Classic Cars & Automobiles
Instructions: From tail fins to muscle cars — how well do you remember the iconic automobiles of the 1950s through 1980s?
- 1.
The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is often considered one of the most iconic cars of its era. What body style made it especially popular with families?
AFour-door sedanBConvertibleCTwo-door hardtop sport coupeDStation wagon - 2.
In what year was the Ford Mustang first introduced to the public?
A1962B1966C1964D1968 - 3.
What year did the first Chevrolet Corvette roll off the assembly line?
A1949B1953C1955D1951 - 4.
The Volkswagen Beetle earned many nicknames over the years. Which advertising campaign in the 1960s helped make it a bestseller in America?
A'Think Small'B'Fahrvergnugen'C'The People's Car'D'Drivers Wanted' - 5.
Which American car brand became famous for its dramatic tail fins in the late 1950s, reaching their most extreme height in 1959?
ALincolnBBuickCCadillacDChrysler - 6.
The AMC Gremlin, one of America's first subcompact cars, was introduced on what notable date in 1970?
AApril Fools' DayBLabor DayCIndependence DayDNew Year's Day - 7.
The Pontiac GTO is widely considered the first true American muscle car. In what year was it introduced?
A1962B1964C1968D1966 - 8.
The DeLorean DMC-12, famous for its gull-wing doors and stainless steel body, was manufactured in which country?
ANorthern IrelandBEnglandCUnited StatesDItaly - 9.
Which actor's iconic car in 'Smokey and the Bandit' made the Pontiac Trans Am a cultural sensation in 1977?
ABurt ReynoldsBSteve McQueenCPaul NewmanDClint Eastwood - 10.
Henry Ford's Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927, was famously available in 'any color so long as it is' what?
ARedBGreenCBlueDBlack - 11.
The Ford Thunderbird was originally introduced in 1955 as what type of vehicle?
ATwo-seat personal luxury carBFamily sedanCPickup truckDStation wagon - 12.
The 1968 Dodge Charger became a pop culture icon largely thanks to a famous car chase scene in which movie?
ABullittBThe French ConnectionCVanishing PointDGone in 60 Seconds - 13.
MG sports cars, beloved by American enthusiasts in the 1950s and 1960s, were manufactured in which country?
AEnglandBFranceCItalyDGermany - 14.
Preston Tucker's revolutionary 1948 Tucker Torpedo featured a center headlight that did what?
ATurned with the steering wheelBChanged color with speedCRetracted into the hoodDBlinked to warn other drivers - 15.
In the 1960s and 1970s, what style of Chrysler vehicle became a symbol of the classic American family road trip?
AMinivanBWood-paneled station wagonCHatchbackDConvertible
Answer Key
The 1957 Bel Air's two-door hardtop sport coupe, with its distinctive chrome trim and tailfins, became the most sought-after model. Only about 166,000 were produced that year.
The Ford Mustang debuted on April 17, 1964, at the New York World's Fair. It was such a hit that Ford sold over 22,000 on the first day alone.
The first Corvette was produced on June 30, 1953, in Flint, Michigan. Only 300 were made that year, all in Polo White with red interiors.
The 'Think Small' campaign by Doyle Dane Bernbach in 1959 revolutionized advertising with its minimalist style. It's often ranked as the greatest ad campaign of the 20th century.
Cadillac's 1959 models featured the tallest tail fins ever put on a production car, inspired by the twin tails of the P-38 Lightning fighter plane. Designer Harley Earl championed the look.
AMC deliberately launched the Gremlin on April 1, 1970. Despite being mocked for its chopped-off rear end, it sold well as gas prices rose in the 1970s.
The 1964 Pontiac GTO was the brainchild of engineer John DeLorean. It put a powerful 389 V8 engine into a midsize car, launching the muscle car era.
The DeLorean was built in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. Though the company went bankrupt in 1982, the car gained immortality as the time machine in 'Back to the Future.'
Burt Reynolds drove a black and gold 1977 Pontiac Trans Am in 'Smokey and the Bandit.' Demand for the Trans Am skyrocketed after the film, with sales increasing by over 50%.
Henry Ford's famous quip referred to the years 1914-1925 when only black was offered. Earlier Model Ts actually came in several colors including green, blue, and red.
The original 1955-1957 Thunderbird was a sporty two-seater designed to compete with the Corvette. It shifted to a four-seat design in 1958, becoming more of a luxury cruiser.
The 1968 Dodge Charger was the villain's car in the legendary chase scene in 'Bullitt' (1968), racing against Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang GT through the streets of San Francisco.
MG (Morris Garages) was a British manufacturer based in Abingdon, England. The MGA and MGB models were especially popular with American buyers who loved affordable open-top motoring.
The Tucker 48's center 'Cyclops Eye' headlight turned with the steering wheel to illuminate curves. Only 51 Tucker cars were ever produced before the company folded.
Chrysler's wood-paneled Town & Country station wagons were the quintessential family car. The iconic faux-wood side panels became a symbol of suburban American life.