate on automobile production. On call at all times, Ford had no regular hours and could experiment in his free time. His tinkering was fruitful, for he completed his first horseless carriage by 1896. After turning to automobiles full time, he would revolutionize the automotive industry with the Model T, also known as the “tin Lizzy.”

August 16

1937 Harvard Traffic School
Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, became the first school to institute graduate study courses in traffic engineering and administration.

August 17

1890 Birth of an Inventor
Ralph R. Teetor, inventor of the cruise control, was born in Hagerstown, Indiana, on this day in 1890. A mechanical engineer with a degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Teetor began working at the Light Inspection Car Company. This family business eventually evolved into the Perfect Circle Company, of which Teetor became president. Teetor had a knack for invention and continued to work on new ideas after his retirement. His accomplishments are even more remarkable because he was blinded at the age of six, but never let his handicap keep him from his dream of becoming an inventor.

1909 On the Map
Andrew McNally III, an executive with Rand McNally & Co., was born in Chicago on this day. Rand McNally & Co. is the oldest map publisher in the country. Aside from atlases, reference guides, and textbooks, Rand McNally also published the first road guide for the automobile. At the turn of the century, many roads were unmarked and hard to follow, but the road map and highway system changed all that.

1915 A Real Self-Starter
Charles F. Kettering of Detroit, Michigan, patented the electric automobile self-starter on this day. Kettering, along with Edward A. Deeds, founded Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company). Kettering and his company invented countless improvements for the automobile, including lighting and ignition systems, lacquer finishes, antilock fuels, and leaded gasoline. The Cadillac was the first car to use the electric starter, and Delco would later become a subsidiary of General Motors. Incidentally, before he started working on cars, Kettering also invented the first electric cash register.

August 18

1937 I Love What You Do For Me
The Toyota Motor Company, Ltd., began as a division of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, was established on this day. The company underwent huge expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, exporting its smaller, more fuel-efficient cars to countless foreign markets. During this period, Toyota also acquired Hino Motors, Ltd., Nippondenso Company, Ltd., and Daihitsu Motor Company Ltd. Toyota has been Japan’s largest automobile manufacturer for several decades.

1905 Mark of Elegance
Newell S. Wright, an attorney, filed to register the Cadillac crest as a trademark. The insignia has adorned Cadillac’s luxury car for almost a century.

1940 Death of a Tycoon
Walter P. Chrysler, the American auto tycoon, died on this day. Chrysler began his love affair with mechanics as an apprentice in a railroad machine shop, and soon worked his way up to plant manager for the American Locomotive Company. He later went on to become president of the Buick Motor Company, making it the strongest division of General Motors. In 1919, Chrysler resigned from General Motors to take control of the Maxwell Motor Company, which became the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. The new company, featuring a car that Chrysler designed, was soon a success. Today, the Chrysler Company owns Dodge and Plymouth, and is one of the “Big Three” in the American automotive industry.

August 19

1934 Soap Box Racers
The first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, Ohio, on this day. The event was organized by newsman Myron Scott, who covered a race of boy-built cars and was so impressed that he began a similar program on a national scale. The event was moved to Akron because of its appropriately hilly terrain, and WPA money funded the construction of the official Derby Downs track. To this day, kids from the United States and several foreign countries arrive in Akron each year with their home-built racers. Boys and girls, ages nine through sixteen, are allowed to compete.

1927 Last Model T
Henry and Edsel Ford drove the fifteen millionth Model T off the assembly line at the Highland Park plant in Michigan, officially ending Model T production. Production in England ended on August 19; in Ireland on December 31. After revolutionizing the automobile market, sales of the Model T had started to falter due to its failure to keep up with the competition. Total world Model T production: 15,458,781.

1958 End of the Packard
The production of the elegant Packard line came to a halt on this day. Studebaker-Packard attributed the decision to lagging luxury car sales, but many Packard fans were disgruntled by the decision, which came shortly after Packard’s acquisition of Studebaker. Many wondered why Packard, with its reputation for high-quality cars and knowledgeable management, would buy the debt-ridden Studebaker Company. Studebaker management assumed the company reins after the merger, not Packard.

August 20

1962 Birth of the T-bird
The first 1963 Ford Thunderbird was produced on this day. Originally conceived as Ford’s answer to the Corvette, the Thunderbird has enjoyed an illustrious place among American cars. It was promoted as a “personal” car rather than a sports car, so it never had to compete against imports and so experienced enormous success. Its name was eventually shortened to “T-bird,” as mentioned in the famous Beach Boys song, “I Get Around.”

August 21

1903 Coast-to-Coast Drive
America’s first transcontinental auto race, stretching from New York City to San Francisco, was completed on this day. The race was finished by Tom Fetch and M.C. Karrup in two Model F Packards, travelling an average of eighty miles per day for fifty-one days. They arrived covered in mud and exhausted. Along the way, the two travelers and their motorcars generated quite a bit of interest as they drove through many rural areas where automobiles were a rare sight. In one instance, a couple of Nebraska farmers, suspicious of the vehicles, threatened Fetch and Karrup with shotguns.

