Quiz: How Well Do You Know Cars From The 1950s?

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The 1950s were a great decade for the car world. America saw the birth of many legendary nameplates, such as the Corvette. Europe, on the other hand, had its share of high-performance race cars and gorgeous roadsters.

This quiz will test your knowledge of all kinds of cars from the 1950s, from American classics to rare Italian beauties you may have never heard of. Good luck!

What is the name of this luxury car that was first introduced in 1955?

0%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Ford Thunderbird. Ford released the Thunderbird as a luxurious alternative to the successful Chevrolet Corvette. The first generation remained on the market for three years.

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What is the name of this luxury car that was first introduced in 1955?

Dodge Viper
Ford Thunderbird
Chevrolet Corvette
Cadillac De Ville

Can you name this iconic German race car, once owned by James Dean?

3%

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. Creator: Unknown.

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Porsche 550 Spyder. The Porsche 550 was a mid-engine race car released in the early 50s. This hardcore Porsche obliterated most of its competitors at race tracks across the globe.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Can you name this iconic German race car, once owned by James Dean?

Porsche 550 Spyder
Porsche 919
Porsche 911
Porsche 935

Which vehicle is considered to be America’s first sports car?

5%

Retry Correct Incorrect Originally released back in 1953, the Chevy Corvette is the first American sports car. The exterior design of the Corvette was inspired by classy European roadsters from the same era.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Which vehicle is considered to be America’s first sports car?

Dodge Viper
Ford Thunderbird
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Bel Air

Do you know the name of this luxurious drop-top?

8%

Retry Correct Incorrect The British automaker unveiled this beauty back in the second half of the 50s in response to the high demand for luxury and comfort. The Jaguar XK150 had a top speed of 120 miles per hour!

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Do you know the name of this luxurious drop-top?

Aston Martin DB4
Lamborghini Urraco
Jaguar XK150
Maserati Biturbo

This is a tough one: Which Italian automaker was founded back in 1955?

10%

Europe. Italy. Umbria. Spello. Vintage Car. Autobianchi. Bianchiana Cabrio.

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Autobianchi. Autobianchi was founded in early 1955 by Bianchi, Fiat, and Pirelli. The company only made a few different models before eventually closing down in the mid-90s.

Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

This is a tough one: Which Italian automaker was founded back in 1955?

Ferves
Alfa Romeo
Lamborghini
Autobianchi

This futuristic concept from the mid-50s never made it to production. Are you able to name it?

13%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Alfa Romeo BAT 9. BAT was a series of concept cars released by Alfa Romeo throughout the 1950s. This is the BAT 9, the final vehicle in the series.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

This futuristic concept from the mid-50s never made it to production. Are you able to name it?

Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Chrysler Turbine Car
Maserati Merak
Alfa Romeo BAT 9

Do you know the name of this American icon from the 50s?

15%

Retry Correct Incorrect The Chevy Bel Air was one of the most stylish American cars that money could buy back in the 1950s. The second generation of the car hit the market for the 1955 model year.

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Do you know the name of this American icon from the 50s?

Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Cadillac Eldorado
Dodge Polara

This is the Imperial Parade Phaeton, created by Chrysler for grand ceremonies. Which three cities received this lavish 1950s land yacht?

18%

1956_Imperial_Parade_Phaeton_ Dwight_Eisenhower_car_-_fvr

Retry Correct Incorrect Three units were built- one for Los Angeles and one for New York. The third unit was originally gifted to Washington DC and the White House, though the gift was refused, and the vehicle ended up serving in Detroit.

Rex Gray/Wikimedia Commons/Wikipedia

This is the Imperial Parade Phaeton, created by Chrysler for grand ceremonies. Which three cities received this lavish 1950s land yacht?

New York, Washington DC, Detroit
Detroit, Tampa, Austin
Los Angeles, New York, Detroit
Washington DC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia

This horrendous front end represents one of the biggest failures in automotive history. Do you know the make and model?

20%

Retry Correct Incorrect Not all cars created in the 1950s were great, and the Ford Edsel is a prime example. Ford launched the Edsel as a subdivision in 1958 and then shut it down just two years later.

ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

This horrendous front end represents one of the biggest failures in automotive history. Do you know the make and model?

Ford Pinto
Ford Edsel
Rolls Royce Camargue
Dodge Rampage

Can you name this flagship American car?

23%

Retry Correct Incorrect The New Yorker debuted in 1940 and remained on the market all the way through the second half of the 90s. The 1950s saw three different generations of this beauty.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Can you name this flagship American car?

