10/06/2023
Join us for Trunk or Treat, at America On Wheels Museum in Allentown PA.
America On Wheels
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America On Wheels Transportation Museum
Allentown PA USA
5 North Front Street Please note that hours will change in September.
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Please view the box at the tope of the posts that lists hours and admission prices until we can adjust the hours manually at this page.
10/06/2023
This Day in Auto History
10.6.1973
Fifty years ago, François Cevert died at Watkins Glen during qualifying for the US Grand Prix at age 29. Cevert, born in Paris, France, was one of the most colorful racing drivers of the early 1970s. In the tumultuous, tragic arena that was Formula One racing at the time, few showed more flair and promise. Teammate Jackie Stewart was one of the last on the scene of Cevert's accident and said later "They [the marshals] had left him [in the car], because he was so clearly dead." Stewart immediately departed the scene of the accident and returned to the pits. As the result of Cevert's death, Tyrrell withdrew its entry for this GP, and Stewart did not run his final, and 100th race. He had been only the second Frenchman to ever with a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, although a number of French race drivers have one F1 races since then.
10/05/2023
This Day in Auto History
10.5.1978
The prototype 230 hp 3-litre diesel Mercedes C 111-III attained 203.3 mph - at the time the highest recorded speed for a diesel engined vehicle – during tests on the Nardo Circuit in southern Italy. Six months earlier the Mercedes averaged 195.398 mph for 12 hours, so covering a record a record 2399.76 miles. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including Wankel engines, diesel engines, and turbochargers, and used the basic C111 platform as a testbed. Other experimental features included multi-link rear suspension, gull-wing doors and a luxurious interior with leather trim and air conditioning. This Tyco HO slot car is a representation of the lovely C111.
10/04/2023
Sunday, October 15 will be your last chance to see the display of Corvettes celebrating the 70th Anniversary of America's Sports Car. This is a collection you do not want to miss before they depart America On Wheels Museum!
10/04/2023
This Day in Auto History
10.4.1858
Leon Serpollet was born in Culoz, France. In 1896, Serpollet invented and perfected the flash boiler, which made steam a much more practical source of power for an automobile. The oil-fired flash boiler fed steam to a very advanced four-cylinder enclosed engine similar to the contemporary petrol engine design including poppet valves and an enclosed crankcase. Serpollet produced his own automobiles under the name Serpollet and Gardner-Serpollet until his death in 1907.
10/03/2023
10.3.1948
Seventy five years ago, Ted Horn won the sprint car race on the 1-mile dirt oval at Trenton, New Jersey, US. He also set a 1-lap record of 40.13 seconds. Trenton Speedway was a racing facility located near Trenton, New Jersey at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Races for the United States' premier open-wheel and full-bodied racing series of the times were held there. The first race at the Fairgrounds was held on September 24, 1900, but there was no further racing there until 1907. Regular racing began in 1912 and continued until 1941. In 1957 the track was paved. It operated in that configuration until 1968 when the track was expanded to 1.5 miles (2.41 km) and a "kidney bean" shape with a 20° right-hand dogleg on the back stretch and a wider turn 3 & 4 complex than turns 1 & 2. The track closed in 1980 and the Fairgrounds itself closed 3 years later. The former site of the speedway is now occupied by the Grounds for Sculpture, a UPS shipping facility, and the housing development known as "Hamilton Lakes". This photo shows modifieds running on the back straight of the Trenton track as a preliminary for the USAC Trentonian 200 on April 7, 1974.
10/02/2023
Can you identify this Mack that has recently been loaned to America On Wheels by the Mack Museum?
10/02/2023
This Day in Auto History
10.2.1948
Seventy five years ago, law student Cameron Argetsinger's vision of bringing European style racing competition to the place where he spent his summer vacations became a reality. Under the guidance of Argetsinger and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), the village of Watkins Glen, located in the scenic New York Finger Lakes region, hosted its first automobile races along a challenging course that encompassed asphalt, cement, and dirt roads. It was the first post-World War II road race in the United States, and Frank Griswold, driving a 2.9 liter prewar Alfa Romeo, won both events offered, a 26.4-mile Junior Prix, and the 52.8-mile Grand Prix. In 1961, the Watkins Glen event was added to the Formula One Grand Prix schedule and for the next 20 years it was a destination for the world's best drivers.