1909 Agony and Ecstasy in Indianapolis
Barney Oldfield broke five world records on this day, pushing his Benz to new speeds on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, the record-breaking feat was marred by tragedy. Three other drivers died on the same track as 20,000 spectators watched in disbelief, and the three-day meet was ended early.

August 22

1902 Presidential Joyride
On this day, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. chief executive to ride in an automobile. His first drive took place in Hartford, Connecticut, adding yet another first to Roosevelt’s presidential accomplishments. He was also the first president to entertain an African-American in the White House. With a reputation for aggressiveness, righteousness, and pride, Roosevelt was not the kind of man to fear uncharted waters; he also wrote almost forty books, cleared the building of the Panama Canal, and won a Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions toward the resolution of the Russo-Japanese War.

1901 The Launch of Luxury
The Cadillac Company, named after eighteenth century French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, founder of the city of Detroit, was established on this day. Henry Leland, a former mechanic and precision machinist, founded the company that would come to be known as the maker of America’s luxury car. The Cadillac reached its height of popularity during the 1950s. The Cadillac Debutante, which debuted at the Waldorf Astoria, was based on the play The Solid Gold Cadillac. Cadillac sales decreased during the 1970s as the American car market experienced an influx of smaller imports, but luxury car sales, Cadillac included, have rebounded in recent years.

1647 Papin’s Birthday
Denis Papin, inventor of the piston steam engine, was born in Blois, France. This British physicist, who also invented the pressure cooker, got the first seedlings of an idea when he noticed the enclosed steam in the cooker raising the lid. Why couldn’t one use steam to drive a piston? Though he never actually constructed an engine, nor had a practical design, his sketches were improved on by others and led to the development of the steam engine.

August 23

1913 Cars and Bears Share Yosemite for First Time
Automobiles were legally allowed to enter Yosemite National Park, California, for the first time on this day, marking a huge change in the national park system. Prior to 1913, most park visitors traveled by train to the park and then took scheduled stagecoach tours. The advent of motor tourism changed the face of Yosemite forever, for it demanded modern, high-quality park roads. The National Park Service’s landscape architects, along with the Bureau of Public Roads, developed a systematic approach to the design and construction of park roads. From the mid-1920s through World War II, a “Golden Age” of park road development flourished as designers attempted to create roads that would “lie lightly on the land.”

1986 Driving for Dollars
Darrell Waltrip became the first racecar driver to earn $7 million, making him the best-paid driver in NASCAR. Waltrip got his start in a go-cart at age twelve, and four years later made his way into the cockpit of a stockcar. He became involved in dirt racing and pavement competition, and eventually reached the NASCAR Winston Cup in 1972. He would go on to win the Winston Cup three times. Waltrip has also been named American Driver of the Year, National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year, and Auto Racing Digest Driver of the Year.

1922 A Magical Car
A twenty-three-litre car named “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” won the first Southsea (England) Speed Carnival in 1922, driven by Count Louis Zborowski at 73.1 miles per hour. The name “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” reappeared in Ian Fleming’s book about a magical car, and again in the 1968 movie of the same name starring Dick Van Dyke.

August 24

1832 Efficiency Expert Dies
Nicolas Carnot, a pioneer in the development of the internal combustion engine, died in Paris at age thirty-six. The import of advanced British engines dismayed Carnot, for he saw how far behind French design had fallen. However, his own work would change that. He would go on to develop the Carnot cycle and Carnot efficiency, improving the efficiency of all types of engines.

1967 Death of an Industrialist
The famous industrialist Henry J. Kaiser passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of eighty-five on this day. Along with a construction company, a shipyard, an aircraft company, and an aluminum manufacturing plant, Kaiser owned an automobile company. Co-founded with Joseph W. Frazer in 1945, the company produced only a few models before production was ceased in 1954.

August 25

1921 Auto-inspired Art
Six-Cylinder Love, the first full-length play based on the motor car, opened at the Sam H. Harris Theatre in New York City. The play traces a family’s purchase of an expensive car and their resulting woes. A silent film version of the play was produced in 1923, and a talkie starring Spencer Tracy followed in 1931.

1910 Birth of the Yellow Cab
Walden W. Shaw and John D. Hertz formed the Walden W. Shaw Livery Company, which later became the Yellow Cab Company. In 1907 the Shaw Livery Company purchased a number of small taxicabs equipped with meters. The first yellow cab (the Model J) hit the streets in 1915, and its distinctive color became the company’s trademark. The company was also the first to use automatic windshield wipers, ultrahigh frequency two-way radios, and passenger seat belts.

1954 Hey, Mr. Postman
The United States Postal Service began issuing a Classic Cars booklet of stamps on this day. The special edition stamps, designed by Ken Dallison, featured five different designs: a 1928 Locomobile, a 1929 Pierce-Arrow, a 1931 Cord, a 1932 Packard, and a 1935 Dusenberg.

August 26

1957 Ford’s Ugly Duckling
The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile on this day. The car was named after Henry Ford’s son, Edsel Bryant Ford. 110,847 Edsels were built before the company pulled the plug after three years due to lack of sales and negative press. Ironically, market research conducted just a few years earlier had pointed to the Edsel’s success; consumers had said they wanted more horsepower, tailfins, three-tone paint jobs, and wrap-around windshields. However, by 1957, fickle consumers had changed their mind, and despite a relatively low price, Edsel sales lagged. Today, due to the limited number produced, the Edsel has become a collector’s item.

