Image: Dennis Gerbeckx / Moment / Getty Images
About This Quiz
There's nothing like a classic car to help us appreciate the combination of art and science. Sleek angles and soft lines can make a car look beautiful, but they can also make a car faster, lighter, safer and more efficient. In the earliest days of car manufacturing, experimentation was a top priority. Auto pioneers like Karl Benz, Henry Royce and Ettore Bugatti all built cars to improve on existing cars, and because mass production wasn't the goal, these guys created some of the rarest cars on the planet.
In attempting to make engines quieter, bodies lighter, speeds faster and outputs more efficient, the earliest car designers created one-of-a-kind designs and styles. Today's popular cars are popular because they are best suited for assembly production. Yesterday's most popular cars were popular because they were cutting edge. They were unique. They were experimental. And they became the cars that defined the automotive industry.Â
How well do you know classic cars? Some of them were produced in mass. Some of them were never officially produced. Some of them are electric. Some of them guzzle more gas than a modern SUV. All of them are classics, and many of them are worth a fortune. Take this quiz and see if you can name more than 11 of these classic cars.
Porsche 911
Dodge Viper
DeLorean DMC
The DeLorean is an iconic car known for being featured in the "Back to the Future" trilogy, but in real life, production of the car ceased before the movie came out. The car looked cool, but it was too expensive and far too slow for a sports car, barely able to break 100 mph. Today, it's a classic.
Pontiac Firebird
Advertisement
Toyota Camry
Nissan Skyline
Datsun 240Z
The Datsun 240Z features a beautiful design and unparalleled performance for a sports car of its price. Its elongated hood is similar in style to the Jaguar E-Type, but it cost a fraction of the price. Today, Nissan is on its sixth generation of models from its Z-line.
Toyota 2000GT
Advertisement
Chevy Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Thunderbird
Volkswagen Beetle
The VW Beetle is commonly known as a bug or buggy and is one of the best-selling cars in the world. It was designed specifically for mass, mass, mass production and can be found all over the world. It wasn't designed for A1 performance or comfort but is a beloved car nonetheless.
Advertisement
Ford Thunderbird
Dodge Viper
Porsche 356
Corvette Stingray
The second generation of Corvette (aka C2) was a game-changer for Chevy. It debuted in 1963 and featured the iconic flip-up Corvette headlights, as well as a split rear window and improved performance specifications.
Advertisement
Pagani Huayra
Lotus Elise
Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbird is the quintessential classic car. It debuted in 1955, and production ran for more than two decades. It was revived in the 21st century, but production ceased after just a few years.
Pontiac Thunderbird
Advertisement
Alfa Romeo Spider
Alfa Romeo's Spider was first built in the mid-'60s and was manufactured for close to 30 years. More than 100,000 of the cars were produced over the decades, and it was a huge hit in the U.K., rivaling Jaguar's E-Type.
Bugatti Chiron
Lamborghini Miura
Ferrari Dino
Advertisement
Toyota 2000GT
Nissan Fairlady
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
Mercedes gets credit as being the world's first car, and the 300 SL is one of the finest supercars of the century. More than 3,000 of these were produced between 1954 and 1963, and they are highly sought-after collectibles today. You'd be lucky to find one for less than $1 million.
Lamborghini Miura
Advertisement
1949 Willys CJ2A
1970 Ford Bronco
1948 Ford F1
The Ford F-Series is one of the best-selling lines of vehicles in the world. It's been the best selling pickup truck in America for more than four decades, and the first generations of these trucks hit the streets in the late 1940s.
1968 Chevy C-10
Advertisement
Ferrari Dino
The Ferrari Dino was only produced for a handful of years, but it was the first time Ferrari manufactured a car in really high numbers. The Dino's soft lines and stylish curves set it apart from the harsh angles and sharp lines seen on most Ferraris.
Triumph Spitfire
Austin-Healey 3000
Ford Capri
Advertisement
Chevy Camaro
Dodge Charger
Cord L-29
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T wasn't the first car in the world or even the first gas automobile in America, but it was the first to become widely successful across the country. Millions of Ford Model Ts hit the road within the first decade of the 20th century.
Advertisement
Cord L-29
Jaguar E-Type
Alfa Romeo Spider
Aston Martin DB5
James Bond first drove the Aston Martin DB5 in the 1964 film "Goldfinger." He has gone on to drive dozens of luxury cars, but this is the one most associated with him. The car from the movie sold for close to $5 million in 2010.
Advertisement
Cord L-29
Jaguar E-Type
From 1961 to 1975, Jaguar manufactured this car model that has regularly been recognized as one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It features an elegant and elongated hood and is capable of hitting 150 mph.