10/01/2023
This Day in Auto History
10.1.1908
The Ford Model T was introduced to the American public, and Ford's affordable revolution had begun. Beginning in 1903, Henry Ford and his engineers struggled for five difficult years to produce a reliable, inexpensive car for the mass market. It wasn't until the 20th attempt, christened the Model T after the 20th letter in the alphabet, that the fledgling Ford Motor Company hit pay dirt. Affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie," the Model T revolutionized the automotive industry by providing an affordable, reliable car for the average American. Ford was able to keep the price down by retaining control of all raw materials, and by employing revolutionary mass production methods. When it was first introduced, the "Tin Lizzie" cost only $850 and seated two people, and by the time it was discontinued in 1927, nearly 15,000,000 Model Ts had been sold. This 1914 Ford Model T Runabout is currently on display at America On Wheels Museum in Allentown PA.
09/30/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.30.1868
William E. Metzger was born in Peru, IL. Metzger was an automotive pioneer and salesman from Detroit. He opened one of the first automobile dealerships in the United States, and participated in the early development of a number of early automobile companies, including the Cadillac Automobile Company and the E-M-F Company. The “M” in E-M-F stands for Metzger. This 1910 E-M-F was photographed at Das Awkscht Fescht, and it had also been on display at the very first of these meets at Macungie Memorial Park back in 1963.
09/29/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.29.1913
Rudolph Diesel disappeared from the steamship Dresden while traveling from Antwerp, Belgium to Harwick, England. On October 10, a Belgian sailor aboard a North Sea steamer spotted a body floating in the water. Upon further investigation, it turned out that the body was Diesel's. There was, and remains, a great deal of mystery surrounding his death. It was officially judged a su***de, but many people believed (and still believe) that Diesel was murdered. Diesel is best known for the engine that bears his name, but few know that he was also a respected engineer, a linguist, a social theorist, and a connoisseur of the arts. It was his diesel engine that changed the world, proving more efficient than steam and used on everything from locomotives to boats, eventually revolutionizing the automobile later in the century.
09/28/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.28.1968
Mika Håkkinen was born in Vantaa, Finland. This Finnish racing driver and two-time Formula One champion is considered by many to have been Michael Schumacher's greatest rival in Formula One and the German once admitted that Håkkinen is the rival he respected the most in his Formula One career. Nicknamed "The Flying Finn", Håkkinen won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1998 and 1999, both times driving for McLaren. Häkkinen is one of three Formula One drivers from Finland that have won the World Drivers' Championship, and the only one to have done so more than once. He currently works in driver management and is a brand ambassador for various companies.
09/27/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.27.1938
Morris Nunn was born in Walsall, England. Nunn gave up his driving career in the late 1960s to build Formula 3 cars. He founded and ran the Ensign Formula One team in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and later worked for Chip Ganassi's highly successful Champ Car team, before founding Mo Nunn Racing for the 2000 season. At the urging of Mercedes-Benz Nunn again started a team for the 2002 Indy Racing League season. In 2002, Nunn entered one car each in Champ Car and the rival Indy Racing League. Other than a joint effort with Fernández Racing at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, Nunn closed the team in 2005 and retired.
09/26/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.26.1903
The trade name “Mercedes” was legally registered by Emil Jellinek. Jellinek was an automobile entrepreneur of the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG), responsible in 1900 for commissioning the first modern automobile, the Mercedes 35hp. Jellinek created the Mercedes trademark in 1902, naming it in honor of his daughter, Mercédès Jellinek. From June 1903, Emil Jellinek obtained permission to call himself Jellinek-Mercedes, commenting: “This is probably the first time that a father has taken his daughter’s name.” The trademark developed into the company Mercedes-Benz, and the marque became one of the largest car brands in the world. Jellinek lived in Vienna, Austria, then later moved to Nice, on the French Riviera, where he was General Consul of Austria-Hungary.
09/25/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.25.1913
Ford signed a contract signed to sell the Model T in China. (This item is courtesy of 365daysofmotoring.com)
09/24/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.24.1948
Seventy five years ago, the Honda Technical Research Institute officially became the Honda Motor Company, establishing a corporation that would become the leading producer of motorcycles in the world. Before this, the research institute founded by engineer Honda Soichiro, had focused on creating small, efficient internal-combustion engines. It later started incorporating these engines into motorcycles under the Honda name. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a production of 400 million by the end of 2019. It is also the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. Honda became the second-largest Japanese automobile manufacturer in 2001. This 1961 Honda RC162 is on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu as raced by Mike Hailwood.
