Vehicle Marques – 20th Century Timeline

1900-1929 | 1930-1939 | 1940-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999

1910	BSA purchased Daimler.
	Charles Rolls dies in an aviation accident.
1913	First Morris car produced – the Oxford model.
	Aston Martin founded.
1922	‘Viking Longboat Ship’ chosen to represent Rover cars.
1923	First Triumph motor car launched.
1924	Morris Motors becomes UK’s biggest producer of cars.
1926	First UK production V12 built by Daimler.
1927	Morris purchases Wolseley.
	Philadelphia Storage Battery Co. – Philco. launched the first commercial radio for US cars.
	Volvo car company launched with first car – the OV4 (nicknamed the Jakob)
1928	Donald Healey wins Britains first National Rally in a Triumph Super Seven.
	Volvo commences production of trucks.
1929	Karl Benz dies.
	Stirling Moss born.

1930	Triumph Cycle co. Ltd named Triumph Motor co.
	M type Midget produced.
1931	BSA purchased Lanchester Motor Company of Birmingham.
	Rolls Royce took over Bentley Motors.
	Morris Minor 2-seater convertible launched costing £100.
1933	Alfa Romeo nationalised.
	Sir Henry Royce dies.
1934	First British car – Hillman Melody mix available with a factory installed radio.
1935	Morris Motors takes over MG.
1937	Vauxhall H-type 10 is Britain’s first monocoque car.
	Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) founded.
1938	Nuffield Organisation formed – Morris Motors Ltd. & Riley car company.
1939	Jackie Stewart born.
	Morris Series E – first GB car with headlamps faired into the wings>

1944	Triumph name acquired by Standard Motor Company.
1945	MG TC launched.
	Rolls-Royce Motors moves to Crewe.
1947	Aston Martin bought by David Brown.
	First prototype Saab unveiled.
1948	Morris Minor commences production.
	Porsche 356 introduced.
	4WD aluminium Land Rover introduced.
	Land Rover launched.
	Porsche 356 Speedster born.
1949	MG TC ceased production.
	MG TD launched.

1950	Aston Martin DB2 launched.
1952	Lotus Engineering formed.
	Austin Healey 100 introduced.
	Single oval window VW Beetle launched.
1953	Ford Anglia 100E introduced.
	Chevrolet Corvette launched.
	MG TD ceased production.
	Triumph TR series introduced.
1955	Triumph TR3 launched.
	Aston Martin DB2/4 launched.
1957	Aston Martin DB3 launched.

1960	Jaguar purchased Daimler from BSA.
1961	Leyland takes over Standard-Triumph.
	Jaguar E-type Mk1 introduced.
	Triumph TR4 went into production.
1962	MG MGB launched.
	AC Cobra 4.2 and 4.7 V8 born.
	BMC 1100 introduced and becomes world’s most advanced small sedan.
	The Government halted the direct sale of registrations (any plate for a fee of £5)
	Ford Cortina launched.
1963	Aston Martin DB5 launched.
	Alfa Romeo Spider replaced by Giulia series.
	Lamborghini’s first production car – the 350 GT launched.
	Mercedes 600 introduced to challenge the Rolls-Royce market.
	Corvette Sting Ray with rear split screen launched.
1964	Daimler Dart/SP250 ceased production.
	Ford GT40 introduced.
	Porsche 911 introduced.
	Sunbeam Tiger with Ford V8 introduced.
	Porsche 356 C (with disc brakes) introduced.
	Mini Moke launched.
	Ford Mustang launched.
	AC Cobra GT LeMans clocked at 183 mph on the M1 motorway.
1965	Aston Martin DB6 launched.
	Rover takes over Alvis.
	Grand Prix alternates between Brands-Hatch and Silverstone.
	AC Cobra 7 litre introduced.
	One millionth Mini mini produced.
	Mini automatic option available.
	Renault 16 launched – world’s first family hatchback.
	Motorway speed limit of 70 mph introduced.
1966	Ford GT40 Mk 2 7 litre available.
	Ford Selby-Mustang GT350 launched.
	Jensen Interceptor FF (4WD & ABS) introduced.
	First UK imports of Alfa Romeo Duetto.
	Ford GT40 MkII wins Le Mans in the 1, 2 & 3 positions.
1967	Aston Martin DBS launched.
	Rover merges into the Leyland Corp.
	Alfa Romeo Spider introduced.
	Sunbeam Tiger withdrawn after 7000 made.
	Pontiac Firebird born.
	Ford GT40 wins Le Mans.
1968	Ferrari Daytona (365 GTB/4) 4.4 V12 launched and become’s the worlds fastest car.
	Ford GT40 wins Le Mans.
	Ford Escort launched.
	Austin Healey 3000 ceases production.
1969	Aston Martin DB6 Mk II launched.
	AC Cobra officially laid to rest.
	Datsun 240Z launched and becomes a contender in the US market.
	Ford Capri launched.
	Jackie Stewart – World F1 champion.
	Michael Schumacher born.

