Spintires started back in 2008, for Havok Physics Innovation Contest, and here is the first screenshot:
It was originally using OpenGL instead of DirectX, and PhysX instead of Havok!
And original game idea was something like Besiege (which didn't exist back then obviously).
The next idea was aircraft simulator:
But eventually it evolved into offroad truck simulator:
But the codebase started developing even before that! Have a look at one of the first versions of the Level Editor:
Thats a pendulum movement research that I had fun with in Institute!
Best regards,
Pavel