This Week in Automotive History: Oct. 22-Oct. 28

Oct. 22, 1903

Selden Patent Fight Begins in Earnest: The Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM) files suit against Ford Motor Company as an unlicensed (by ALAM) manufacturer of internal combustion vehicles (controlled 1895 Selden patent), claiming that the patent applied to all gasoline-powered automobiles. 

Oct. 23, 1925

Highway Reflectors Patented: Percy Shaw, of Halifax, Yorkshire, receives a British patent for “Improvements Relating to Blocks for Road Surface Marking.” This invention was developed into the cat’s-eye road marker (road reflectors lighted at night by the lights of vehicles).

Oct. 24, 1973

65-Car Pileup on NJ Turnpike: Heavy smog on the NJ Turnpike results in a massive 65-car collision in which 9 people die near Kearny. The accident began late at night and continued into the next day. 

Oct. 25, 1910

Oldfield Outraces Johnson: Pioneer American racing driver Barney Oldfield defeats boxer Jack Johnson in a match race at the Sheepshead Bay track in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Oct. 26, 1954

Small Block Chevy Introduced: The future of Chevrolet and of high-performance American Cars is secured with the advent of the light and powerful 265 Chevrolet.

Oct. 27, 1948

London Motor Show Opens: Postwar high-performance motoring is really born at the London Motor Show with the introduction of the fabulous new Jaguar XK 120.

Oct. 28, 1942

Utah Imposes Wartime Speed Limit: A war speed limit of 35 mph is put into effect as a safety measure. With new tires unavailable, those already on cars were quickly becoming unsafe.