Datsun 240Z
Toyota 2000GT
Advertisement
Alfa Romeo Spider
Triumph Spitfire
Datsun 510
Ford Shelby Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an iconic car, and the Shelby Mustang from 1965 to 1970 is the model that started it all. Carroll Shelby helped spruce up the original Mustang to create the GT350 and 500 models.
Advertisement
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO is the stuff dreams are made of. Only a few dozen of these beasts were ever produced, and if you were lucky enough to have got one back in the '60s, it would've cost you about $200,000 in 2019 dollars, but today they regularly sell for $50 million. One sold in 2018 for $70 million.
Lamborghini Miura
Bugatti Royale
Advertisement
Ford GT40
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most prestigious and demanding tests in endurance racing, and the Ford GT40 won the event four times in a row at the end of the '60s. Ford revamped the brand in the early 2000s when it unveiled the Ford GT.
Chevy Corvette
Dodge Charger
Chrysler 300
Advertisement
Ford Capri
Lotus Elan
Sunbeam Tiger
Triumph Spitfire
British automaker Triumph enlisted the Italian designer who designed Ferraris and Maseratis to concept this iconic sports car. The Spitfire's stylish design and responsive performance made it a popular car for almost two decades.
Advertisement
Dodge Viper
Pontiac Thunderbird
AC Shelby Cobra
Automotive designer Carroll Shelby had a dream of putting a powerful V8 engine into a speedy British sports car, and in the 1960s he did just that. The creation was the legendary AC Shelby Cobra that went on to change the automotive world.
Ford Mustang
Advertisement
Chevy Camaro
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The Pontiac Firebird debuted in 1967 to compete with other American muscle of the time. In 1969, it was upgraded to create the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which went on to gain pop-culture fame in "Smokey and the Bandit," TV's "Knight Rider" and more.
Ford Thunderbird
Dodge Viper
Advertisement
Bugatti Type 41
Jaguar E-Type
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Austin-Healey 3000
This classic British car flooded the roads in the 1960s and even went on to race tracks around the world. Despite its laid-back look, it's a rather successful racecar and is still raced today. The model went through a few iterations but eventually stopped production in 1967.
Advertisement
Cord L-29
Bugatti Type 57
Rolls-Royce 20HP
Stanley Steamer
The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was one of the most successful manufacturers of steam-powered vehicles in the early 1900s. The automobiles the company manufactured were commonly known as Stanley Steamers.
Advertisement
Toyota Corolla
Nissan Skyline
Toyota 2000GT
Despite its name, this car was manufactured for a few years in the 1960s. Only a few hundred of them were manufactured, and it was Japan's entry into the European-dominated market of sleek and powerful sports cars.
Datsun 240Z
Advertisement
1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom
1959 Ford Thunderbird
1962 Cadillac Eldorado
1961 Lincoln Continental
The official limo of the president has been made by several car manufacturers, and for most of the '60s and '70s, it was made by Lincoln. The 1961 Lincoln Continental that carried JFK and his wife the day he was assassinated was named SS-100-X.
Advertisement
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Tucker Torpedo
The Tucker '48 gets its nickname from its missile shape, and it's a highly sought-after collector's classic. The early 1900s was dominated by the big auto brands, so only about 50 of these were ever produced.
Duesenberg Model J
Cord L-29
Advertisement
Bugatti Royale
The Bugatti Royale is officially known as the Bugatti Type 41, and it was produced from 1927 to 1933. Only seven of them were ever built, and the model known as the Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon was Ettore Bugatti's personal car.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Duesenberg Model J
Cord L-29
Advertisement
Lamborghini Miura
Volkswagen Beetle
Mercedes-Benz 540K
The Mercedes-Benz 540K was the company's upgrade to the 500K. Only about 400 of them were ever produced, and just a fraction of those were imported to the U.S., where they sold for close to $220,000 in 2019 dollars.
Porsche 356
Advertisement
De Tomaso Pantera
The De Tomaso Pantera has all the flair and style of luxury Italian automobiles and all the durability of a Ford V8 engine. These cars hit the U.S. streets in the early '70s, but relationships with Ford eventually ended, and production of the car ended too.
Alfa Romeo Spider
Lamborghini Huracan
Ferrari Testarossa
Advertisement
Datsun 240Z
Lamborghini Miura
With smooth lines, elegant curves and eyelash headlights, the Miura might be Lamborghini's sexiest model. Sadly, production ended in the early '70s, and it was succeeded by the Countach, which features the blocky and sharp angles most associated with Lamborghini.
