98% of People Can't Crush This General Car Knowledge Quiz! Can You?

By: Craig
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Cars: We all rely on them (well, most of us), but how much do you know about the best friend under your carport (or in your garage, if you're lucky!) 

It's been more than a century since innovator Henry Ford made cars available to the average American, and in that time there's been a wide variety of makes and models -- from those that have become classics and are still lovingly kept up and seen on the roads, to those that didn't catch on and are remembered by few. Not to mention all the types of cars manufactured by our friends overseas. They make some of the most coveted, best-performing cars in the world! (We're looking at you, Germany!)

Do you know, for example, which car sold an astounding 21 million units before its line was finally discontinued? Or what "BMW" stands for? (No, despite the popular 1980s joke, it's not "break my window"). Or what kind of AMC Wayne's buddy, Garth, drove in "Wayne's World"? 

There's a lot to get into here -- so don't wait! Take your inner car buff out for a spin with our quiz! We promise that no matter how well or poorly you do, you're not going to lose your license! 

Which Japanese manufacturers makes a model called Yaris?

This subcompact model was first introduced by Toyota in 1999. It comes as both a hatchback and sedan. Although the vehicle initially was popular in the United States (more than 100,000 sold in 2008), sales figures have dropped dramatically with just over 10,000 sold in 2016.

A turbocharger in your vehicle's engine performs what task?

A turbocharger's sole aim is to force more of the air/fuel mixture into the engine. This leads to a lot more power and increases performance. And it sounds amazing as well.

A muscle car from Plymouth shared its name with a cartoon character. Who was it?

The Road Runner was manufactured by Plymouth between 1968 and 1980. They even used the Road Runner character as decals on the car although the rights to do this cost them a cool $50,000.

The Dodge Neon was marketed under another name in Europe. What was it?

Although it was exactly the same car in every way (except some were right-hand drive), the Dodge Neon was called the Chrysler Neon in Europe and other parts of the world.

In what year was American Motor Corporation formed?

American Motor Corporation formed in 1954. It lasted until 1987.

Which two brands merged to form the American Motor Corporation?

The formation of American Motor Corporation in 1954 was a result of the merger of Nash and Hudson, at the time, the two oldest independent car manufacturers in the United States.

In the famous slacker movie, "Wayne's World," Wayne's friend, Garth, drives what model of AMC?

The 'Mirthmobile' as Garth called it, was an Pacer. This model was built by AMC from 1975 to 1979.

What does BMW stand for?

Translated into English, Bayerische Motoren Werke simply means Bavarian Motor Works. The company was started in 1917.

BMW did not make cars at first, but engines for what?

Initially, BMW only made engines for aircraft. Their first motorbike was produced in 1923 and the first car followed in 1928.

In what year did Chevrolet introduce their iconic Corvette to the American market?

The first Corvette, designated the C1, was introduced to the Chevrolet line up in 1953. Three hundred were produced in the first year. Not that many it would seem but they were, in fact, hand built.

Which American vehicle manufacturer made the iconic Model T?

The Ford Model T was introduced in 1908 and remained in production right up until 1927.

How many Ford Model T's were made during the 19 years the car was manufactured?

Around 15 million Model T's were produced by Ford over a 19-year period. This is thanks to the fact that the assembly line made the process of building fairly fast. The Model T was also priced so that most of the working public could afford one.

Which vehicle was produced for the longest period in automative history?

The Volkswagen Beetle was produced between 1938 and 2003 when the last one rolled off the production line in Mexico.

During its 75-year production run, how many VW Beetles were built?

A staggering 21 million Beetles were produced over a 75-year period. Will this ever be matched?

In the Stephen King novel, 'Christine,' the main protagonist is a haunted vehicle. What make of vehicle was Christine?

Christine was a 1958 Plymouth Fury. The producers also used a Plymouth Savoy and Belvedere during production.

So we all know Herbie from the famous movie, "The Love Bug," as well as many others. However, do you remember the number on Herbie's side?

The Herbie movie franchise has proved to be very popular over the years. And yes, his number was 53!

Which Japanese manufacturer was first to sell its vehicles in the United Kingdom in 1968?

Strangely enough, it wasn't one of the big Japanese manufacturers like Nissan or Toyota to first sell cars in the United Kingdom. It was their smaller rival, Daihatsu, who imported the Compagno into the UK in 1968.

Which Japanese manufacturer was first to sell its vehicles in the United States in 1958?

Toyota was the first Japanese manufacturer to export cars to the United States. This vehicle was the Toyopet and by the end of 1958, only 287 had been sold.

The movie, "Bullitt," has one of the greatest car chase scenes ever filmed. What car is Steve McQueen driving during the chase.

Of course, Steve McQueen is driving the iconic Ford Mustang GTO 390 in the Bullitt chase scene. Two of these cars were used during filming. One was destroyed during filming while the other was bought and no one is sure where it is.

This modern Ford is named after a sign of the zodiac. What is it?

The Ford Taurus was introduced into the Ford lineup in 1986. It is currently in its sixth generation.

Can you name the Dodge model that is either the name of a famous TV private investigator or the size of a wine bottle?

The Magnum marque has been used on a few vehicles over the years. The first was a mid-sized two-door coupe built in the United States.

Which Ford model is considered one of the ultimate muscle cars?

First introduced in 1964, the Mustang is perhaps the most iconic muscle car in the world. Ford sold 400,000 in its first year alone, exceeding all their expectations.

Lada vehicles are made in which country?

Manufactured by the AvtoVAZ company, Lada vehicles were first made in 1970. They were originally based on the Fiat 124 sedan.

The SS badge is carried by all of Chevrolet's high-performance vehicles. What does SS stand for?

Many Chevrolet brands carry the SS marque, including the Camaro, Chevelle and Impala.

The Volkswagen Beetle was first built in 1938 in Germany. Which world leader first had the idea for a 'People's Car.'

Hitler wanted a cheap car that could carry German families along the newly-built autobahns and that is how the idea of the Beetle was born.

What is the name of the popular van made by Ford since 1965?

The Ford Transit, currently in its fourth generation, is one of the most popular light commercial vehicles available in the United States. Over 140,000 were sold in the US alone in 2016.

The first Jeeps, used by US forces during World War II were made by which company?

The Jeep only received its nickname during the Second World War. It is thought jeep was short for general purpose, although some believe it was so named after Popeye's pet, Eugene the Jeep. Its model name was in fact, Willys M.B.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most famous racetracks in the world. What is its nickname?

Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909. It is the biggest sports facility in the world with close to 500,000 people able to watch racing events

When it comes to stopping your car, what does ABS stand for?

Not as effective as today's ABS, the idea for anti-lock brakes was first used in the 1950s. Modern systems as we know them today followed in the 1970s.

In car maintenance, after how many miles should you rotate your tires?

Most tire manufacturers will suggest that you rotate the tires on your car between every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. This helps to preserve the tires by making them wear more evenly, thereby extending their overall life.

Tires come in various sizes. You notice a sale on 195/65R15 tires. Which of these figures relate to the rim size on which the tires will fit?

In this case, the rim size is 15. The 195 refers to the width of the tire in millimeters while the 65 is the aspect ratio.

For a petrol engine to run, three main things are needed. What are they?

All combustion engines run on this principle. Take one of these away and the engine will simply not run. If an engine is running poorly, chances are the problem lies with one of these three.

What are the two types of fuel used in most engines?

Almost every car on the road today runs on either petrol or diesel. Of course, as electric powered cars become more viable, hopefully these numbers will drop for the environment's sake.

Which German manufacturer is responsible for modes such as the Golf, Passat and Scirocco.

Volkswagen was established in 1938. Their first car, the VW Beetle, was produced up until 2003 with over 21 million made. Their other iconic models include the Golf and Jetta.

Gull Wing doors are found on a number of modern sports cars. Which vehicle was the first to use them in the mid-50s?

One of the most iconic Mercedes' ever built, the 300SL Coupe, is a thing of beauty. It was the first car to make use of gull wing doors that open upwards.

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