Here are your #AutoFactoids for the week up Jan 17, 2016.
Jan 17, 1903 Cadillac introduces its first car at Madison Square Garden
1903 Cadillac
I say ‘car’, some say ‘horseless carriage’. Regardless it was a high-end run-about powered by 1.6 liter, 1 cylinder/2 value engine – producing 6.5 hp to haul around it’s 1300 plus lbs.
Jan 17, 1953 Chevy introduces the Corvette at a Motorama show in NYC
From the 1953 Motorama – Corvette Display
Jan 17, 1956 Ford becomes a public company
They offered 10.2 million shares of stock at $63.00 each – shares opened at $64.50 and closed at $69.50. Today Ford stock is running around $12.00.
Jan 20, 1942 Chevy ceases car production to help support war effort.
As United States as drawn into WWII the Federal government asked the car companies to stop production new cars. The metals and rubber were in short supply and providing the military with these items was the first priority. Most of the car manufacturers retooled to help the war effort. Chevy produced the T-17 Staghound armored scout cars in Flint, Mich. These cars were armed with 37 mm Cannon. Production began in Oct. of 1942 and 3,800 were produced through April 1944.
Jan 21, 1954 Turbo Cruiser Bus produced – the 1st gas turbine engine vehicle
Auto Factoids for the week of Aug 26, 2012. Cadillac Runabout, 1902. 1902 Cadillac Runabout. 1902 Cadillac. 1. Pinned from. Uploaded by user. Pin it. Like.
I seriously like the lines of this car!! Auto Factoids for the Week of Jan 18, 2014 http://wp.me/p2YxYx-3d4. my Mum had one of these in dark green.. this one from …
Here are your Auto Factoids for the end of Nov. 2o15. (Yes only 24 shopping days left!!!)
Nov 30 1960 De Soto ceases production. The last De Soto produced were really the Chrysler Windsor, most did not sale, even though dealerships continued to received cars after the brand was terminated.
1961 Windsor
1961 DeSoto
Nov 30, 1900 Germany patented an automobile front wheel drive. Although this is a common historic fact, there is some evidence that the first production car with front wheel drive was a French car. There exists a French Patent around 1898 or 1899. The manufacturer was Société Parisienne and the car was the Victoria Combination.
It was a lightweight two-seater trailer, known as a ‘Victoria’, combined with the back axle and mechanical components of a motor tricycle, but this axle was placed in front of the trailer and steered by a long tiller on which the controls were located. The first examples were powered by 1.75 or 2.5 horsepower De Dion Bouton engines geared directly to the differential, but larger engines of this make were fitted as they became available.
1900 Victoria Combination
December 1, 1925 GM purchased Vauxhall. Vauxhall started out as engine manufacturer mainly for pumps and marine use (1857 – Alex Wilson). They began making cars in 1903. Here is a video of a 1903 Vauxhall. They are still producing cars using the Opel name under GM.
One more of it on a road test.
Dec 1, 1913 Ford fired up the first “continuous” assembly line. (Olds is considered to be the inventor of the assembly line…maybe.)
Ford’s Production Line
And just one day and 14 years later (Dec 2, 1927) Ford unveiled Models A which would soon be produced from this assembly line. The Model A was announced on May 25, 1927 and sold as 1928 model. Ford sold 607,592 units in 1928, nearly double that of the previous year.
1928 Model A
Thanks for reading
Tim
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Here are your Auto Factoids #AutoFactoids for the beginning of June, 2015. May 31, 1927 – Ford produced the last Model T. There is some debate as to actual date and it’s said that the 15th million Model T rolled off the production line on May 26th, 1927 and the Henry …
Welcome to this weeks Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)!!!!
Back in 1977 on Nov. 15 Ford produced it’s 100,000,000. It was a 1978 Ford Fairmont and rolled out of the Mahwah assembly plant in New Jersey.
1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant
Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)
This car was in fact, a fox body, but gets as much respect as a K-Car.
You can understand why that is when you see it in the 4 door configuration
Now the two door wasn’t too bad – still not great!
But, you know me, I think any two door car can be made to look awesome…..
YES!!!!
AND YES!!!
Back in 1906 the man who started one of the largest global car (and motorcycle) companies was born on Nov 17 in Iwata-gun, Japan:
Soichrio
Another millionth for the month of Nov. Back in 1940 Buick produced 278,784 cars (about 70k more than in 1939) one of those was the 4 millionth Buick and it rolled off the line Nov. 17th.
That car was a Buick Super Coupe like this one:
1940 Buick Super Coupe
I’ve been doing these Auto Factoids for years and this next event never fails to make me scratch my head. Yup it’s the death of the Edsel. Killed by Ford on 11/19/1959 BOO HISS
One of the last Edsels – 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan 🙁
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!! Here is.
