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.