Chrysler New Yorker
Chrysler Imperial
Buick Riviera
Lincoln Town Car

Which British automaker created this legendary grand tourer?

25%

1961 Aston Martin Db4 Gt Previously Owned By Donald Campbell. Creator: Unknown.

Retry Correct Incorrect The Aston Martin DB4 has earned a spot as one of the most significant British vehicles of all time. The sleek, lightweight body was created by Carrozzeria Touring, an Italian coachbuilder.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Which British automaker created this legendary grand tourer?

Rolls Royce
MG
Jaguar
Aston Martin

What are the doors on a Mercedes-Benz 300SL called?

28%

Retry Correct Incorrect The 300SL was the first production car to feature Gullwing doors. This unique door mechanism features hinges on the top rather than the side, making it easier to get in and out of the car in a tight parking space.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

What are the doors on a Mercedes-Benz 300SL called?

Lambo doors
Dihedral doors
Butterfly doors
Gullwing doors

Which Buick was released to celebrate the automaker’s 50th anniversary?

30%

Retry Correct Incorrect In 1953, Buick unveiled the gorgeous Roadmaster Skylark- a few years before the Skylark became a separate model in its own right. The ’53 Roadmaster Skylark is considered one of the most iconic cars of the decade.

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Which Buick was released to celebrate the automaker’s 50th anniversary?

Buick Wildcat
Buick Roadmaster Skylark
Buick Riviera
Buick Special De Luxe

Do you know the name of this British classic, driven by Rowan Atkinson in Mr. Bean?

33%

Retry Correct Incorrect British Motor Corporation unveiled the Mini, an affordable two-door city car, at the end of the 1950s. The Mini quickly became an icon beloved across the globe, and its legendary nameplate is still around today.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Do you know the name of this British classic, driven by Rowan Atkinson in Mr. Bean?

Austin Healey
Mini
Maxi
Morris

Which American icon first appeared on the market in 1953?

35%

Cadillac Eldorado 1956 im Automobil Museum Genf, 1995

Retry Correct Incorrect 1953 saw the debut of the luxurious Eldorado. Initially offered only as a two-door convertible, a hardtop variant quickly followed for the second-gen just a year after the car’s initial debut.

Didier Martenet/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Which American icon first appeared on the market in 1953?

Cadillac CTS
Cadillac Series 75
Cadillac Eldorado
Cadillac De Ville

Do you know which manufacturer created this gorgeous V8-powered sports car?

38%

Retry Correct Incorrect This is the Fiat 8V Supersonic, powered by a 2.0L Tipo V8 motor. Back in the early 1950s, Fiat believed that Ford had copyrighted the V8 nameplate and decided to call its sports car the 8V instead.

John Keeble/Getty Images

Do you know which manufacturer created this gorgeous V8-powered sports car?

Lagonda
Aston Martin
Jaguar
Fiat

Which automaker created this cute European microcar in the early 1950s?

40%

Retry Correct Incorrect The Isetta, originally built by a small Italian manufacturer, was licensed to a handful of automakers, including BMW. Today, the BMW Isetta remains a quirky classic highly sought after by collectors.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Which automaker created this cute European microcar in the early 1950s?

BMW
Lada
Audi
Peel

What is the name of this cute, affordable British sports car?

43%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Triumph TR2. This is the Triumph TR2, a lightweight roadster sold between 1953 and 1955. It came with a flat-four under the hood, a four-speed stick shift, and no roof.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

What is the name of this cute, affordable British sports car?

AC Cobra
Morgan Threewheeler
Triumph TR2
Triumph TR3

What is the name of this gorgeous sedan?

45%

Retry Correct Incorrect French automaker Citroen unveiled the DS back in 1955. The car became famous for its unique design and innovative technology, such as its self-leveling hydraulic suspension, which provided an extremely smooth ride.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

What is the name of this gorgeous sedan?

Citroen DS
Citroen SM
Renault Avantime
Renault Turbo

This vehicle resulted in one of the heaviest financial losses in the history of BMW. What was it called?

48%

Retry Correct Incorrect The BMW 507 was developed for the US market in the mid-1950s. However, the roadster quickly proved to be too expensive to produce. BMW shut down the production line after building just 252 units.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

This vehicle resulted in one of the heaviest financial losses in the history of BMW. What was it called?

BMW M3 Roadster
BMW Z1
BMW 507
BMW 328

What is the name of this gorgeous Italian Berlinetta?

