This Week in Automotive History: April 21-April 27

April 21, 1976

GM hits 100-million mark: The then-world’s largest automaker, General Motors, celebrates its 100 millionth-U.S. produced car.

April 22, 1933

Royce, of Rolls-Royce fame, dies: Frederick Henry Royce, the co-founder of the British automaker Rolls-Royce, dies at age 70 in England.

April 23, 1962

Ranger 4 launched: The first U.S. satellite to reach the moon is launched from Cape Canaveral. An onboard computer failure later caused the spacecraft to crash on the far side of the moon without returning any scientific data.

April 24, 1908

First cross-country car trip: Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Murdock become the first to travel across the United States by car, driving from Los Angeles to New York City in a Packard in 32 days, 5 hours and 25 minutes.

April 25, 1901

First license plate requirement: New York becomes the first state to require auto license plates for a $1 fee.

April 26, 1989

Slow down, Mike: Boxer Mike Tyson is ticketed for driving 71 mph in a 30-mph zone in Albany, N.Y.

April 27, 2009

So long, Pontiac: General Motors announces that it plans to discontinue production of the 80-plus-year-old Pontiac brand.