Keep up with this and #ProjectSportsRoof – get the feed.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!! Here is why:
Starting right off on the Nov. 1st 1955 Studebaker’s Hawk showed up on the car scene.
They when on sale in 1956 and came in the Flight Hawk, Golden Hawk and Power Hawk and Sky Hawk. As you may know these were tough time for Studebaker/Packard so the Flight, Power and Sky Hawk models were only available in 1956. The power plants for these cars ranged from Studebaker’s old straight 6 cylinder bored and stoked to displace 185 CIDs for the Flight Hawk, and their OHV 259″ V8, which came in a 2bbl and 4bbl configuration (180 HP and 195 HP ) for the Power Hawk to the Sky Hawk’s OHV 289 CID with the Golden Hawk sporting Packard’s 352 CID (5.8 L – V8) that managed to produce 275 BHP. That is pretty good power in fairly light car.
Sky Hawk
Flight Hawk
Golden Hawk
Power Hawk
On Nov. 2, 1935 we have two events.
Cord’s 810 debuted as did the Fords’ (Lincoln’s) Zephyr. Cord 810 was a beautiful and advanced car. It was the first US designed and built front wheel drive car with independent suspension and sported a set of very cool hidden headlights (operated with a crank on the dash-board) – another US first!! It was power by a Lycoming 289 V8 (125HP) and had a 4 speed overdrive transmission.
1935 Cord 810. This is the Sportsmen Convertible
The Zephyr was produced under the Lincoln sub-brand and was powered by 267 cu in (4.4 L) L-Head with 110 HP. It sold 15,000 units in its first with was over 50% of all Lincoln sales for 1936.
1936 Zephyr
Continuing on with Packard Week, on Nov. 5, 1863 John Ward Package was born.
Before building his first automobile in 1899, he successfully operated his own business, Packard Electric
John Ward Packard
On Nov. 6 is a very busy day in Automotive history we have 3 major mile stones.
On this day in Carlo (a.k.a. Karl) Abarth was born in Austria in 1908. He was ultimate gear-headed business man!!! Started out designing bicycle and motorcycle frames in Italy as a teenager for Castanga, then back to Austria and motorcycle racing where he managed to become 5 times European champion. After begin seriously injured in a racing accident he gave up racing, designed a sidecar and started a company with Ferry Porsche (and couple other guys) that was eventually called Cisitalia. They produced the Tipo 360 F1 prototype – which was a flop. Later on he founded the Abarth & C company that eventually produced racing cars with the scorpion logo then moved into the production of performance exhaust now called Abarth. He should the company to Fiat and they named a car after him.
Abarth Race Car
Logo
Edsel Ford was born in 1883 in Detroit, MI on this same day. Often only known for the Edsel sub brand he was instrumental in design and development of the Lincoln as well. But we all love the Edsel.
To finish up Packard Week the first Packard car was test driven on Nov. 6, 1899.
Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the week. Actually, I’ve combined two weeks because I forgot last weeks and this week’s was limited. So let’s start off with the week of the 15th (’cause going in chronological …
Here is your #AutoFactoids and Car News Now for this first full week of September 2015.
Auto Factoids
Sept. 7, 1954 – Production of Ford Thunderbird begins
1955 T-Bird
2002 Thunderbird
Sept. 8, 1903 Preston Tucker was born in Capac, MI.
While dubbed “Tucker Torpedo” during production no ‘Torpedoes’ were produced.
Beautiful Cars!!
Sept. 9, 1935 – Studebaker exports 163 Presidents to England.
These are what were shipped
All Aboard!!
Car News Now (C.N.N.)
Automobile reports that the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S get Turbocharged!!!
That’s the 3.0 liter flat six engine. The twin turbo will produce 379 hp w/ 331 lb-ft fo torque in the Carrera and Carrera S will have 420 hp with 368 lb-ft. That is 20 more horses the current 3.8 liter produces for Porsches.
2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 – smoking hot!!
Car Buzz took a look at Audi’s A8 with Armor – it will be bullet and bomb proof – meeting VR 9 ballistics protection standards.
You are gonna need some extra punch to get these moving so there are two engines available. The are the 4.o liter V8 with 429 hp and a 6.0 liter W12 with 495 hp.
With its world premiere headed for the IAA Frankfurt, the refreshed seventh generation Porsche 911 Carrera (991 series) should represent an epic showcase of efficiency, technological advancement, engine development and design curation. Innovative …
Mercedes-Benz’s next C63 AMG is due in about a year and we have some fresh details on the car straight from the head of AMG. The good news is that the car will continue to offer a V-8 and rear-wheel drive, but this time around it will be turbocharged.