50%

Retry Correct Incorrect This is the A6GCS/53, one of the final versions of Maserati’s A6 series of grand tourers. It’s just as beautiful as it is rare- the Italian automaker only made four units.

Michael Cole/Corbis via Getty Images

What is the name of this gorgeous Italian Berlinetta?

Maserati Tipo 61
Ferrari 250 GT
Maserati A6GCS/53
Aston Martin DB5

Which 1950s vehicle was the first to feature unique Gullwing doors?

53%

Classic Days - Festival of Culture & Motoring, Lifestyle

Retry Correct Incorrect Though the 300SL was the first production car with Gullwing doors, it wasn’t the first car of all time with these unique doors. That honor goes to the W194, an endurance racing car released in 1952- two years before the 300SL.

Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

Which 1950s vehicle was the first to feature unique Gullwing doors?

DMC DeLorean
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes-Benz W194
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

What kind of motor was fitted in the original Buick Skylark Convertible?

55%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the 322ci Fireball V8. Buick did not cut corners with the original Skylark; a model released to mark the automaker’s 50th anniversary. The car’s monstrous 322-cubic-inch motor generated 200 horses.

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What kind of motor was fitted in the original Buick Skylark Convertible?

322ci Fireball V8
426 ci HEMI V8
440ci V8
350ci LT1 V8

Can you name this classic European sports car?

58%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Fiat 8V. This is yet another version of the V8-powered Fiat 8V. Unlike the previously mentioned Supersonic, this variant features a Berlinetta-style body designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Can you name this classic European sports car?

Aston Martin DB4 GT
Fiat 8V
Maserati Tipo 61
Mercedes-Benz SL

Here’s another old-school British roadster. Which manufacturer made it?

60%

Retry Correct Incorrect The Triumph TR3 hit the market in 1955 as a replacement for the previously mentioned TR2. Once again, the car came with a four-speed stick shift and a flat-four motor beneath the hood, rated at 100 horsepower.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Here’s another old-school British roadster. Which manufacturer made it?

Austin
Morgan
Peel
Triumph

Which now-defunct automaker installed this monumental hood ornament?

63%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Packard. This is the Packard 200 with the Mayfair package, one of the last vehicles built before the company eventually filed for bankruptcy in the late 1950s.

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Which now-defunct automaker installed this monumental hood ornament?

Mercury
Tucker
Chrysler
Packard

This microcar was made by an Italian manufacturer that usually made bikes. Do you know which one it is?

65%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Vespa. Vespa offered three different versions of the 400 Microcar. All of them were powered by a two-stroke motor mounted in the rear of the car.

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This microcar was made by an Italian manufacturer that usually made bikes. Do you know which one it is?

Moto Guzzi
Piaggio
Vespa
Ducati

Sometimes referred to as the Birdcage, which legendary race car is this?

68%

Retry Correct Incorrect The Maserati Tipo 61 obliterated its competitors right after the car’s 1959 debut. The Italian automaker only made 16 units of this rare beauty, as well as a tribute Birdcage 75th concept vehicle in 2005.

Michael Cole – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Sometimes referred to as the Birdcage, which legendary race car is this?

Porsche 917
Aston Martin DB3S
Maserati Tipo 61
Ferrari Tipo 500

Naming this truck shouldn’t be an issue for fans of US classics.

70%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is the Chevrolet Apache. Chevrolet completely redesigned its pickup truck line in the mid-1950s. The Apache remained in production until 1961 before eventually being replaced by the C/K Series.

John Keeble/Getty Images

Naming this truck shouldn’t be an issue for fans of US classics.

Ford F100
Chevrolet Square Body
Chevrolet Apache
Chevrolet C30

Do you know the name of this coupe, widely considered to be the pinnacle of luxury back in the 1950s?

73%

1956 Lincoln Continental Mk2. Creator: Unknown.

Retry Correct Incorrect The second generation of the Lincoln Continental hit the market for the ’56 model year. The majority of the vehicle was assembled by hand and marketed as the highest-quality American automobile available at the time.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Do you know the name of this coupe, widely considered to be the pinnacle of luxury back in the 1950s?

Lincoln Continental
Chrysler New Yorker
Cadillac De Ville
Buick Wildcat

Which automaker created this weird concept car?

75%

Retry Correct Incorrect This is the Firebird III, a concept car that made its debut at the Motorama auto show in 1959. Unsurprisingly, this automobile was never supposed to make it into production.

Getty Images

Which automaker created this weird concept car?

General Motors
Chrysler
Aston Martin
Fiat

Can you name this unique-looking drop-top?