09/23/2023
This Day in Auto HIstory
9.23.1973
Fifty years ago, the Canadian Grand Prix marked the first appearance of a Safety Car in Formula 1 when a slick yellow Porsche 914 was deployed on the track driven by Eppie Wietzes because of several incidents caused by harsh weather conditions. The race also was the 99th and last race start of three-time World Champion Jackie Stewart. Ronnie Peterson won the race in a Lotus-Ford while the McLaren-Fords of Peter Revson and Jody Schecter finished second and third respectively.
09/22/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.22.1908
George E Daniels became the first President of General Motors. After leaving GM, Daniels founded the Daniels Motor Company in partnership with Neff E. Parish in Reading PA. George Daniels was a known lawyer, engineer, and mechanic. He was considered the best motorcar designer in the United States. Neff Parish had his own automobile parts and framing manufacturing company. Neff was the creator of the time's highest-grade heat-treated alloy steel frames, respected in the steel industry. Daniels Motor Company produced 1,500 high-quality automobiles between 1916 and 1924, branding themselves as “the distinguished car with just a little more power than you will ever need”, and “The aristocrat of American cars”. This 1920 Daniels Model D is on display in the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
09/21/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.21.1893
The first US car manufacturer Duryea Motor Wagon Company, founded by Charles Duryea and his brother Frank, unveiled a one-cylinder "Ladies Phaeton", in Springfield, Massachusetts on Taylor Street in Metro Center.. Although not the first to build a gasoline-powered car in America, they were the first to go into commercial production of them. In 1895, a second Duryea (built in 1894), driven by Frank, won the Chicago Times Herald race in Chicago on a snowy Thanksgiving day. That same year, the brothers began commercial production, with thirteen cars sold by the end of 1896. Their first ten production vehicles were the first automobiles sold in the United States. The brothers went their separate ways by the end of the century, over a dispute for financing that would have required moving the company to Detroit. Frank helped produce the Stevens-Duryea (at gun maker Stevens) until 1927, while Charles produced Duryea vehicles as late as 1917. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, it was not uncommon for residents to see him motoring a brand new automobile from City Park out to Mount Penn, managing the switchback road as a final test of durability and refinement. This 1904 Duryea Phaeton is on display at the Boyertown Historic Vehicle Museum in Boyertown PA.
09/20/2023
This Day in Auto Hisory
9.20.1853
Charles Clifton was born in Buffalo, NY. He acquired the nickname "Colonel" while in the National Guard, and it stuck with him through his career. In 1897 Colonel Clifton left Ball, Lewis and Yates Coal Mining Company to become secretary and treasurer for the George N. Pierce Company. He remained the treasurer after a 1909 reorganization which saw the formation of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company. In 1916, Colonel Clifton became president of Pierce-Arrow, and in 1919 he was named chairman of its board of directors. Apart from his duties with Pierce-Arrow, Colonel Clifton served as president of National Automobile Chamber of Commerce from its birth in 1913 until March 2, 1927, when he resigned his active post to serve in an honorary capacity. Charles “Colonel” Clifton passed away on June 21st, 1928 at the age of 75.
09/19/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.19.1948
Seventy five years ago, the 1949 Kaisers were introduced.
09/18/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.18.1998
Twenty five years ago, the US Postal Service awarded a $206.4 million contract to Ford for 10,000 flexible fuel ethanol delivery vehicles to replace aging Jeep DJ-5 postal vehicles used for daily delivery to city and business customers. It was built as a partnership between Ford Motor Company, which supplied a stripped-down, right-hand drive Ford Explorer chassis and drivetrain, and Utilimaster, which built the aluminum body and integrated it with the chassis. The FFV could operate with either unleaded gasoline or E85 ethanol-blended fuel using Ford's 4.0L Cologne SOHC V6 engine.
