Society of Automotive Historians, Inc.

09/23/2026

The 2026 Society of Automotive Historians Annual Awards Banquet was held Saturday, September 19 at the Durant-Dort Factory One in Flint, Michigan. The historic building's grand exhibition hall served as the perfect venue for a gathering of automotive historians. The evening's festivities included the announcement of this year's award winners, followed by an exceptional presentation by Shelley Selim, Mort Harris Curator of Automotive, Industrial, and Decorative Design at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Despite the inclement weather, it was a great evening of camaraderie and celebration. Photos provided by Mary Elton, Victoria Mobley, and Kevin Kirbitz.

09/12/2026

Looking for something to read this September? Consider the 2018 Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award winner, "Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Violence at Work in the North American Auto Industry, 1960-80" by Jeremy Milloy.

This monograph uses workplace violence as a lens to analyze the North American auto industry during the mid-to-late 20th century.

Check it out from your local library through this Worldcat link! https://search.worldcat.org/title/963913557

09/09/2026

A quick reminder for members of the Society of Automotive Historians: Voting for the SAH's Board of Directors is currently live! To cast your vote, log in on autohistory.org, go to the "Dashboard" tab, and click on the link to vote on open SAH ballots. Make your voice heard this fall!

09/07/2026

in 1896, A.H. Whiting won the first automotive race held on a race track in America. This race took place at the Rhode Island State Fair in Cranston, Rhode Island. With top speeds reaching 24 miles per hour, this race attracted thousands of spectators.

09/04/2026

Today, the SAH is highlighting The Rough Road Ahead: Cuba, the Spanish American War, and the Development of Good Roads in the US, 1880-1916 by Andrew James Clyde Hart, published in the Spring 2020 issue of the Automotive History Review.

This fantastic article focuses on American road infastructure projects in occupied Cuba from 1880-1916 through the Good Roads Movement. It is a fascinating look into colonialism, war, and how American developments abroad influenced policy at home.

09/01/2026

in 1997, the airbag requirements outlined in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 went into effect. This massive law required all cars and light trucks sold in the United States to have airbags in the front driver and passenger seats.

Pictured is Norman Mineta, a California congressman and one of the key representatives behind the 1991 legislation. He was the first Asian-American to serve in a presidential cabinet, first as a secretary of commerce under President Bill Clinton in 2000 and later as secretary of transportation under President George W. Bush.

08/27/2026

SAH member Robert M. Kennedy presented "Rare Mares: Elusive Equines of Mustang's Past" at Mustangs Northwest's 44th Annual Mustang Roundup & All Ford Picnic in Bellevue, WA, last month in support of his book, Mustang Unbridled. If this presentation interests you, it can be watched on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/wDZvUCTm2gA.

"UNBRIDLED" and "Mustang Unbridled" author Robert M. Kennedy presen...

08/25/2026

Today, the SAH is highlighting the Autumn 2012 Automotive History Review article "The Automobile, the Interstate and Suburbia: New-found Freedom at the Expense of Downtown in 20th Century America" by Andrew J. Mabon. This fantastic article highlights how the automobile shaped and re-shaped the physical landscape. With a case study on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this article is a must-read for anyone interested infastructure, environmental/urban history, or the impacts of technology. Members can find this article in AHR054.

08/24/2026

Big news, SAH members! Our updated website is live now! Be sure to check out the new and improved autohistory.org, including a new "Dashboard" page for members.

The Society of Automotive Historians Where Auto History Lives Society of Automotive Historians is a registered trademark ® Photo: Michael Furman Welcome 1905 Clement Bayard To The SAH​ Welcome to the SAH The Society of Automotive Historians is a community […]

08/09/2026

It's time to make your reservations to the 2026 SAH Annual Awards Banquet! Join us Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the historic Durant-Dort Factory One in Flint, Michigan for an evening of celebration, camaraderie, and car talk. All are invited - SAH members, non-members, and friends. The reservation form is linked here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02d2b90f-abe6-4a7e-8dab-a2646e8e627d
For more information, email [email protected].