Can You Guess How Long These Models Have Been on the Road?

Robin Tyler

Image: Wiki Commons via Matthew Lamb

About This Quiz

Over the years, automakers around the world have released many models of vehicles, some more successful than others. That success generally comes down to one factor only, sales. 

But even that might not mean a car lives on. For example, the Chevrolet AA Capital was marketed for once year only, sold 670,000 units and was never seen again. Weird, but Chevrolet simply moved on to another even better model.

And then we have vehicles like the Toyota Corolla. Today, it is one of the best selling models in the world and sold in many different countries around the globe. But that success started decades ago. Do you know when?

With this quiz, we like to change things up a bit. It will test your knowledge of how long certain cars models have been on the road. With just an image, you will have to use your gray matter to decide the year in which a vehicle was first released. And yes, designs have certainly changed over the years, so an image should give you a good idea of the decade at least. But rest assured, this quiz is going to test you.

Don't worry, just take your time and you will ace it!

Good luck!

When was this classic, possibly one of the most famous cars ever designed, first available to the public?

Has there ever been a car more iconic than the Volkswagen Beetle? Or a car produced for a period of many decades like the Beetle was? No, there probably hasn’t been and never will be. A true classic!

When did this little classic first hit the roads of Great Britain?

In 1959, the Mini Mk 1 was introduced to the world. And what a popular car it proved to be. Over the years, it underwent a number of upgrades, but that distinct Mini appeal never left. The last of these cars rolled off the production line in the late 1990s.

For the green-conscious among us, this vehicle is a must. But when was it first released?

An all-electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf went into production in 2010. Of course, perhaps the most important thing with such a car is the range. Today, a fully charged Leaf has a range of 151 miles with the larger 40 kWh battery. Perhaps more importantly, a flat battery can be charged to 80% within a mere 30 minutes. This is the best-selling electric car in the world.

This vehicle from Oldsmobile was first released in what year?

Established in 1897 by Ransom E. Olds, sadly this American auto manufacturer closed its doors in 2004 after producing 35 million vehicles for American roads. The Cutlass, a model first marketed in the early ‘60s, proved to be one of the most popular introduced by the company. It started life in the compact class before the 1964 models moved the Cutlass into the mid-sized category.

A stunning example of a roadster, when do you think this car was first marketed?

A truly beautiful and classic styled 2-seat roadster, the 315/1 was marketed by BMW from 1934 to 1937. It was powered by a 1.5-liter engine capable of 40 brake horsepower.

Some models of this vehicle are in demand today. When was it first released, though?

One of the most iconic vehicles ever produced by Chevrolet was the Bel Air. First manufactured in 1950, it will always be remembered for its fantastic trim and those beautiful pointy tailfins on the mid-'50s models.

An electric sports car is shown in this image. When do you think it was first released as a concept?

Based on the Lotus Europe S, the Circuit EV is an electric sports car first revealed by Dodge in 2009. The electric engine could generate 268 brake horsepower while the car was said to have a range of between 150 to 200 miles. Sadly, it was shelved.

Do you know when the van in the image was first released?

This van was first produced in 1961. Four different generations were built up until 2014 when the brand was replaced by the new Transit. The E-Series dominated the van market in North America, claiming well over 70% market share at times.

The vehicle in this image was first produced in ________

Not many people know, but Peugeot is actually the oldest car manufacturers in the world. Their most popular model, the 504, was produced between 1968 and 1983 and is the company's highest selling model.

A firm favorite with muscle car lovers, when did this vehicle first lay down some rubber?

The 'Cuda quickly became a popular muscle car from its release in 1964. In fact, it debuted two weeks before the Ford Mustang. Of course, later models featuring the Hemi engine are the most sought after.

Certainly it looks a little different, but when was this car released?

Introduced in 1962, the Avanti certainly looked different from other cars on the market. Studebaker pitched the Avanti as a high-performance four-passenger car. And its performance at the time was pretty special, with the Avanti breaking close to 30 records during runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

When was this Japanese luxury car first marketed in the United States?