09/17/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.17.1943
Daimler-Benz AG presented a wood gas generator for the 170 V model, weighing only 70 kg, costing 800 Reichs-marks. Mercedes gasified cars were developed during the Second World War as an alternative to gasoline-powered engines. in a day the generator gave the car a range of 60 to 80 miles from a 24 kg load of char-coal. By November 1944 more than 6400 units were produced at the Gaggenau plant.
09/16/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.16.1938
George E T Eyston set a world land speed record of 357.5 mph driving the Thunderbolt powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R-type V-12 aero engines. (This item is courtesy of 365daysofmotoring.com)
09/15/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.15.1908
The Republic Rubber Company of Youngstown, OH was issued a United States patent for its tire tread pattern marketed as 'Staggard'. Republic Rubber was later bought out by Goodyear Tire.The pattern was basically alternating rows of 'stadium' shaped bumps placed in a longitudinal array.
09/14/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.14.1923
One hundred years ago, General Motors held the first meeting of its General Technical Committee, formed to prevent problems within the corporation similar to those encountered during the development of the copper-cooled engine. The "Copper-Cooled" Chevrolet had been developed by Delco, and dropped on the Chevrolet Division with dismal results. For the next 45 years General Motors let the divisions do their own engineering.
09/13/2023
The 70th Anniversary display of Corvettes will be leaving next month. Be sure you get to see these beauties before they leave America On Wheels.
09/13/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.13.1953
OSCA made its final Formula 1 appearance in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, with Louis Chiron finishing tenth. O.S.C.A. (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili—Fratelli Maserati S.p.A.) was an Italian manufacturer of racing and sports cars established 1947 in San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna, by the Maserati brothers, and closed down in 1967.
09/12/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.12.1988
Ford and Nissan announced plans to design and build a new minivan together in the hope of cashing in on an expanding market. The announcement came during the heyday of the minivan craze, when Dodge Caravans dotted the highways and station wagons became a thing of the past. Instantly popular, the spacious minivan replaced the wagon as the family car of choice, putting the old wood-paneled Country Squires to shame. But with the rise of the sport utility vehicle in the '90s, the minivan also began to fade.
09/11/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.11.1903
The directors of the Flint Wagon Works announced they had bought the Buick Motor Company. The Flint Wagon Works was formed in 1882. It was purchased by Mr. Charles Crapser and was Flint's first incorporated company in 1884. Here they built wagons for all purposes such as travel, hauling and for family use. In November of 1904, The Flint Motor Works sold Buick to William Durant.
09/10/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.10.1978
The Italian Grand Prix was marred by the death of Ronnie Peterson following an accident at the start of the race. With three races remaining, Mario Andretti (Lotus-Ford) led the World Drivers' Championship by 12 points from his team-mate Ronnie Peterson. Niki Lauda (Brabham-Alfa Romeo), in third place, was 28 points behind Andretti, and, with only 9 points for a win, could not overtake him. This was the last World Championship race won by an Alfa-Romeo powered car. Andretti won the World Championship in 1978 with 64 points. The late Peterson had 51, and Carlos Retuemann was third with 58.
09/09/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.9.1923
One hundred years ago, the Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza, the first race to be designated as the European Grand Prix, was won by Carlo Salamano in a FIAT 805. (This item is courtesy of 365daysofmotoring.com)
09/08/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.8.1923
One hundred years ago, the Daniels Motor Car Company was declared bankrupt. Daniels was a pioneer brass era American automobile company, founded in 1916 by George E. Daniels in Reading, PA. With custom coachwork, the Daniels was built to order, offering a proprietary narrow-angle V8 as standard equipment, for a price of $7,450. This 1919 Daniels that was custom built for Pittsburgh's H. J. Heinz is on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles.
09/07/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.7.1958
George Constantine drove an Aston Martin DBR2 to victory in the first USAC sanctioned sports car race, at Lime Rock, Connecticut. This was the first race of the new USAC Road Racing Championship which ran for five years. Bruce Kessler was second in a Ferrari 860 Monza, and Allen Markelson was third in a Ferrari 500 TRC. Porsches finished fourth and fifth. Some notable entrants in this event were Lloyd Ruby, Roger Ward, Marshall Teague, and Bob Said.
