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  Flashing turn indicators became legal on Britain's cars, taking over from hand signals and “trafficators” which rose like pointers from what eventually became called B pillars.
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  Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon drove a Mini Cooper S which gave the British Motor Corporation its first victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.
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  Petrol rationing was introduced as a result of the Suez canal crisis which closed the waterway to oil tankers. It remained in force until May 1957.
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  The 13.1km long Preston by-pass, the first stretch of motorway in Britain was opened. Today is part of the M6.
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  Britain's first parking meters were installed in London's Grosvenor Square. Charges were 2.5p for half an hour and 5p for an hour.
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  A “triumph of front-wheel-drive packaging”, the British Motor Corporation’s Mini Minor, was launched for less than £500.
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  Jaguar launched the E-TYPE which Enzo Ferrari called “the most beautiful car in the world”.
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  Breathalyser tests were introduced for British drivers in 1967. The test specified that if a driver's alcohol limit was found to exceed 80mg/100ml of blood, the individual would be liable for prosecution.
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  The Lotus Esprit went into production in 1976. Outstripping its own sales forecast, the Elise was introduced in 1996, and by 2011 Lotus had built more than 90 000 sports cars.
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  The Society of motor manufacturers and traders present a gift of Rolls-Royce Phantom VI for the Queen on her silver jubilee.
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  The last MGB, a pewter-coloured GT, was assembled at Abingdon. More than a half-million MGB units were built since its introduction in 1962.
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  The Toyota factory at Burnaston, Derbyshire, begins car production.
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  Bentley presented Queen Elizabeth with a new state limousine on behalf of the UK motor industry. It is the fifth official state vehicle.
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  Nissan opens its European Design Centre in London.
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  Ford completed construction of London’s first wind park, constructing two giant wind turbines at its Dagenham plant.
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  Production began on the MP4-12C at McLaren’s plant in Woking.

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