The Vigor was marketed in the United States from 1991 to 1994. It was based on a stretched version of the Honda Accord chassis, although at first, early models were based on the first generation Honda Vigor, a car close to a decade old.

The epitome of British luxury, any idea as to when this car first hit the road?

Designed by Bill Allen, the Corniche from Rolls Royce was produced for a 26-year period from 1971 to 1996. It was an advancement on the Silver Shadow and was available as either a 2-door coupe or 2-door convertible.

This Classic Six was slightly dangerous and liked bursting into flames! When was it first released?

Built as competition for the Ford Model T, this vehicle was very prone to not only engine failure but fires as well. How did Chevy deal with the problem? Well, they recalled 757 cars and destroyed them!

Over 100,000 units of this vehicle sold in three years after it was released. What year was that?

Built between 1962 and 1965, the Custom 880, which formed part of the full-sized vehicle segment, was brought in by Chrysler after the production of the DeSoto was stopped in 1961. Over 100,000 Custom 880s were sold by the end of the production run in 1965.

Which year was this classic sports car first marketed?

An entry-level Porsche between 1965 and 1969, the 912 is a variant of the 911. Initially, it even outsold its more famous sibling. Although it was not as powerful as the 911, it was incredibly fuel efficient.

Now one of the top selling cars in the world, but where did it all begin?

The best selling car in the world, the Toyota Corolla was first introduced in 1966. During its lifetime, it has had 11 redesigns over that periods, first starting out as a subcompact model, moving to a compact as well as a mid-sized categories. In 2016, over 300,000 units of the Corolla were sold in the United States alone.

Loved by hippies, when was this classic bus first released?

Volkswagen started life in Germany in 1937. The first vehicle produced by the company was the iconic Beetle, or ‘People’s Car’ as it became known. But Volkswagen also produced another iconic vehicle. Commonly known as the Bus, this vehicle made its debut in 1949 and still today, the company manufacture its spiritual successors.

When did this all-wheel drive classic first turn a wheel in anger?

Produced between 1980 and 1991, the Quattro was a 2-door coupe with four-wheel drive. Not only was it popular with the public, but it dominated the Rally scene in the mid-‘80s.

It goes 261 mph! In what year did it first get there?

The Bugatti Chiron’s 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine produces 1,500 brake horsepower. Its $2.9 million price tag will cause heart palpitations for your bank manager! It's probably worth it to travel at 261 mph though.

This classic truck was first marketed in ________?

This light truck was part of the Chevrolet fleet from 1941 until 1947. In terms of transmission, the AK only had a three-speed manual gearbox. This was coupled to either a 3.5 or 3.77-liter straight-six engine.

An American classic, especially the early models, when was this car first produced?

Certainly an iconic name in American motoring, the Cadillac DeVille was produced between 1958 and 2005.

In what year did Chrysler release this model?

The first full-sized car released by Chrysler, the Royal badge adorned a range of body styles including a four-door sedan and two-door convertible as well as a coupe. It was produced from 1937 to 1950.

Any idea as to when this Ford model first hit the road?

The Super Deluxe was produced by Ford between 1941 and 1948. It came in a variety of body styles including a 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible and 4-door sedan as well as a station wagon, to mention a few.

What a beauty! Do you know which year it was released?

There is no denying that this vehicle, produced in the 1930s, is one of the best-looking cars ever made. Those lines simply do not age. A few have been up for auction over the past 20 years, including one that went for $4.8 million.

This coupe was made famous by the TV series, 'The Saint'. When was it first released?

Although the P1800 came out as a sports car in a two-door coupe style, strangely, a 3-door sports estate was also released. Over 39,000 of the coupe were built by Volvo. This vehicle quickly became popular, largely thanks to appearing in the TV series, "The Saint."

A true classic but in station wagon form, do you know in which year this vehicle was first marketed?