Jaguar E-Type
Ferrari Dino
Advertisement
Auburn Speedster
Pope-Waverly Road Wagon
Although electric cars seem to be a 21st-century invention, the first ones began hitting American roads in the 19th century. The Pope-Waverly was one of the most popular models and cost about $1,000 at the time. That price didn't include the 30-50 batteries needed to power the car.
Duesneberg Model J
Ford Model T
Advertisement
SS Jaguar 100
The SS Jaguar 100 debuted in the 1930s and was considered one of the most stylish sports cars of the times. Only a few hundred were ever produced, and the car hit a top speed of 101 mph in 1937. An authentic SS100 can fetch north of a million dollars today.
Cord L-29
SSC Ultimate Aero
Duesenberg Model J
Advertisement
Oldsmobile F-88
This dream car was a concept from Oldsmobile from the 1950s that was supposed to be destroyed. It 's believed as many as three of them were manufactured, but it's believed only one of them still exists.
Volvo P1800
Ford Thunderbird
Pontiac Firebird
Advertisement
Auburn Boattail Speedster 851
Cord and Duesenberg automobiles were some of the nicest cars of the early 20th century, and the Auburn Boattail Speedster utilized designers and engineers from both brands. If that wasn't enough, the Speedster sold for the equivalent of $40,000 in 2019 dollars. Cord and Duesenberg cars could reach a quarter of a million dollars, so this Speedster was the steal of a lifetime.
Cord L-29
Duesenberg Model J
Crane-Simplex
Advertisement
Bugatti Type 57
Cord L-29
Crane-Simplex
The first Simplex car was built in 1904, but it wasn't until a few years later that Crane-Simplex cars hit the streets. Only about 120 were ever built, and they were some of the most expensive cars of the time, reserved only the wealthiest Americans.
Duesenberg Model J
Advertisement
Duesenberg Model J
The Duesenberg Model J debuted in 1928 and was designed for the wealthiest Americans. Less than 500 of these were created in the 1930s. At $15,000 in 1930, one of these would cost the equivalent of more than $200,000 in 2019. It was built with top-of-the-line everything.
Cord L-29
Bugatti Royale
Rolls-Royce 15HP
Advertisement
Rolls-Royce Ghost
Rolls-Royce 10HP
This car started it all. Henry Royce wanted to improve on other cars of the day and came up with the Rolls-Royce 10. One main feature of the car was that it was a lot quieter than others. The silent power of Rolls-Royce continues to define the brand today.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Rolls-Royce 20HP
Advertisement
Duesenberg Model J
Rolls-Royce 15HP
Cadillac V-16
Cadillac is known for its classic cars, and it's difficult to pick just one to highlight. One of the brand's rarest models is the V-16 (aka Cadillac Sixteen), which is one of just a few cars to be built with a V16 engine.
Cord L-29
Advertisement
Porsche 356
Porsche has made a lot of exceptional cars over the years, and its most iconic model might be the 911. The Porsche 356 was introduced in 1948, and it's the car that inspired the 911. Although Porsche was founded 17 years earlier, the 356 was the first Porsche sold to the public.
Porsche Boxster
Porsche 930
Porsche Carrera GT
Advertisement
Talbot Lago T150
The Talbot Lago debuted in the 1930s, and its futuristic design still drops jaws today. In addition to its stylish design, it's a rather fast car and was known for its exceptional performance abilities.
Cord L-29
Auburn Speedster
Duesenberg Model J
Advertisement
Morgan 4/4
Austin-Healey 3000
Morgan Plus 4
The Morgan Motor Company began designing automobiles in Britain in the early 1900s. The Morgan Plus 4 is an upscale version of the Morgan 4/4, and it was designed for upper-class Americans. It evolved into the Morgan Plus 8 and was revived in 2005.
Volvo P1800
Advertisement
Bugatti Senator
Cadillac Congressional
Studebaker Dictator
The Studebaker brothers are well-known American automobile pioneers that manufactured everything from bicycles and wagons to buses and limousines. By the mid-1920s, the entry-level Studebaker Dictator hit the streets. The Dictator name was dropped in 1937.
Rolls-Royce Presidential
Advertisement
Bugatti Type 57
Cord L-29
The Cord L-29 is one of America's most luxurious luxury car, but the car's success was hindered due to the fact it was introduced in 1929 when the stock market crashed. The Indiana-based manufacturer fully ceased operations by 1937.
Rolls-Royce 30HP
Duesenberg Model J
Advertisement
You Got:
/40
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_(2).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_jm20695.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
_(19884750134).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