78%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Kaiser Darrin. This is the Kaiser Darrin, an American sports car made in 1954. You have probably never heard of it, as the small automaker only built 435 of these.

National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Can you name this unique-looking drop-top?

Packard Hawk
Kaiser Darrin
Chrysler Newport
Chrysler Imperial

The automaker behind this beauty may be defunct already, though the legacy will live on forever. Which model is this?

80%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Packard Caribbean. The Caribbean Convertible was a lavish drop-top sold by Packard in 1953. Sadly, the model was discontinued when Packard shut down its Detroit plant in 1956.

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The automaker behind this beauty may be defunct already, though the legacy will live on forever. Which model is this?

Packard Mayfair
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Packard Caribbean
DeSoto Imperial

Here’s another classic American pickup truck from the 1950s. Do you know this one?

83%

Retry Correct Incorrect Back in 1953, Ford unveiled the second generation of the F-Series pickup truck. Buyers could pick between all kinds of motors, ranging from a flat-six in the base model all the way to a powerful V8.

Barrett-Jackson via Getty Images)

Here’s another classic American pickup truck from the 1950s. Do you know this one?

Dodge D100
Ford F100
Chevrolet Apache
Ford F150

This generation is nowhere near as famous as its successor from the 60s. Which legendary American car is this?

85%

Retry Correct Incorrect The second generation of the Chevy Impala debuted for the 1959 model year. It was eventually replaced by the much more popular third-gen by 1961.

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This generation is nowhere near as famous as its successor from the 60s. Which legendary American car is this?

Ford Torino
Chevrolet Impala
Chrysler Imperial
Chevrolet Bel Air

This land yacht was the European alternative to the Lincoln Continental.

88%

Elizabeth Taylor's 1960 Rolls Royce Up For Action At The Pierre Hotel

Retry Correct Incorrect Back in the 1950s, the Silver Cloud served as the flagship model offered by Rolls Royce. The vehicle has some of the best technology and features that were available at the time.

John Lamparski/Getty Images

This land yacht was the European alternative to the Lincoln Continental.

Bentley Continental
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
Aston Martin Lagonda

Can you name this rare racing car, valued at around $10 million?

90%

RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction Press Preview

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Maserati 450S. Maserati developed the 450S to compete in endurance races in the second half of the 1950s. The 450S made 119 racing appearances, having won 31 of them.

John Lamparski/Getty Images

Can you name this rare racing car, valued at around $10 million?

Maserati 450S
Maserati MC12
Ferrari Tipo 500
Ferrari 330

How well do you know your Aston Martins?

93%

Concours d'Elegance Paleis Soestdijk 2019

Retry Correct Incorrect This is the Aston Martin DB2, one of the rarest versions in the DB production car series. This grand tourer has a max speed of 120 miles per hour, which was pretty astonishing back in the 50s!

Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

How well do you know your Aston Martins?

Aston Martin Lagonda
Aston Martin DB3
Aston Martin DB2/4
Aston Martin GT

This sedan is a great representation of 1950s design. Do you know its name?

95%

North America, USA, Minnesota, Lilydale, Auto Show Pool and Yacht Club, DeSoto Firedome.

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is DeSoto Firedome. This is the DeSoto Firedome, built by a subsidiary of Chrysler. The Firedome served as DeSoto’s premium line of vehicles, built between 1952 and 1959.

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This sedan is a great representation of 1950s design. Do you know its name?

Edsel 3
DeSoto Firedome
Rolls Royce Corniche
Lagonda

Last but not least, which manufacturer made this vehicle?

98%

Retry Correct Incorrect The correct answer is Alfa Romeo. The striking front end is a distinctive feature of vintage Alfa Romeos. This is the Giulietta Sprint, a sporty version of a family car sold between 1954 and 1965.

Mondadori via Getty Images

Last but not least, which manufacturer made this vehicle?

Maserati
Autobianchi
Fiat
Alfa Romeo

Congrats, you finished! Here are your results:

100%

Congrats, you finished! Here are your results:

Retry Oooof. Perhaps classic cars from the 1950s aren’t your specialty. You’re a fan of newer automobiles, I presume? Almost There These results tell us that you have your favorite classic cars from the 1950s but that’s pretty much where your knowledge on the subject begins and ends. Better luck next time. Not Too Bad! These results tell us that while you know a lot about classic cars from the 1950s, you need to read up on some of the finer aspects. Study up and retake this quiz! Certified Classic Car Fanatic These results tell us you love looking at a learning about classic cars from the 1950s. Way to go!

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