Built between 1946 and 1965 in the US and till 1981 in Argentina, the Willys Jeep Station wagon was one of Jeep's most successful models. It was designed by Brooks Stevens. and over 300,000 were produced in the US alone.

Another truly beautiful car but do you know in what year it was first manufactured?

Built between 1937 and 1939, this Italian classic sold at auction for $5.983 million in 1999. Imagine how much it would go for now? Essentially the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Pinin Farina Cabriolet was a road-going version of the famous 8C 2900A race car.

In _______ BMW first released this vehicle in Europe.

Marketed from 1965 to 1969, the BMW 2000 C was two-door coupe part of the BMW series called the New Class. It was powered by a 2.0-liter engine which produced around 100 brake horsepower. Just over 13,000 were produced during that five-year period.

The car that broke Ford's stranglehold with the Model T, this model sold 670,000 units in the only year of its release. When was that?

Although it was only produced in 1927, the AA Capitol series say Chevrolet sell over 670,000 units and for once, break Ford's domination of the American motor scene. This series included eight different body types all based on the GM A platform.

A rebranded Plymouth, this Dodge vehicle was manufactured for the first time in what year?

The Kingsway, which essentially rebranded Plymouth models with some Dodge accessories, bumpers, for instance, were built for markets outside the United States. The Kingsway name first appeared in 1940 and was used up until 1959.

This European classic was first released in _______?

The mini Fiat 500 was a European favorite after it first hit the streets in 1957. It was manufactured until 1975.

19,000 units of this vehicle were made during a six-year period. In what year did it first appear?

The Curved Dash Oldsmobile was released in 1901 and built to 1907. Before Ford had dreamt about his production line, Oldsmobile were living it when producing the Curved Dash. Although let’s be honest, it still looks like a horseless carriage. The Model T started to look more like a car. Over 19,000 of the Curved Dash Oldsmobile were produced.

Do you know in what year this popular Chrysler model was released?

Although keeping with the 'air' theme like its another Chrysler model, the Airflow, the Airstream was not a streamlined design and was based on the 1933 Chrysler CO. And it certainly proved more popular than its more streamlined stablemate, with five sold to every one Airflow. The following year, 1935, this rose to 9 sold for every Airflow that left the showroom floor.

This vehicle is British luxury at its finest. It is still in production today, but when was it first marketed?

The Phantom is a name synonymous with Rolls Royce and has been in production since the 1925.

This early Cadillac was first seen in _______?

One of the earliest Cadillac models, the Model Thirty was produced between 1909 and 1911. It was the first model in the United States to offer a closed body.

The most famous hatchback of them all, but do you know in what year it was released in Europe?

Since the Golf Mk 1 hit the roads in 1974, this iconic German brand has continued to thrill motorists the world over. , the Golf has gone from strength to strength. Now in its seventh incarnation, Golfs remain popular and have become top of the range, highly sophisticated cars.

Any idea as to when this luxury car was released in Europe?

The beautiful BMW 501, a mid-sized luxury car designed by Peter Schimanowski was marketed by the Bavarian auto manufacturer from 1952 - 1962. It was available in three body styles - 4-door sedan, 2-door cabriolet and 2-door coupe. Top-of-the-range models were driving by a 2.5-liter V8 engine.

What year was the vehicle in this image first made?

Introduced in 1917, the D Series was the first Chevrolet to have a V-8 engine. Sadly, it was horribly underpowered (only 36 brake horsepower), so much so that other four-cylinder engines were more powerful. By 1918, the D Series had disappeared and Chevy only returned to V8 motors 37 years later.

The most classic car of them all, when did Ford release this model?

Possibly the most iconic car ever built, the Model T made vehicles affordable to the man in the street. Thanks to Henry Ford using interchangeable parts as well as using a production line to build the car, prices for the Model T were kept low enough for ordinary people to be able to buy a car. And it showed in the sales figures with over 15 million sold from 1908 to 1927.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Explore More Quizzes