Kaiser-Fraser formed July 26, 1945 – The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was the result of a partnership between automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer and business man Henry J. Kaiser. In 1947, the company acquired the automotive assets of Graham-Paige. Interesting enough, Kaiser had no automotive business experience. In 1953 the company became just Kaiser and a few years later acquired Willy-Overland company.
This how Henry J’s originally appeared
This often how you see them today!!
Studebaker-Packard and Curtis-Wright management agreement on July 27, 1956 – Found this tidbit and wonder if maybe Studebaker/Packard in an attempt save a sinking ship wanted to use Curtis-Wright’s rotor engine.
Nash Motors incorporated on July 29, 1916 – Nash Motor Company as founded by Charles Nash when he purchased a company called Jeffery Company which made a car called the Rambler. I bet you can guess what came eventually American Motors and their Rambler. Shots below are from ones I took at the Good Guys Regional here in AZ
Nash American Rambler
Engine Bay
Great looking interior
The “N”
Buick buys Caddy on July 29, 1909 – In what was the early formation of General Motors, Buick Motor Company purchased Cadillac. Under the tutelage of William C. Durant Cadillac was the only brand that allowed to carry GM’s luxury car title, the others would share platform and be given “economic class” designations.
Henry Ford Born on July 30, 1863 – He was born in Greenfield Township, Michigan. His dad (William) was English, but born in Ireland and his mother (Mary)was born in Michigan. Commonly thought of as inventor of the assembly line, which in truth was Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile fame), but was the first to mass produce affordable cars for the public. He didn’t start out as a car guy, but a farmer and ran a lumber mill. After that he became an engineer for Edison Illumination Company.
July 31, 1911 GM shares go on sale.
CNN – Car News Now
The new 2016 Scion is news. Looking a lot like a Ford the iA and iM are both under $20k. The iA has a 1.5 liter engine with 106 hp and the iM has 1.8 liter power plant with 137 hp. Both have 6 speed transmissions. While under 3ooo lbs (iM just under at 2943lb curb weight) they but down 0-60 number you would expect – 10 seconds and 9.5 seconds respectively.
Scion iM
Have you seen the new Dodge Viper? The ARC is going to top the pricing scale at near $120k. With that you’ll get the V10 power plant and a mere 645 hp.
The ACR
Thanks for reading.
Tim
You can find all the Auto Factoids by search on #AutoFactoids.
Dodge isn’t sitting on its laurels with the two Hellcats in its stable. In fact, the brand is doubling down on speed with the 2016 Viper ACR. ACR stands for American Club Racing, and it means the most extreme Viper built for public roads is slithering …
This is a light week for car history and perfect for introduction the new Expanded Auto Factoids!!!! #AutoFactoids
Same auto history factoids but with C.N.N (Car News Now) and the new Auto Factoids Trivia – (can’t win – if you don’t play).
Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)
Jul 5 1946 – US resumes auto production after WWII -The first new car design after the war was the 1947 Packard, but cars were still being sold (even during the war) but were all warmed over 1942 models. There are varied sources that have different dates for the first cars produced after the war. For instance GM had cars/trucks ready by Aug 1945 (trucks) and new cars Oct of 1946 (really ’42 models with new grills). Ford got the first postwar car into production, and the very first one — a white Super DeLuxe Tudor sedan assembled on July 3, 1945 — went to President Harry Truman.
1946 Gill
1942 Grill
Jul 8, 1909 – First Hudson built – The first car “Hudson Twenty” rolled off the assembly line on Jul 3, 1909. Joseph Hudson was a department store owner and offered of financial backing and offered up his name for the car company to a consortium of business men with two of those being Roy Chapin and his son Roy junior. Hudson continued producing cars until 1954 when they merged with Nash-Kalvinator to form AMC. Some models carried the Hudson name until 1957.
1909 Hudson Roadster
C.N.N. – Car News Now!!
Audi – The car make has developed cars that run on synthetic natural gas (WHAT?) and synthetic diesel and now e-benzin or synthetic gas.
Android Auto and Apples CarPlay – Chevrolet is allowing cars in 2016 to use both apps!!!
Lambo Aventador SV – Now is available if you have a spare $500k laying around. Sporting a 6.5 liter V12 engine that knocks out 740 HP and gives excellent gas mileage of 10, 18 and 12 (City/Highway/Combined) – who cares when you can go from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds.
Auto Factoid Trivia*
What was the first model to where the name Maserati?
Thanks for reading.
Tim
*Trivia – Submit the correct answer via email, Facebook, Twitter or a comment to this post and you’ll be entered to win a monthly give away. It’s that easy!!
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …
Busy week this week this week for #AutoFactoids…. So here we go! June 7, 1928 – First Plymouth is produced. Some research suggest that it was actually built on.
Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
Busy week this week this week for #AutoFactoids…. So here we go!
June 7, 1928 – First Plymouth is produced. Some research suggest that it was actually built on June 11, 1928.
1928 Q Code Plymouth
It had engineering code (or model) Q and had a 4 cylinder engine. Check out the video on YouTube:
June 10, 1927 The Graham boys purchased what was Paige_Detroit Motor Cars. The Grahams started out as farmers and glass bottle makers. One of the brothers invented a rear axle that would allow converting Ford car platforms in to light duty trucks. Oh they are still in business – owning/running Madison Square Gardens and hosting sporting events.
Graham Page
June 10, 1951 Jaguar won it’s first Le Mans. It was a C-type version of XK120
C-type XK120
June 11, 1955 Tragic day in racing history – over 80 spectators were killed.
Here are the details from History.com
Prior to the race, Levegh complained that the course was too narrow near the pit-stop area and the grandstand. This observation proved prescient. As Levegh was racing for the lead near the pit-stop area, he swerved to avoid fellow racer Mike Hawthorn s Jaguar as it moved toward the pits. Levegh s car, going about 150 miles per hour, came up too fast on Lance Macklin s Austin-Healey and was catapulted upward. The car crashed into the grandstand and its exploding parts went straight into the crowd. Levegh and more than 80 spectators, packed into the grandstand, lost their lives in the fiery crash.
June 12, 1954 Packard cars are sporting tubeless tires.
1954 Packard
June 12, 1975 Chrysler stops producing the Imperial.
1975 Chrysler Imperial – yes it’s on the drag strip.
Jun 14, 1832 Nikolaus Otto is born in Holzhausen, Germany. Famous for his patent for his 4 cycle combustion engine.
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last full week of May 2015.
May 26, 1906 Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio. Rose still holds the 2nd spot for the most Indiana 500 wins. His first win was in 1941 but he didn’t finish in the car he left the starting line in. The first car was a Maserati and developed mechanical issues and he moved to a Wetteroth/Offenhauser car. He managed two back-to-back wins in 1947 and 1948, driving one of a Deidt/Offenhauser Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials.
Mauri in the Maserati were he started in pole position in his first win.
Muari in Wetteroth/Offenhauser car
Mauri in the Blue Spark car!
May 29, 1946 Kaiser-Frazer produced its first vehicles. Kaiser-Frazer’s plant was located in Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company was formed when the two purchased the defunct Graham-Paige (of which Frazer was once Present, prior to WWII). There first cars were called the Frazer and Kaiser, one a mid-level luxury car and the other an innovative front wheel drive model.
The two parted ways in 1951 and the company name was changed to Kaiser. They went on to design some fantastic cars like the Darrin (named after one of the designer – Dutch Darrin. Bill Tritt was the other part of the team.) and on to the Jeep fame with Willys-Overland.
1950 — Johnnie Parsons. 1949 — Bill Holland. 1948 — Mauri Rose. 1947 — Mauri Rose. 1946 — George Robson. 1942-45 — No races, World War II. 1941 — Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. 1940 — Wilbur Shaw. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw. 1938 — Floyd Roberts.
The Manhattan has been honored by the community and is the first hot rod to win the people’s choice award two years in a row at the annual Kaiser Frazer Club National Convention. Share This Article. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. Author: Christopher …
Members of the Binghamton Kaiser Frazer Club will bring vehicles, Reilley said. The Seward House Museum, at 33 South St., will showcase several cars, including the Seward family’s own Packard. There will be automotive memorabilia for sale and, if you …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)for middle week in May 2015!
May 17, 1868 – Happy Birthday Horace Dodge (Niles, Michigan)
Horace was one of the original Dodge brothers. He was born into a working family, with Dad owning as machine shop. In 1903, he and his brother John won a contract to produce transmissions for Oldsmobile and the following took a contract building engine for Henry Ford. They build their own plant in 1910 and John eventually became a vice president at Ford. By 1913 they ended their relationship with Ford and began producing their own vehicles – trucks and ambulances mainly for military use and most found service in WWI.
Horace
Dodge Half Ton Truck
May 19, 1903 – Buick Incorporates – Buick is the oldest (longest running) active car manufacturer in North America – well brand name is the oldest, still active. Buick started out as Auto-VIM and power company in 1899 as an engine manufacturer and produced two prototype. In 1903 it was incorporated by David Dunbar Buick and produced their first car in 1904.
First Buick
May 22, 1929 – Goodyear Blimp took its maiden flight. Still provides some of the best auto racing coverage!!!
Goodyear Blimp.
May 23, 1875 – Alfred Sloan was born in New Heaven Conn. He headed up GM as President and guided it through some iconic car designs.
Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …
