This Week in Automotive History: Aug. 6-Aug. 12
Aug. 6, 1959
Corvair Name Registered: GM registers the Corvair name for its new rear-engine compact car. The Corvair was the only American-made, mass-produced passenger car to come with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine.
Aug. 7, 1938
Giugiaro is Born: Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italian automobile designer and founder of Italdesign, is born in Garessio, Italy.
Aug. 8, 1975
Maserati Changes Hands: Former Argentinean racing driver Alejandro de Tomaso acquires Maserati from Citroën.
Aug. 9, 1918
Auto Production Halted: The U.S. Government orders a halt to all civilian automobile production by Jan. 1, 1919.
Aug. 10, 1897
Oldest Auto Club Formed: C. Harrington Moore and Frederick R. Simms found Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland. It would become Royal Automobile Club, the world’s oldest auto club.
Aug. 11, 1966
First Camaro Leaves Plant: Chevrolet rolls out its first Camaro from the Norwood, Ohio, plant to compete in the Pony Car Class.
Aug. 12, 1908
Ford Builds First Model T: The first Model T was built at Henry Ford’s Piiquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, although it didn’t leave the factory until September 27.
