Automobiles

Eddie Vernon Rickenbacker was born on October 8, 1890, in Columbus, Ohio. He was America’s leading ace during World War I, with 26 enemy planes shot down.

Industrialist and auto manufacturer Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Greenfield Township, Michigan.  He was a pioneer in the automotive industry, starting a company that’s still in business today.

On April 17, 1964, the Ford Mustang debuted at the New York Auto Show, and was available for sale around the country that same day. The Mustang far outsold expectations and shattered sales records.

On November 3, 1900, the first modern auto show opened in New York City. Today, the New York Auto Show is held in April and usually has more than one million visitors.

On July 28, 1897, Alexander Winton began a nine-day test-drive of his automobile, proving its reliability to investors.  Winton went on to become the top-selling automobile manufacturer for several years.  He had more than 100 patents, and often allowed others to use them for free when safety was involved.

On May 18, 1968, Hot Wheels released its first toy cars, dubbed “The Sweet 16.” Since then, they’ve become one of the world’s most popular toy car makers, with the company estimating that they sell eight Hot Wheels every second.

On April 20, 1987, the second Sunshine Skyway Bridge opened. It was rebuilt following a 1980 accident. Considered a symbol of Florida, it’s also the longest cable-stayed concrete bridge in the world.

On August 20, 2005, the USPS issued the first stamps in a nostalgic series honoring classic cars.

The 1933 World’s Fair opened in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1933.