1940 Last LaSalle
The LaSalle, manufactured by Cadillac, was discontinued after fourteen years of production. Intended to boost profits during a lag in luxury car sales, the LaSalle was a moderately priced alternative to the opulence of the Cadillac. The company chose to market the car under a new name so as not to lessen the value of the Cadillac name.

1985 Hello Yugo
The Yugo, manufactured in Yugoslavia, was first introduced to the U.S. market on this day. Originally marketed as a lower-cost alternative, the Yugo quickly became infamous for its poor quality of construction and was the punchline of many jokes.

August 27

1904 A Fine Time
Newport, Rhode Island, imposed the first jail sentence for a speeding violation on this day. This was a harsh sentence in 1904 because traffic laws were still relatively new--the first traffic code wasn’t implemented until 1903, when New York introduced a two-page book of regulations. Early traffic regulations varied drastically from state to state, some having no speed limits at all.

1938 Another Land Speed Record
Captain George Eyston established a new land speed record of 345.49 miles per hour when he sailed over the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in a Rolls-Royce-powered Thunderbolt. The land speed trials have been held every year since 1903, serving as a test of automotive technology and proof of climbing speeds. Captain Eyston’s record was especially memorable, for it was one of the few years that the record was not held by Malcolm Campbell, who dominated the trials for almost thirty years. The current record is held by Richard Noble at 639.803 miles per hour.

August 28

1922 Opening of Monza Circuit
The famous Autodromo, an automobile-racing track, was opened in Monza, Italy, on this day. Set in a busy industrial center along the Lambro River, this track, with its elliptical shape and concrete banked curves, is said to be the fastest in the world.

1921 Fleeting Paragon
Construction of the Paragon Motor Company factory began in Cumberland, Maryland. The company’s production was limited to only four prototypes, and the factory was never completed.

1937 My Toyota
The Toyota Motor Company, Ltd., originally a division of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, became a corporation on this day. The company underwent huge expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, exporting its smaller, more fuel-efficient cars to countless foreign markets. During this period, Toyota also acquired Hino Motors, Ltd., Nippondenso Company Ltd., and Daihitsu Motor Company, Ltd. Toyota has been Japan’s largest automobile manufacturer for several decades and is headquartered in Toyota City, Japan.

August 29

1885 First Motorcycle
The world’s first motorcycle, made by Gottlieb Daimler, was patented on this day. The two-wheeled vehicle gained immense popularity after 1910, when it was used heavily by all branches of the armed forces during World War I. The motorcycle’s popularity lagged during the Great Depression, but came back with a vengeance after World War II and remains popular today. Often associated with a rebellious image, the vehicle is often used for high-speed touring and sport competitions.

1876 Electric Starter Inventor Born
Charles F. Kettering, inventor of the electric starter, was born on this day in Detroit. Kettering, along with Edward A. Deeds, founded Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company). He and his company invented countless improvements for the automobile, including lighting and ignition systems, lacquer finishes, antilock fuels, and leaded gasoline. The Cadillac was the first car to use the electric starter, and Delco would later become a subsidiary of General Motors. Incidentally, Kettering also invented the first electric cash register before he started working on cars.

1898 Before the Blimp
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. was incorporated in Ohio. Originally founded as a rubber company by the Seiberling brothers, the company began manufacturing tires shortly after its establishment. Today, Goodyear makes passenger and industrial tires, in addition to producing rubber, chemical, and plastic products. The company also is well known for its marketing skill--its Goodyear blimp is one of the most recognizable corporate symbols in America.

August 30

1916 Debut of Heaslet Special
Studebaker announced the release of the Heaslet Special, a semi-custom touring car. The car was named in honor of Studebaker’s vice president of engineering, James G. Heaslet.

1945 First Post-War Hudson
A pale green Super Six coupe rolled off the Hudson Company’s assembly line, the first post-World War II car to be produced by the auto manufacturer. Like all other U.S. auto manufacturers, Hudson had halted production of civilian cars in order to produce armaments during the war. The Super Six boasted the first modern, high-compression L-head motor, though it garnered its name from the original Hudson-manufactured engine produced in 1916. The name stayed, though the engines became more sophisticated.

August 31

1955 Sun Power
The world’s first solar-powered automobile, designed by William G. Cobb, was demonstrated at the General Motors Powerama in Chicago. Today, solar car competitions are held all over the world, pitting design teams against each other in grueling races. However, a mass-produced solar car has yet to hit the market.

1899 Steaming to the Summit
A Stanley Steamer, driven by F.O. Stanley, became the first car to reach the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. F.O. Stanley was one of the Stanley twins, founders of the Stanley Motor Company, which specialized in steam-driven automobiles. The steamers not only climbed mountains, but often beat larger, gasoline-powered cars in races. In 1906, a Stanley Steamer would break the world record for the fastest mile when it reached 127 miles per hour.