Automotive facts and figures from 1908

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:56 p.m. ET

Samuel Reiman

Early Thursday morning in Cleveland, Ohio, the Chicago Cubs made history by winning the World Series for the first time since 1908.

As far as winless streaks go, 108 years is a long time. Just how long? Take a look at some of these automotive facts and figures from 1908:

-- Enzo Ferrari turned 10 years old in February 1908.

-- In May 1908, Wilbur Wright took Charley Furnas up in the air on a flight, making Furnas the first airplane passenger.

-- The order to proceed with construction of the RMS Titanic was signed in September of 1908.

-- General Motors was established as a Holding Company in September 1908. One day after being founded, it purchased Buick Motor Company.

-- The second annual Isle of Man TT took place in September 1908. The Snaefell Mountain Course wouldn’t be used for another three years.

-- The first Model T was produced by the Ford Motor Company in the Fall of 1908. Production of the car continued for nearly two decades.

-- The first Formula One World Champion, Giuseppe Farina, celebrated his second birthday in October 1908.

-- In December 1908, a group of four people purchased Pressley Farm in Indianapolis with the intention of building the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.