09/06/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.6.1873
One hundred fifty years ago, Howard Earle Coffin, a cofounder of the Hudson Motor Car Company with Roy D. Chapin, was born in West Milton, OH. An American automobile engineer and industrialist, he was a charter member of The Society of Automotive Engineers and its president in 1910. As one of the "dollar-a-year men" he served as chairman of the Aircraft Board which organized aircraft production and industrial mobilization during World War I. He retired from the Hudson company in 1930 but acted as a consultant. He died in a self-inflicted gun accident in 1937 at age 64.
09/05/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.5.1973
Fifty years ago, the 1974 AMC models were introduced, including the Gremlin, Matador, and the last year of the Javelin.
09/04/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.4.1923
One hundred years ago, Howdy Wilcox died in a car crash at Altoona Speedway board track in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Wilcox was an American race car driver active in formative years of auto racing. He won the 1919 Indianapolis 500 in which he started second, and led the last 98 laps. Wilcox was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
09/03/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.3.1923
One hundred years ago, Jim Davis, riding an Indian, won the 100-mile main event motorcycle race at Kansas City, Missouri. An early Class A racing champion, Davis rode for both the Harley-Davidson and Indian factory racing teams during his years as a racer. In addition to being a great racing champion, Davis went on to become an American Motorcycle Association official, serving in various capacities including deputy chairman of competition. His most visible job with the AMA was as chief referee and starter. Davis earned 21 AMA national championships and a reported 50-plus pre-AMA national titles under the auspices of the Federation of American Motorcyclists and the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association.
09/02/2023
This Day in Auto History
9.2.1963
Donna Mae Mims, driving her pink 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite, became the first woman to win an SCCA Class Championship when she won the H Production race. The car had been previously owned by Dr. Jonas Salk. Mims became known as the "Pink Lady", because most of the automobiles in which she raced were painted pink. Her cars included the pink Austin-Healey in which she won the championship and a pink Corvette, Corvair, Triumph TR3 and MGB. In 2009, Mims told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "On the back of most of my cars I had 'Think Pink' ... I liked pink ever since I was a little girl." In 1964, the UPI ran a feature story on Mims, noting that the "Pink Lady" not only drove a pink car, but wore a pink helmet and pink coveralls. Her participation in the 1972 running of the second Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash was portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau in the 1981 movie "The Cannonball Run". In this event, she teamed with Judy Stropus and Peggy Niemcek driving a 1968 Cadillac limousine sponsored by "The Right Bra". Mims died on October 6, 2009 of complications from a stroke. She requested that her body be seated in the driver's seat of a 1979 pink Chevrolet Corvette for visitation at her funeral.
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Comments
I'm so thankful you have that beautiful mural of the Ritz BBQ after today's news they are closing permanently. Visitors will enjoy seeing the Ritz as a back drop to the car displays. Along with the newly acquired Charcoal Drive-In sign; AOW will always be there to save the memories for us.
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/simeone-foundation-philadelphia-antique-auto-club-hershey-pa-free-library-archive-20191209.html
Huge collection of auto manuals and materials being transferred to Hershey and S. Phila.
Huge collection of auto manuals and materials being transferred to Hershey and S. Phila.
4th Annual Harrison Career Center FFA Tractor, Truck, Engine, and Car Show
May 5, 2019
Cadiz, Ohio
www.facebook.com/HCCFFA/photos/a.1555722377998841/2092869487617458/?type=3&theater
May 5, 2019
Cadiz, Ohio
www.facebook.com/HCCFFA/photos/a.1555722377998841/2092869487617458/?type=3&theater
You guys are on the map for museums to visit in the USA!
We love what your doing with the city we want to be apart of it I think it's really going to turn that side of town around in a few years! Keep up the good work ;-)
My 1967 Divco Milk Truck
I have to include this picture of my 1956 Chrysler wagon currently on display at America on Wheels. This is what it looks like with the tailgate up
The Firebird III Has Landed...
The Firebird III Concept Car Has Landed!!!
Caty enjoyed visiting America On Wheels this morning to help us measure the slot car table for a new table skirt...
https://www.facebook.com/Jalopnik.JasonDrives/videos/1495957263828214/UzpfSTY1NjE0MTc2MToxMDE1NTYwNDYwMjQ1MTc2Mg/
Entertaining description of the worst car ever made - the Hoffman produced in Germany after WWII.
Entertaining description of the worst car ever made - the Hoffman produced in Germany after WWII.