1970	Triumph Stag launched.
	Range Rover launched.
	Morris Minor ceases production.
1977	Triumph Stag finished production.
	James Hunt becomes GP World Champion.
	Saab 99 Turbo introduced.
	Porsche 928 V8 introduced.
1978	BMW M1 launched.
	UK imports officially ceased for Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce.
1979	Pontiac Firebird Transam 10th Anniversary edition debuts.

1980	Triumph TR7 convertible launched.
	Rolls-Royce Motor Cars merged with Vickers PLC.
1981	Triumph Acclaim is last Triumph badged car.
	Delorean DMC12 gull wing launched.
	Mercedes 600 axed.
	Direct dial mobile phones launched in London.
	England – France tunnel proposed.
1982	Maserati Bi-Turbo launched.
	Porsche 944 16v introduced.
	Ford Escort – the best selling car in the world.
	Ford ‘ jelly-mould ‘ Sierra launched.
1983	Wearing of seat belts in UK becomes compulsory
	Ford Escort – the best selling car in the world.
1984	Austin-Rover drops the Triumph name.
	Ford Escort – best selling car in the world.
1985	Porsche 944 Turbo introduced.
	Ford Escort – best selling car in the world.
	Longest recorded traffic jam – 40 miles – M1 between J16 and J18 due to 200 yard stretch of resurfacing at Hemel Hempstead (J8).
1986	Ford Escort RS Turbo launched.
1987	Ferrari F40 launched to commemorate Ferrari producing 40 years of cars.
1988	Suzuki Vitara which is still produced today was launched.
1989	BMW Z1 with its vertically sliding doors launched.
	First generation Aston Martin Virage stated production.
	The high selling Maxda MX5 launched.
	Porsche’s 911 964 air cooled model launched with optional all wheel drive.
	Ferrari sold nearly a total of 9000 of its 348 model that was launched this year.

1990	First generation BMW 8 series V8 & V12 models launched.
	Honda NSX (“New Sportscar Experimental”) model construction began.
	Lamborghini Diablo (“The Devil”) 5.7 litre V12 on sale.
	Lotus Carlton 3.0 Twin Turbo goes on sale.
	Mitsubishi 3000GT available to buy.
	The TVR 350SE with a Rover 3.9 litre V8 goes on sale for a couple of years.
	First generation TVR Griffith begins production with various Rover V8 engine options.
1991	Bugatti EB110 makes its debut.
	Porsche 968 launched.
	The unusual Nissan Figaro goes on sale.
	The infamous Dodge Viper 8.0 litre V10 goes into production.
1992	The civilian version of the Humvee, the Hummer H1 began production.
	The 212mph Jaguar XJ220 V12 available for sale.
	The McLaren F1, BMW V12 powered supercar hit the roads.
	The TVR Chimaera V8 began production. Eventually selling over 5000 units.
	The Subaru Impreza was born.
1993	The Pininifarina designed Fiat Coupe began production.
	Rover started producing the Rover 600 series.
1994	Porsche launched the fourth generation 911, the 993 for sale.
	Ferrari’s stable began building the F355 model.
	Maserati’s fourth generation Quattroporte goes on sale.
	The second generation Range Rover, the P38 goes on sale.
1995	Ferrari F50 launched. A total of 349 units were eventually made.
	Fiat Barchetta (“little boat’) goes on sale. Left-hand drive models only were produced.
1996	BMW Z3 first generation goes on sale.
	Front engined Ferrari 550 Maranello powered by a V12 launched.
	The first Lotus Elise model launched with a Rover K-series 1.8 litre mid engine.
	TVR‘s first 2+2 Cerebra V8 hardtop model launched.
1997	Fifth generation Chevrolet Corvette (C5) launched for model year.
	Land Rover‘s compact SUV Freelander launched.
	Porsche launches its fifth generation 911, the 996.
1998	Maserati launched the 4 seater 3200GT model with boomerang style rear lights.
	Volkswagen begins of its new Beetle.
1999	Ferrari 360 V8 on the production line for next year.
	Honda‘s front mid-engine open top sports car, the S2000 launched.
	BMW‘s mid side SUV the X5 goes on sale.
	The TVR Tuscan Speed Six goes into production.